The documentary focuses on what built Sorenstam the champion, but also on how she was received by her peers.
There’s a moment early on in the new “Becoming ANNIKA” documentary when a young girl approaches the legend at a clinic and asks if she has any advice for competing against boys.
Sorenstam bent down to eye level and said, “Yes, you know you can beat them, right? You know that. Beat them. Be tough.”
Perhaps one day that youngster will grow to fully appreciate the beauty of that exchange. The new film, produced by NBC Sports in conjunction with the USGA, premieres on May 10 at 9 p.m. ET on Golf Channel.
Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank narrates and World Golf Hall of Famers Laura Davies, Juli Inkster and Nancy Lopez offer insight along with two-time major winner Dottie Pepper, former caddie Terry McNamara, USGA CEO Mike Whan and longtime journalist Ron Sirak, who covered Sorenstam’s LPGA career more thoroughly than anyone.
And, of course, Sorenstam’s family: doting husband Mike McGee, her parents Tom and Gunilla, children Will and Ava, and sister Charlotta all help tell the story of the 10-time major winner.
Mike McGee and Annika Sorenstam as seen during the Becoming Annika Premier at Sunrise Theater in the Southern Pines, N.C. on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. (Copyright USGA/Jason E. Miczek)
“Watching a movie about yourself, it’s a bit surreal,” said Sorenstam, who viewed the film for the time alongside her husband at the Sunrise Theater in Southern Pines, North Carolina, last month during media day for the U.S. Women’s Open.
“It’s interesting to hear other people’s perspectives. Of course, I’ve spoken with my caddie many times and with my kids all the time, but for them to speak when I’m not there, the film just captures it all beautifully.”
Emmy Award-winning director Adrienne Gallagher began production of the film at the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, won by Sorenstam. In January, the crew went to Sweden for 10 days to film where Sorenstam got started in the game and better understand the culture that shaped her.
The documentary focuses on what built Sorenstam the champion, of course, but also on how she was received by her peers.
“When you are winning a lot,” said Lopez, “it’s a shame that the players don’t think that’s really a good thing. I think women are tough on other women sometimes.”
Sorenstam acknowledged that she knew there was a lot of chatter in the locker room, a lot of whispers behind her back. Charlotta chalked it up to jealousy.
“This is kind of a harsh thing to say, but you don’t become taller by chopping someone else’s head off,” Sorenstam said in the film. “I honestly told myself I’m not here to make the most friends, I’m here to make the most out of my career.”
Adrienne Gallagher, Staci Green as seen during the Becoming Annika Premier at Sunrise Theater in the Southern Pines, N.C. on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. (Copyright USGA/Jason E. Miczek)
Gallagher worked with an all-female production crew for the film and believes it made a difference in the way Sorenstam opened up about her divorce to David Esch.
“Dreams can be expensive,” said Gallagher. “The idea that she was achieving so much in her professional life and yet there was some profound emptiness.”
One of the most impactful sections of the film centers around Sorenstam’s son Will, who was born premature at 27 weeks. Will’s enthusiasm for his mom and the game is a big reason why the 51-year-old decided to compete in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles.
“Becoming ANNIKA” will also be shown on NBC on Sunday, June 5, ahead of final round coverage of the U.S. Women’s Open.
Laura Davies is back in the booth for Sky Sports to cover her second Ryder Cup, this time at Whistling Straits.
Laura Davies, who at age 57 has made the cut in her last three LPGA starts, will be back in the booth this week for Sky Sports to cover her second Ryder Cup, this time at Whistling Straits.
The legendary player represented Europe in 12 Solheim Cups, including the first one in 1990, and served as a vice captain for Catriona Matthew in the last two Cups. The four-time major winner with 87 titles worldwide shows no signs of slowing down.
Golfweek recently caught up with Davies, who lights up the commentary box as well as she has the interview room for decades.
What’s your preparation like to cover a men’s event?
When I do features like I have the last two days, I do a bit of homework and make sure I know the facts on the various bits that I know I’m going to do. Just normally I react to what’s happening on the golf course in the coverage. It’s just a normal event, like a British Open. Obviously the guys hit it a lot farther, so you’ve got to be ready for the clubbing and bits like that. But really and truly golf’s golf, so you just talk about it.
