Tag: Nelly Korda

Nelly Korda is third to surpass $4 million in single season on LPGA, can bank $4 million more at CME

Lorena Ochoa’s amazing 2007 season is still the high-water mark for LPGA money.

Two years ago, Lydia Ko came close to breaking Lorena Ochoa’s 2007 mark for most money earned in an LPGA season.

Ochoa’s amazing record, now 17 years old, set a bar that’s been difficult to break, even with a surge in prize money. She earned $4,364,994 in 2007, and Ko in 2022 finished just $591 away from breaking the mark.

This year, thanks to seven victories and three other top-10 finishes, Nelly Korda is at $4,164,430 with one event left. She’s now the third golfer in LPGA history to surpass the $4 million mark.

With a $4 million first-place prize up for grabs at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, Korda has a chance to nearly double her 2024 earnings while simultaneously shattering the single-season money mark.

LPGA season-by-season money leaders

Year Player Money
1950 Babe Zaharias $14,800
1951 Babe Zaharias $15,087
1952 Betsy Rawls $14,505
1953 Louise Suggs $19,816
1954 Patty Berg $16,011
1955 Patty Berg $16,492
1956 Marlene Hagge $20,235
1957 Patty Berg $16,272
1958 Beverly Hanson $12,639
1959 Betsy Rawls $26,774
1960 Louise Suggs $16,892
1961 Mickey Wright $22,236
1962 Mickey Wright $21,641
1963 Mickey Wright $31,269
1964 Mickey Wright $29,800
1965 Kathy Whitworth $28,658
1966 Kathy Whitworth $33,517
1967 Kathy Whitworth $32,937
1968 Kathy Whitworth $48,379
1969 Carol Mann $49,152
1970 Kathy Whitworth $30,235
1971 Kathy Whitworth $41,181
1972 Kathy Whitworth $65,063
1973 Kathy Whitworth $82,864
1974 JoAnne Carner $87,094
1975 Sandra Palmer $76,374
1976 Judy Rankin $150,737
1977 Judy Rankin $122,890
1978 Nancy Lopez $189,814
1979 Nancy Lopez $197,489
1980 Beth Daniel $231,000
1981 Beth Daniel $206,998
1982 JoAnne Carner $310,400
1983 JoAnne Carner $291,404
1984 Betsy King $266,771
1985 Nancy Lopez $416,472
1986 Pat Bradley $492,021
1987 Ayako Okamoto $466,034
1988 Sherri Turner $350,851
1989 Betsy King $654,132
1990 Beth Daniel $863,578
1991 Pat Bradley $763,118
1992 Dottie Mochrie (Pepper) $693,335
1993 Betsy King $595,992
1994 Laura Davies $687,201
1995 Annika Sorenstam $666,533
1996 Karrie Webb $1,002,000
1997 Annika Sorenstam $1,236,789
1998 Annika Sorenstam $1,092,748
1999 Karrie Webb $1,591,959
2000 Karrie Webb $1,876,853
2001 Annika Sorenstam $2,105,868
2002 Annika Sorenstam $2,863,904
2003 Annika Sorenstam $2,029,506
2004 Annika Sorenstam $2,544,707
2005 Annika Sorenstam $2,588,240
2006 Lorena Ochoa $2,592,872
2007 Lorena Ochoa $4,364,994
2008 Lorena Ochoa $2,763,193
2009 Jiyai Shin $1,807,334
2010 Na Yeon Choi $1,871,165
2011 Yani Tseng $2,921,713
2012 Inbee Park $2,287,080
2013 Inbee Park $2,456,619
2014 Stacy Lewis $2,539,039
2015 Lydia Ko $2,800,802
2016 Ariya Jutanugarn $2,550,947
2017 Sung Hyun Park $2,335,883
2018 Ariya Jutanugarn $2,743,949
2019 Jin Young Ko $2,773,894
2020 Jin Young Ko $1,667,925
2021 Jin Young Ko $3,502,161
2022 Lydia Ko $4,364,403
2023 Lilia Vu $3,502,303

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Nelly Korda outduels Charley Hull to win 2024 The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican

Korda won her seventh victory on the LPGA in 2024 and 15th of her career.

BELLEAIR, Fla. — Nelly Korda didn’t know brother Sebastian had come out to watch her play on Sunday until she’d finished. He’d never seen her win on the LPGA before, and his presence at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican was a gift in itself. The siblings hadn’t seen each other since the summer, when Nelly went to watch him compete in the U.S. Open.

“For him to drive an hour and 40 with three holes remaining,” said Korda, “one, he was very confident in me, and, two, just really nice to have his support and be out here.”

Family and team mean everything to Korda, and she credits much of her monumental seven-win season to those who occupy her bubble. This week, she made certain to mention longtime physio Kim Baughman early and often. The pair have spent a great deal of time together in the lead-up to this event after Korda suffered a neck injury before she was scheduled to fly to Asia.

The Annika: Leaderboard | Photos

“I mean, it was three times a day that I was seeing her and she lives 40 minutes away,” said Korda. “So she was coming to my house three times a day. Before and after practice, I mean, to every work out. I think she needs a vacation that I will gladly pay for.”

