Tag: Invited Celebrity Classic

Annika Sorenstam (0-for-10) bidding to beat the celebs at Invited Celebrity Classic

“I don’t give up. I am determined one time to get these guys”

Annika Sorenstam has done it all in professional golf. She’s the GOAT, the winner of 72 LPGA Tour events but there is at least one accomplishment that has eluded her – winning her first celebrity golf title.

Sorenstam is winless in 10 previous attempts. She has come oh-so-close, finishing second three times, third three times, and never outside the top 10. Asked why she still is competing in events such as this week’s Invited Classic on the PGA Tour Champions as one of the contenders in the Celebrity Division, she said, “Because I don’t give up.”

Sorenstam gets her latest chance to win against the likes of Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz, at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas, from April 19-21.

“I am determined one time to get these guys,” she said. “That’s the main reason. But I also enjoy it. I have a lot of fun. As you know, I don’t play much nowadays, and this makes me practice a little bit, makes me still kind of stay within the game.

“I am competitive and I do enjoy playing and I’m still determined, so I’m going to keep trying.”

Sorenstam finished second to New York Mets infielder Jeff McNeil in January at the LPGA’s Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. She has finished third the last two years at the Invited Celebrity Classic. Former tennis star Mardy Fish won in 2022 and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is the defending champion.

“I’ve had a few chances, but I really haven’t been able to put either three rounds, good rounds together or four rounds together. I think that’s kind of been my, my thing nowadays,” she said. “I really feel welcome at these tournaments, and it’s fun and I want the guys to have to fight for something. I appreciate the invites every time.”

Mark Hensby defeats fifth alternate Charlie Wi in a playoff to win 2023 Invited Celebrity Classic

There was some OT golf in Texas on the PGA Tour Champions.

The field of 78 at the 2023 Invited Celebrity Classic on the PGA Tour Champions was missing a few of the circuit’s big names.

Steve Stricker opted out, choosing instead to play with Zach Johnson at the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Bernhard Langer, holding steady with 45 Champions tour wins, tied for most all-time, also took the week off.

David Toms, who’s won twice on the Champions tour in 2023, Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Jimenez also all decided to stay home.

There was a three-way tie for the lead at 11 under between Charlie Wi, Alex Cejka and Mark Hensby with three holes to go. There was still a three-way tie with one hole left.

Wi seemed the most unlikely candidate to be in contention late. He three-putted the 13th hole, then hit into the water on 15 where he ended up with a double bogey. But he closed in style with birdies on the the 17th and 18th holes to shoot a 68 and take a one-shot lead at 12 under. Hensby would later birdie the 18th to force a playoff.

Wi, 51, has never won a PGA Tour sanctioned event. Hensby won once, at the 2004 John Deere Classic.

On the fourth playoff hole, Wi’s second shot found the water and that would be his undoing as he would go on to double bogey the hole. Hensby then made par for his first PGA Tour Champions victory.

What the field may have lacked in top tour attractions did feature a deep roster of invited celebrities, with 40 former pro athletes playing Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas, alongside the pros.

The list of celebs included Annika Sorenstam, who 20 years ago at Colonial Country club teed it up in the PGA Tour’s Bank of America Colonial, the first woman to play a Tour event in 45 years.

Tony Romo proved to be the best celeb this week, outlasting defending champ Mardy Fish for the 2023 title. Sorenstam was solo third, Mark Mulder fourth and Justin Williams was fifth.

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