What are your impressions of Whistling Straits?
I know these guys are so unbelievably good, but it just looks like a huge golf course. I know they were setting it up more for the Americans, lots of birdies, but I think if this wind keeps blowing, I’m not sure if it’s going to be a birdie-fest. Par could end up being pretty good on some of those holes.
I’m not sure you could set it up for either team really because these guys hit it so long now. It’s hard to say one team has an advantage on the actual style of the golf course to another.
Bryson DeChambeau of team United States speaks to the media prior to the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits on Sept. 21, 2021 in Haven, Wisconsin. Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
What do you make of the Bryson/Brooks feud?
To be honest, I don’t know much about it. I just know that they’ve had some sort of argument a year or so ago and it’s just kept bubbling on and bubbling on, I suppose. Certainly when it comes to the Ryder Cup, they should put their differences aside.
In fact, one of the features I did was if I was Steve Stricker what would my Friday morning foursomes be, and I put them together. There was a little bit of devilment in it, see what would happen. I actually think their games would be suited in foursomes. They’re both strong guys who like to hit drivers and try to overpower golf courses.
Only the American room would know if it’s a real rift and there’s no going back from it, or whether they can get out there and try and win a point for the team. … It was like a pure fantasy league thing, who would you put out.
If I knew that they weren’t that bothered about playing with each other, I think they would be a great team. That was the angle I was coming from. It certainly wouldn’t be to let them start punching it out on the golf course.
Seve Ballesteros with members of Team Europe during the 1991 Ryder Cup matches at Kiawah Island. (Photo by Simon Bruty/Getty Images)
Who’s your all-time favorite Ryder Cup player?
Seve, without a doubt. My favorite match ever, he actually lost it, was the one he played against Tom Lehman (in 1995) when Tom Lehman was one of the best players in the world. He led off for the Americans and the European captain put Seve out there knowing full well Seve was really struggling at the time with his game. Seve took him, I think, to 17. (Editor’s note: Lehman won 4 and 3.) He was hitting shots that were ridiculous. Bad shots to get him into to trouble, but the way he kept getting up and down and holing putts just to keep the match going on and on – that’s my most memorable Ryder Cup match.
What’s your early impression of Padraig Harrington as captain?
As you’d expect, quite analytical. He likes all the facts and figures. Obviously they’ve done all that, but then when the guys are here it sounds like he’s just kind of do their own thing. … in many ways like Beany (European Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew). Beany wasn’t analytical in any way, shape or form, but it looks like he’s just going to let them do what they do week in and week out, the stuff that got them here in the first place.
Members of Team Europe pose for a photo after winning the 2021 Solheim Cup at Invernes Club in Toledo, Ohio. Photo by Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
What do you think was the key to Europe’s success at the Solheim?
I just think we had the strongest team we’d ever had. From the No. 1 player, obviously you’d put that as (Anna) Nordqvist because she’d just won the Open, right to the rookies. … It was a pretty cohesive team and Beany was happy playing everyone at least twice, obviously before the singles.
I think the fact that she believed in them, they fed off that and I think they realized from the very early outset that we had a good chance of winning. Overall it was just a great team effort.
Who are you most looking forward to watch this week on both teams?
I’m curious about Bryson (DeChambeau). I want to see if he drives the first, because I think it’s definitely on. He just fascinates me the way he goes about it.
And European-wise, (Viktor) Hovland. It would be really nice to see if he’s as good as we all think he’s going to be in a Ryder Cup setting. Because obviously he’s never done it before, but he’s one of the best players in the world. It will be interesting for me to see if the Ryder cup pressure gets to him and he doesn’t perform. I don’t think it will, he plays with these guys week in and week out.
Maybe that first tee might scare him a bit, but these youngsters these days don’t seem to worry about that.
Laura Davies at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Photo by Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
What’s your playing schedule for the rest of the year and how are you feeling about your game?
I’m very happy with the way I’m playing. My next two tournaments will be Atlantic City (ShopRite) and Founders, both in New Jersey, and then I’m going to play the Saudi event (Aramco Team Series), and there’s a chance I might go to Dubai the week before.
