Annika Sorenstam – Page 15 – Syndication Server

Annika Sorenstam-Henrik Stenson mixed event among two new postponements

Two European Tour events, the Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik & Annika and Stockholm and Sweden’s Trophée Hassan II, will be postponed.

As scheduling changes continue to rock the golf world, another pair of European Tour events were pushed back on Monday due to the coronavirus pandemic — including the highly-anticipated debut of a mixed event hosted by Annika Sorenstam and Henrik Stenson.

The Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik & Annika was scheduled to take place at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club in Stockholm, Sweden, June 11-14, featuring 2016 Open Champion Stenson and 10-time major champion Sorenstam. The field was scheduled to consist of 78 European Tour players and 78 Ladies European Tour players. Prize money was set for €1.5 million ($1.65 million) with the event going to different venues in 2021 and 2022.

The Scandinavian Mixed marked the first time Europe’s top players from the two main tours were expected to go head to head for the same prize money on the same course in a 72-hole stroke play event.

Also, Stockholm, Sweden’s Trophée Hassan II was on the schedule for June 4-7, but officials have announced that the event will be postponed. It will be moved to the 2021 schedule.

“We will continue to monitor the global situation in relation to Coronavirus and evaluate its impact on all our tournaments, with public health and well-being our absolute priority. We thank all stakeholders involved in Trophée Hassan II and the Scandinavian Mixed – including His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid and the Hassan II Trophy Association, the Ladies European Tour and Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam,” European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley said.

“Discussions regarding the possible rescheduling of all postponed tournaments will remain ongoing until we have clarity on the global situation.”

A total of 11 events on the European Tour have now been moved or canceled, and the next event still standing is the BMW International Open. The event is scheduled to be played at Golfclub München Eichenried from June 25-28.

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Annika Sorenstam, Gary Player will receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald J. Trump on March 23.

The two legends join Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Charlie Sifford and Tiger Woods as the only golfers who have received the honor.

The award is the nation’s highest civilian honor and is given to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. Notable recipients include Muhammad Ali, Nancy Reagan, Mother Teresa, Billy Graham, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I am extremely honored to have been chosen to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” said Sorenstam in a tweet. This is America’s highest civilian honor and certainly the most distinguished honor I’ve ever received. I am enormously grateful to the president for this honor and all it represents to me, to my family, to the LPGA and the Annika Foundation. I am proud to be the first female athlete who is a naturalized American citizen to be recognized in this way. It is an overwhelming feeling. I am grateful, I am humbled, I am moved, and I am blessed.”

Sorenstam, 49, won 72 times on the LPGA, including 10 majors. The eight-time LPGA Player of the Year was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003. She’s the only player in LPGA history to card a 59.

Born near Stockholm, Sweden, Sorenstam, won the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open title, her third, 19 days after she was sworn in as an American citizen at a ceremony in Orlando, Florida. Back then, Sorenstam said that she kept the American flag the government gave her on Flag Day displayed in her kitchen, a most beloved spot for a woman who authored a cookbook.

Top 20 money winners in LPGA history

Check out the top 20 money winners in LPGA history.

The LPGA has two members of the $20 million club, four who have won at least $15 million in on-course earnings, 17 with $10 million or more, 70 who have earned at least $5 million and 270 who have surpassed the $1 million plateau.

Annika Sorenstam leads the way, accumulating $22,573,192 in career earnings. Sorenstam and Karrie Webb are the only two to surpass the $20 million mark.

Let’s take a closer look here at the top 20 of all-time.

This list is updated through the 2020 Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio.

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AJGA, Symetra Tour extend partnership through 2020

The AJGA and Symetra Tour are partnering for a fourth year in three events in 2020.

The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and the Symetra Tour will continue their partnership in 2020, it was announced Monday.

For three years and an upcoming fourth, the Symetra Tour has joined select AJGA events which are hosted by former and current LPGA players to provide exemptions to Symetra Tour events.

“As we continue to grow the game of women’s golf, our working relationship with the AJGA gives more young women an opportunity to chase their dreams,” Symetra Tour Chief Business Officer Mike Nichols said. “Several of the AJGA qualifiers across the last few seasons have found success in their respective Symetra Tour event. We look forward to having three elite amateurs compete against their preceding generation of fellow future LPGA Tour stars.”

This year three events, the 2020 ANNIKA Invitational USA (Jan. 18-20), the Buick Shanshan Feng AJGA Girls Invitational (Feb. 15-17) and KPMG Stacy Lewis Junior All-Star Invitational (June 30-July 2), will serve as qualifiers for a Symetra Tour exemption to various tournaments.

This year’s winner of the ANNIKA Invitational USA will be contested on the Slammer & Squire Course at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida. The top finisher will then earn a spot in Florida’s Natural Charity Classic at the Country Club of Winter Haven in Winter Haven, Florida, March 6-8.