It’s still the putting that’s letting me down. It’s such a shame because my long game is really as good as it’s been for a very long time. … I made the last three cuts, I’m hoping to make the next two but also have at least one of those be a decent finish. A top 10 would be great.
Who’s your pick to win the Ryder Cup?
I would take a tie because that means we retain. I think the American team is very strong. If we could silence the crowd, we could definitely win it.
I would take a draw but you never know, we might just nick it anyway.
In her first tournament since competing in the Tokyo Summer Olympics, Jin Young Ko holds the 36-hole lead.
In her first tournament since competing in the Tokyo Summer Olympics, Jin Young Ko holds the 36-hole lead heading into the weekend at the LPGA’s Cambia Portland Classic.
Ko had six birdies and one bogey on her scorecard. She had six birdies Thursday as well but also had three bogeys in her opening round.
Ko, ranked second in the world, has one win this year, at the Volunteers of America Classic over the July 4th weekend. She is at 8 under so far in Portland.
The cut came in at 6 over, which safely put 57-year-old Laura Davies into the weekend. Davies shot a second-round 75 but is still 1 over for the tournament.
“I must admit in the practice the other day I found it really exhausting, but when you’re playing and trying to hit good shots, you don’t really notice the hills,” said Davies after Thursday’s round of the hilly Oregon Golf Club in West Linn, Oregon. Davies has made the cut in her last three tournaments. Fellow LPGA golfer Trish Johnson is working as Davies’ caddie this week.
Gemma Dryburgh is solo second after 36 holes at 7 under. Carlota Ciganda is solo third at 5 under. Jeongeun Lee and Jeongeun Lee6 are among seven golfers tied for fourth at 4 under.
The Cambia Portland Classic, the longest-running non-major tournament on the LPGA, was moved from Columbia Edgewater Country Club because of safety concerns about a homeless encampment in the area.
The USGA has announced that the U.S. Senior Women’s Open will move to a new date to avoid conflict with the AIG Women’s British Open.
The USGA has announced that the 3rd U.S. Senior Women’s Open will move to a new date to avoid conflict with the AIG Women’s British Open at Carnoustie Golf Links.
The championship will now be held July 29-Aug. 1 at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Connecticut. It was previously scheduled to take place Aug. 19-22.
“In an effort to both ensure a strong field and prioritize our broadcast opportunities, we have made the decision to adjust the dates of the 3rd U.S. Senior Women’s Open,” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s senior managing director, Championships. “After listening to player feedback and consulting with our new broadcast partner, NBCUniversal, it was clear that separating the dates from the week of the AIG Women’s Open was important to the overall success of the championship.”
Last year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Open was one of 10 USGA championships canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Laura Davies won the first edition of the championship in 2018 at Chicago Golf Club, and Helen Alfredsson triumphed in 2019 at Pine Needles.
Davies, a World Golf Hall of Famer, typically competes in the British Open and contributes to the television broadcast. Former Solheim Cup player Trish Johnson, who has finished in the top 3 at both Senior Women’s Opens, also typically works the British Open broadcast.
Juli Inkster, who has twice finished second at the USSWO, also typically competes in the British Open, as does Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, who turned 50 in 2019.
The new dates, which overlap the women’s golf portion of the Tokyo Olympic Games, won’t suit one Hall of Famer in particular who recently turned 50. Last month, Annika Sorenstam was named president of the International Golf Federation and will most certainly be in Japan during that time.
As Laura Davies said, anyone who makes the cut at the AIG Women’s British Open has a chance to take the title at Royal Troon.
Laura Davies birdied the 18th at Royal Troon and popped into the booth for her second job as a commentator for Sky Sports. Her takeaway going into the weekend: Anyone who makes the cut at the AIG Women’s British Open has a chance to take the title.
After two days of brutally difficult weather, Sweden’s Dani Holmqvist remains the only player under par at Royal Troon. Rounds of 71-70 put her one shot ahead of American Austin Ernst and Sophia Popov of Germany and two shots clear of a bunched group at 1 over that includes Lydia Ko and Minjee Lee.
Ko sounds as if she has moved on from that botched finish at the Marathon LPGA Classic, but there’s no way to really know until she gets in the thick of it again on Sunday.
“The more times I put myself in contention or in a good position, it gives me confidence about my game,” said Ko. “Sean (Foley) has been trying to get me to swing aggressively and freely and I feel like I hit it better that way. Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but you know, I’ve just got to go out there and not worry about it and just believe in myself.”
Dani Holmqvist of Sweden plays her second shot on the 18th hole of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon. (Photo: R&A via Getty Images)
Holmqvist, playing in her second Women’s British, started working with Brad Faxon on her mindset and short game during the LPGA’s five-month break. The extra time to work on her game and rehab her back has paid off handsomely thus far for the 32-year-old, who tied for 29th last week and leads at Royal Troon.
In the fall of 2018, Holmqvist injured her back at the Blue Bay LPGA event in China when a shuttle cart transporting players between holes lost control on a steep hill and slammed into a wall.
“I had a disk, which is leaking, and also really inflamed facet joint,” said Holmqvist. “So I injected that many times, and then it’s just been rehab and ice and kind of rest and you know how it is with backs, it’s a long process and very tedious. It’s an everyday thing.”
This marks the first time Holmqvist has ever led an LPGA event.
Lindsey Weaver can’t possibly go unnoticed at Troon as she’s been out there battling the elements without a caddie. The Arizona grad, playing in her first British Open, has been using a push cart since the LPGA restarted its season in mid-July. A second-round 72 puts her in a share of fourth at 1 over.
Nelly Korda found it difficult to stand up early on in Thursday’s round but found Round 2 even more of a challenge as the wind was consistently strong throughout. Korda posted a second-consecutive 72 and sits three shots back. She played alongside 2018 British champ Georgia Hall and took comfort in the face that it was tough for her too.
“We were like, are you scared over 1-footers, too, with this wind?” said Nelly, “because we were like shaking over it with wind and the gusts. She’s like, me, too. I’m like, OK, good.”
Sophia Popov of Germany plays a shot from a greenside bunker at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon. (Photo: R&A via Getty Images)
Inbee Park matched the day’s low round, 2-under 69, to vault up the board into a share of 17th, five shots back. The seven-time major winner won the last time she teed it up on the LPGA, the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, back in February. This week she has her husband, Gi Hyeob Nam, on the bag (longtime caddie Brad Beecher will be back next week). Park noted earlier in the week that Nam sometimes gets his math wrong.
After two rounds in exceptionally trying conditions, Park gave her man high marks. There is one area, however, where they can certainly improve.
“A couple of decisions that I had was probably wrong,” she said. “It was No. 16, I hit into the water twice yesterday. We laid up in the water. Today we tried to go over the water, but we went into in the water. That was the only hole maybe we have to change the plan the next two days.”
Park thought it might be “impossible” to break par on Troon in these conditions, but the 2015 British Open champion proved herself wrong. The LPGA Hall of Famer counts Scotland as one of her favorite places to play.
“I’m not going to say I’m enjoying this weather,” she said, “but it is fun competing in this weather.”
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew spent a brief time atop the board in red numbers at Troon before faltering a bit to a 76. The European Solheim Cup captain turns 51 next Tuesday and looks to become the oldest player to win an LPGA major. Fay Crocker won the 1960 Titleholders Championship at 45 years, 7 months and 11 days.
Matthew, the 2009 Women’s British champ, trails by six heading into the weekend.
“It was a lot tougher out there actually, a lot tougher today,” said Matthew. “It was just a crosswind today, so downwind played as tough coming as going out, actually. I didn’t hit it great to be fair. Made some quite miraculous up-and-downs.”
Laura Davies is one of the LPGA stars to play at Royal Troon for the LPGA’s first major of the season, the Women’s British Open.
Dame Laura Davies will pull a 2-iron from her bag on Thursday and strike the first blow at Royal Troon at 6:30 a.m. local time. With bunkers down the left-hand side, there’s no need for driver. (Shame because who doesn’t love to see her craft that pyramid tee out of turf with her wedge?)
Instead, she’ll aim to get one out there safely about 220 yards, leaving herself with an 8-iron for the approach.