The winner of the Buick Shanshan Feng AJGA Girls Invitational at Stanford Golf Course in Stanford, California, will earn a spot at the Windsor Golf Classic in Windsor, California, April 2-4.

The winner of the final AJGA event during the 2020 partnership, the KPMG Stacy Lewis Junior All-Star Invitational at the Blessings Golf Club in Johnson, Arkansas, will receive an invitation to compete at the Garden City Charity Classic at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City, Kansas, Aug. 14-16.

“The AJGA is excited to be able to offer Symetra Tour exemptions to some of our strongest all-female tournament fields,” AJGA Chief Business Officer Jason Etzen said. “We are proud to partner with the LPGA and Symetra Tour to help elevate these three invitationals to a new level and provide increased exposure and experience for our top girls.”

Retief Goosen, son Leo close with eight birdies for PNC Father/Son lead

Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen and his son Leo lead the PNC Father/Son Challenge at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.

Tucked in the middle of the PGA Tour’s Silly Season is a family tradition featuring a first-rate field. Among the 20 teams playing this weekend’s PNC Father/Son Challenge field, 12 teams include a World Golf Hall of Famer.

After the first round at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen and his son Leo are at the top of the leaderboard. The back half of the Goosen scorecard was almost completely covered in red, which played a big role in the team’s rise to the top. The Goosens birdied their final eight holes of the day for a 14-under 58.

PNC Father/Son Challenge: Leaderboard

That was one shot better than Bernhard Langer and his son Jason Donald or David Duval and his son Brady could do in the opening round.

Asked to explain those birdies after the round on Golf Channel, Leo Goosen hesitated. His dad pointed a finger at the 16-year-old and offered a simple response.

“His putting.”

Turns out, Leo put a new putter in the bag for Saturday’s round after trying it out the night before. Retief hopes “he’ll hang on to this one for more than a week.” Leo did hole a 40-footer for par on No. 2 with the new flatstick.

Leo has played golf since he could walk, according to his dad, but his game has come a long way in the last six months, to the tune of 20 additional yards off the tee.

“I’d say that we just had each other’s backs,” Leo said. “I’d take one hole and then he’d take the next one, or I’d hit a good drive, he’d hit a good second.”

Behind the Duvals and the Langers at 12 under, Tom Lehman and his son Thomas combined for an 11-under 61 that was good for fourth. Jim Furyk and his father Mike had a 62 and landed in fifth.

Annika Sorenstam is playing the event for the first time, and as the first female professional to appear in what has been a male-dominated event. She and her father Tom had a 6-under 66.

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PNC Father/Son Challenge: Field list and how to watch

The Father/Son is a feel-good weekend in the middle of the so-called “silly season” of golf.

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All things considered, the PNC Father/Son Challenge field is remarkably strong. For one thing, the qualifications to get in are steep. Only major champions and winners of the Players Championship are eligible, and 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus headlines that category.

The Father/Son is a feel-good weekend in the middle of the so-called “silly season” of golf. This year, it overlaps the final round of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

In addition to Nicklaus, the field includes icons Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson. Despite the Nov. 27 death of his wife Hilary, who had battled pancreatic cancer, Watson remains in the field for now along with his son Michael.

Twelve of the 20 teams include a World Golf Hall of Famer. Individually, the final field shares more than 700 worldwide titles as well as 192 Champions Tour wins, with the all-time Champions Tour wins leader Hale Irwin, returning to this event after a two-year hiatus.

There are also seven former World No. 1 players in the field. That category includes Annika Sorenstam, who is playing with her father Tom and will become the first female professional to compete in the tournament.

The event will be played Dec. 5-8 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida.

The field

Darren Clarke/Tyrone Clarke (son)

John Daly/Little John Daly (son)

David Duval/Brady Duval (son)

Jim Furyk/Mike Furyk (father)

Retief Goosen/Leo Goosen (son)

Padraig Harrington/Paddy Harrington (son)

Hale Irwin/Steve Irwin (son)

Lee Janzen/Connor Janzen (son)

Tom Kite/David Kite (son)

Bernhard Langer/Jason Donald Langer (son)

Tom Lehman/Thomas A. Lehman (son)

Jack Nicklaus/GT Nicklaus (grandson)

Mark O’Meara/Shaun O’Meara (son)

Jerry Pate/Jenni Pate (daughter)

Gary Player/James Throssell (grandson)

Nick Price/Greg Price (son)

Vijay Singh/Qass Singh (son)

Annika Sorenstam/Tom Sorenstam (father)

Lee Trevino/Daniel Trevino (son)

Tom Watson/Michael Watson (son)

How to watch

All times Eastern

Friday, Dec. 6

Golf Channel (Pro-Am Special): 5-6 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 7

Golf Channel: 2-3 p.m.
NBC: 3-6 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 8

Golf Channel (live): 11 a.m.- Noon
NBC (live): Noon – 3 p.m.

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