There won’t be any fans to see to see this action, of course. Just her playing competitors – Alena Sharp and Olivia Mehaffey – and their caddies and perhaps a handful of R&A officials. But the golf world will be there in spirit because few players in the game have shaped it so.
This marks Davies’ 40th appearance in this championship, and she’s not just competing, she’s commentating, too. She’ll be working on the broadcast team for Sky Sports, which will be beamed to viewers worldwide, including Golf Channel/NBC.
“I think it’ll be a cracking week,” she said.
A general view of the 18th green and clubhouse ahead of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon (Photo by R&A – Handout/R&A via Getty Images)
It’s an honor to hit the first tee shot, but more importantly, noted the World Golf Hall of Famer, she gets a clear course. And after last week’s spotlight on slow play at the Scottish Open, it’s a welcome sight.
“I played 18 holes yesterday morning at 7:30, basically on my own, in two hours and 15 minutes,” said Davies, “played every hole properly, chipped and putted on quite a few. I’m not saying we can get ’round in two hours and 15 minutes, but we should be ’round in under four, as long as the weather is not crazy. If the weather is crazy then obviously you get up on those holes around the turn, anything can happen. You can spend half an hour on the tee if you’re unlucky.”
The weather on Thursday doesn’t look promising, with wind gusts of up to 55 to 60 mph predicted around 9 a.m. Tournament Troon will look nothing like what they’ve faced in the practice rounds thanks to what they’re calling, “Storm Ellen.”
The first major of the year brings in 144 players from 32 countries to a carefully constructed and sanitized bubble. While a number of top-10 players are missing from the field, two headliners – Inbee Park and Brooke Henderson – make their return to the LPGA this week.
World No. 1 Jin Young Ko has yet to compete on the LPGA this year and joins Sung Hyun Park, Sei Young Kim, Hyo Joo Kim, So Yeon Ryu and Jeong Eun Lee6 as a continent of top South Korean players who have delayed their restarts.
Even so, staging a major with players from over the globe in the COVID-19 era is a victory for the women’s game. The fact that it’s on a classic course like Troon for the first time makes it all the more meaningful.
“This is a big week for women’s golf,” said Stacy Lewis, who won last week in Scotland. “To be playing here on a golf course that’s been in the men’s rotation for a very long time, and didn’t even allow female members to come play this golf course for a very long time, so this is a really big week.”
Davies praised the conditions of Troon this week, declaring these the best links greens she’s ever putted on. After five months away from tournament golf, the four-time major winner said she hit some of the worst shots of her career last week at The Renaissance Club, but she has no plans of slowing down.
“I think if you still have that fire in your belly, that you just think maybe this is my week when you get there on Thursday morning. … I’m 56 now and I’m not saying I could ever win again, that would be asking too much, “ said Davies, “but I’m thinking that hopefully this COVID has not done too much damage to my game.”
Georgia Hall of England speaks to Laura Davies of England during a practice round ahead of the 2020 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon. (Photo by R&A – Handout/R&A via Getty Images)
Georgia Hall pulled into her reserved parking spot at Royal Troon, marked 2018 champion, and looked down the row to see Davies’ decorated with 1986. Hall made sure to mention to Davies that she was born a decade after that victory.
“She’s a great friend and person and idol to look up to,” said Hall. “I actually texted her last night saying, ‘Oh, look at you hitting the first tee shot – don’t hold us up.’ ”
Hannah Burke played nine holes with Davies on Tuesday at Troon and told Davies that she was once was her standard-bearer at an event. Brittany Lincicome did that too.
Only a handful of players in the field at Troon have been alive more years than Davies has played in this event.
“It’s remarkable,” said World No. 2 Danielle Kang, “because Dame Laura Davies is a legend, an absolute legend.”
Suzann Pettersen details what it was like to be a Solheim Cup heroine, the player who intimidated her most and much more.
Few in sport have enjoyed a more spectacular walk-off moment than Suzann Pettersen. That winning putt at the 2019 Solheim Cup, after a 20-month break from competition, instantly changed her from villainess of the match-play spectacle to beloved heroine.
The legendary moment prompted longtime sponsor Dow to put together a documentary entitled “Her Final Putt – Suzann Pettersen’s Story.” The 30-minute program aired on CBS earlier this month.
The 39-year-old Norwegian won 15 times on the LPGA, including two majors, and compiled a 18-12-6 record in nine Solheim Cup appearances.
Golfweek recently caught up with Pettersen to talk about retirement, scaling the cliffs of Norway, that magical putt and raising Herman.
Here are excerpts from that conversation:
I always find it hard to talk about myself believe it or not. I‘ve never been a person who kind of reflected too much about what I’ve done. I’ve always kind of looked ahead, chasing the next goal. I’ve had a lot of time to reflect back over the last six, seven months. When they did put (my story) into a TV program, it was almost a nice way to kind of go over your career as well.
At the time when it came about, I felt like it had already been so much focus about the last putt and like the mic drop and everything. I thought, have they not had enough of me?
Team Europe celebrate as Suzann Pettersen putts to win her match and the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles on September 15, 2019. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
They obviously wanted to put a different touch to the story. It was kind of good to kind of let the guard down and let people really know what I had on my heart. I had a to go a few rounds with myself to get comfortable, but as we got started, I don’t think they needed to ask too many questions.
I know Carlota (Ciganda), when she first met me was scared to death to talk to me, and she has obviously turned out to be one of my best friends from the LPGA. Thankfully that perspective has changed (laughs).
I haven’t been too emotional, but when I see other people getting emotional about me not playing anymore and seeing almost Anna (Nordqvist) having a tear in her eye talking about how she’s going to miss having us around … it makes me a little bit emotional.
I’ve always been scared to death of Webby (Karrie Webb). The last person you want to piss off is Webby. You don’t want to try and reach a par 5 in two and she’s on the green in the group ahead of you. You know you’re in trouble, but more in a fun way. Not really intimidated.
I always looked up to the generation above us. Annika was like half a generation older than me. I feel like when I look back, I was very fortunate to compete against Rosie Jones, Michele Redman, Juli Inkster, Meg Mallon, Beth Daniel. Now it’s a different group of girls on tour, and I’ve kind of been a part of a few changes in generations that have played on the LPGA lately.
What drives me now? I’m involved with a lot of different projects. I only do things that I feel like are really challenging and fun. But I haven’t really been in a position where I felt that adrenaline, the way you feel on the first tee. I don’t know if I’m going to find something that will give me the same kind of drive.
Europe’s Suzann Pettersen celebrates after Europe beat the U.S to win the Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in Dunsany near Dublin, on September 25, 2011. Europe won the tournament 15-13.
I did go on a hike last week, climbing. I have to say I haven’t been that focused since that last putt. I was so mentally tired after climbing because I’m scared of heights and I had to work so hard on myself mentally. I couldn’t look down once. I was just looking up and ahead. I was so drained finishing that climb. I like to challenge myself. I like to break new barriers or new things that I’m not too comfortable doing and try to become better. I still have that drive.
We went from sea level and climbed to 1,200 meters. For the first part you walk about 500 meters, but it’s like literally walking up a ski slope. Most people stop before they start climbing because they get so physically tired from the walk. And then climbing, you are self-secured. We were recommended that it would take us four to five hours and we got up in two hours and 40 minutes. Obviously, I was trying to push it … I still have the competitive edge in me.
It happened to be that one putt that defined the entire Solheim in 2019. It could’ve easily been Bronte’s match behind me or Anna’s being the last of the single. It happened to be the 10th match between Marina (Alex) and myself. I was just happy to be right in the mix of it. But at the same time when I walked up to the 18th, I just remember telling myself you’re getting too old for this.
My first win at Kingsmill in 2007 was big for me. I’d just come off of Kraft Nabisco where I kind of was leading, I don’t know three shots with three holes to play, and I kind of fumbled coming down the stretch. I learned so much from that. I did such a good job analyzing and learning from the mistakes I made and within a few tournaments I was in the same situation and I managed to pull off the win.
Suzann Pettersen won the LPGA Lotte Championship presented by J Golf at the Ko Olina Golf Club in Kapolei, Hawaii.
I remember winning in Thailand when I went head-to-head with Laura Davies. Coming up 18, I eagled, and she birdied. I just remember that double fist-pump right in her face. Every time I see her she keeps reminding me of that double fist-pump right in her face.
I don’t know if I had too many regrets. I’ve obviously done my mistakes, but I feel like I’ve owned them, and I’ve learned from it and I think that’s the most important think you can take from doing what we do for a living. You’re not going to make perfect decisions or the perfect step every single day of your life. As long as you can kind of own whatever you decide to do and then learn from it … that’s what I’ve kind of come to peace with.
Lorena was a feisty competitor. When she was in the hunt, she most of the time got it done.
She was one of those players that when she stopped playing, I really missed having her around. As much as she was a great competitor, she was also a fun friend. She was probably a bit more relaxed than me tournament days, but early in the week we had a lot of fun. A lot of jokes back and forth. When we were paired together, we usually had bets going. We made it a more relaxed atmosphere.
I remember going head-to-head with her in Mexico one year. I think I was like 24 under par and she ended up being 26 under par, something like that. We were miles ahead of the next (person). We just got the best out of each other.
There’s a few things I‘ve come to realize. I really do miss the structure in my daily life. Because I was so determined and focused and I always knew what to do at what time. Obviously, my life is not quite like that anymore. I miss maybe the feel of the adrenaline, getting ready, getting geared up to play tournaments.
I don’t miss the hard work, the frustrating work, the hours where you feel like, oh god can I just jump this phase and get straight into where I really feel comfortable?
It’s been nice to not have to wake up with a guilty feeling of have you done enough? Are you not ready?
I miss the girls. I miss the caddies, the chit chat on the range, being in the mix of everything that’s going on. That part I miss. … I think once a competitor, always a competitor. I feel like I’ve grinded enough over my years.
Just thinking about (playing again) makes me nervous right now. It’s all about preparation. If you feel like your game is up for it, but that takes a lot of work and a lot of decision. As of now I’m not quite there. Who knows, I might play a pro-am or two, but if I’m going to turn up in a competition, not on my radar as of now.
I feel like I was a tough but fair competitor. Feisty. It’s kind of hard to say, but I probably opened a few doors to make younger girls, guys realize that it’s possible to be really good. It’s been fun to kind of see the generation growing and the new talents that are coming up. Ever since I kind of retired, Viktor Hovland has kind of taken over. I think Norway is really good hands when it comes to the interest in golf.
What is Herman up to? Everything and nothing. He’s literally nonstop 24/7, running around. I tried to get him to on the golf course, but he’s likes to kick the ball more than hit or swing. So far, he’s a very active little boy. Hard to pick what his actual interests are going to be but something with a ball I think.
He has my temperament, unfortunately. (laughs) No, he’s a very easy boy, a very easy child.
My ego is gone. It’s not like I walk around and think about it, but my priority is not on myself anymore. I think that’s quite natural when you have a child. It kind of feels good as well. I feel like I’ve been enough self-driven over the years that it’s very nice to now take care of your family, be a wife and be a mom. It’s been a blessing to be honest.
Now he’s turning 2 at the beginning of August. It’s starting to get really fun.
Former U.S. Women’s Open champion Laura Davies stays busy at home in England watching sports, tending her garden and looking after her dog.
The “Stuck at Home With” series profiles players, caddies and staff in the women’s game who are making the most of an unprecedented break in tour life due to the coronavirus pandemic. New stories will be posted every Tuesday and Thursday.
Laura Davies has converted her home garage into a pro shop/trophy room of sorts. There’s a bike in there. A radio. There’s even a Juli Inkster golf bag. The pair of World Golf Hall of Famers exchanged bags in Sweden after the Solheim Cup one year. If, heaven forbid, there was a fire, one of the first things Davies would grab out of that room is the Solheim Cup replica trophy that was given to all the participants at the inaugural event in 1990.
“That’s by far my most favorite,” she said.
It’s also where her golf clubs sat for months on end collecting dust during the coronavirus lockdown. That is, until Wednesday, when she took them out for a 12:30 p.m. tee time with her brother at the local club, Sutton Green. Davies, 56, happened to co-design the course with architect David Walker in the 1990s.
A look inside Davies’ memorabilia room (photos courtesy of Laura Davies).
England opened up golf courses for the first time on May 13. Prior to that, Davies’ only golf had consisted of hitting chip shots off a mat into an umbrella in her garden. She quickly found that exercise to be rather pointless, though.
“This is the longest I’ve gone without swinging a club at all,” said the winner of 87 professional events worldwide.
Davies last teed it up at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in mid-February. Since then she’s been at her home in Ripley, a small village in Surrey, England, where she lives with her 82-year-old step-father Mike. Davies’ mother, Rita, died in December from complications caused by a perforated bowel that was so well hidden it took too long for doctors to discover. Davies keeps pictures of her mother all over the house.
“Last year was such a horrible year seeing her suffer,” she said.
“I’m so glad she wasn’t still going through her troubles with all this going on. The thought of her being in hospital without us being able to visit her …”
Rita actually compiled a short and successful record caddying for her daughter, to the tune of two runner-up finishes in her three stints at the job. At a tournament in the Netherlands one year, Davies was in the penultimate group in the final round with her mum pushing the clubs on a trolley. After Davies finished up the hole and walked off the green, she turned around to see that her mother had placed the flagstick inside her golf bag by mistake. The final group stood waiting in the fairway for something to aim at.
“Mom had to bolt back and put the pin in,” she recalled.
Rita would’ve been 84 last March.
With Mike unable to leave the house at all, Laura has done all the grocery shopping for their house and for Betty, their neighbor.
She’s also been nursemaid to Murphy, their 12-year-old dog who snapped a ligament several weeks back. Because Murphy can’t make it up the stairs, Davies has been sleeping on a mattress on the living room floor the past month.
“He’s a lovely little chap,” she said, “but he’s hurting.”
Davies has given the kitchen a fresh coat of paint along with several outside walls. She planted vegetables in the green house and filled the flower baskets.
“I’ve just picked my first cup of radishes to go in the stir fry,” she said.
Davies’ backyard garden.
There are three large TV screens across the living room wall. She keeps them all going at once, with the volume cranked up on the middle one.
“To kill the boredom,” she said, though it’s been tough with no live sports on offer. Davies has relived plenty of Liverpool games, several Masters Tournaments, a couple of Solheim Cups. She particularly enjoyed watching her singles match against Inkster at the 2011 edition in Ireland. (Inkster and Davies halved).
“I don’t get too carried away watching myself do anything to be honest,” she said.
Davies served as a vice captain to Catriona Matthew at last year’s spectacularly dramatic European victory at Gleneagles in Scotland.
“We looked all the more dead and buried on the TV coverage than we did when I was there,” she noted.
Ok let’s see how much we can raise for the NHS. A Solheim Cup 2019 Vice captains bag with a set of Lynx blades a Driver and a putter. Midnight Sunday is the cut off. pic.twitter.com/malJWh7y66
Davies keeps her gold medals from the 1987 U.S. Women’s Open and 2018 U.S. Senior Women’s Open in a glass cabinet inside the house along with her U.S. Women’s Open replica trophy. It wasn’t until a decade after she won, when compatriot Alison Nicholas claimed the U.S. Women’s Open and had a replica trophy made, that Davies even knew such a thing was possible. She quickly had one made as well.
With both senior majors canceled for the season and most of the Legends Tour schedule done for the year, Davies hopes to get back on the LPGA this summer. The tour is scheduled to resume in mid-July at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational July 15-18. Because Davies hasn’t qualified for the field, someone would need to choose her as a partner. She’s not banking on that happening.
If it’s possible to compete in the Marathon Classic and ShopRite and not have to go into isolation before getting back for the Evian, Scottish Open and AIG Women’s British, then Davies will play that entire stretch.
She’s guessing there’s a 50 percent right now that the Women’s British will be held at Royal Troon in late August.
“Premiere League football will be the first sport to get underway at the professional level,” said Davies. “If they start playing, then I think golf and tennis and sports like that will quickly follow.”
With hiring a private jet beyond her personal budget, Davies said she’ll be quite happy to drive 15 hours between events to avoid commercial airports and airplanes. This, of course, coming from a woman who was awarded the DBE, or Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, by the Queen in 2014.
“You won’t take it for granted,” said Dame Laura Davies of getting back to her day job. “Playing golf tournaments will be more of a privilege than just what you do.”
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