Korda said she rushed her rehab to get back for this week. Now a three-time champion at Pelican Golf Club, the World No. 1 relishes playing close to home. Her first victory of the season was practically in the backyard of her parents’ house in Bradenton, Florida, just down the road from where she was born.

With her most recent victory on the LPGA coming in May, Korda said it felt like lifetimes have passed since a torrid streak that included five consecutive wins. Since that time, there was:

  • the 10 at the U.S. Women’s Open
  • the unbelievable 81 at the KPMG Women’s PGA
  • the dog bite at a coffee shop
  • final-round heartbreaks in Paris and St. Andrews
  • migraines that led to neck pain and a forced two-month break this fall

Through it all, Korda showed an enviable resilience.

“She’s pretty badass,” said Sebastian, “she’s as tough as it gets.”

2024 The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican
Charley Hull f England and Nelly Korda of the United States prepare to play the first hole during the final round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican 2024 at Pelican Golf Club on November 17, 2024 in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

On Sunday in Belleaire, Korda began the final round one stroke back of Charley Hull and found herself further back early on Sunday after a front-nine 37. A string of five birdies from Nos. 11-15, however, put her in the driver’s seat, and she won with ease after a final-round 67. Korda’s 14 under total put her three clear of Hull, Jin Hee Im and Weiwei Zhang, who secured her card for 2025 with the effort.

Now a 15-time winner on the LPGA, Korda’s seventh victory of the season puts her in rare company as she joins Kathy Whitworth (1973), Nancy Lopez (1978, 1979) and Beth Daniel (1990) as the only Americans since 1970 with seven or more wins in a single season. Yani Tseng was the last player on tour to win seven times back in 2011.

“Feel like I definitely matured a lot,” said Korda. “I realized what really matters truly in life, you know, through the tough times. I would say you’re not really grateful for them. You’re like why me? Why is this happening to me? Here we go again.

“But you have to be grateful for those times because they do help you grow. They make you realize what really truly matters. The people that really truly look out for you and are there for you will stick through it with you.”

Check out some photos from The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican on the LPGA

The Annika features some of the LPGA’s biggest names.

The 2024 Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican features some of the LPGA’s biggest names: Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko, Charley Hull, Minjee Lee, Rose Zhang and Lilia Vu. It’s hosted by perhaps the best womens golfer of all time, Annika Sorenstam.

Held at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, it’s the penultimate event on the LPGA’s 2024 schedule.

Check out some photos of the event.

Charley Hull and Nelly Korda finish in the dark at The Annika, where they’ll battle once again on Sunday

“My putt, I could barely see the hole.”

As the final group chased what little daylight was left up the 18th hole, Charley Hull rinsed her approach at Pelican Golf Club while Nelly Korda suffered a disappointing three-putt.

“I was hitting a 7-iron to the green, and usually my 7-iron in this weather is like 165, 107 club. The sun then dropped, and it was kind of dark. Then it got the wind up, and I hit a really good 7-iron in and hit it pure. It just come up short in the water. Tricky little up-and-down,” said Hull.

“But my putt, I could barely see the hole. I couldn’t see the break or anything. So it was pretty dark to finish in.”

Korda called it poor planning, starting the third round so late at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. The TV window was scheduled to finish at 5 p.m. ET but the final threesome, which teed off at 12:13 p.m., didn’t finish until 5:50 p.m. and Golf Channel stayed on air til the end.

Hull and Korda, two of the fastest players on tour, can’t be blamed. The final round is scheduled to finish at 4:30 p.m. ET on Golf Channel.

Hull paces the field at 12 under while Korda, a two-time winner of this event, sits one back with China’s Weiwei Zhang. While Korda looks to nab her seventh title of the season, Zhang is fighting for full status for the 2025.

“I just felt it’s amazing day today,” said Zhang, who carded a career-low 8-under 62. “I can’t say anything. Just I don’t know how to play that well today.”

Charley Hull of England and Nelly Korda of the United States looks on from the 18th hole during the third round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican 2024 at Pelican Golf Club on November 16, 2024 in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

There’s much on the line Sunday at Pelican, which year after year delivers a first-class finish. In addition to the trophy, players are battling for a spot in the 60-player CME Group Tour Championship as well as their status for next season. In addition, South Korea’s Jin Hee Im, who currently trails by three, looks to make a big move in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year race.

Two-time major winner Brittany Lincicome, who lives in nearby St. Petersburg, will tee it up in her final round as a full-time player on Sunday. Lincicome carded a second consecutive 69 and holds a share of 36th. She tees off at 9:12 a.m. on Sunday alongside Ally Ewing and Jiwon Jeon.

Lincicome has her husband, Dewald Gouws, on the bag this week but plans to have her father, Tom, come inside the ropes Sunday to carry her home on the 18th. It will no doubt be an emotional finish for the mother of two who has long been a fan favorite.

Another Charley Hull, Nelly Korda showdown on tap at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican

The pair squared off against each other in singles at the Solheim Cup.

BELLEAIRE, Fla. – Charley Hull is a whopping 38 under in her last seven rounds of competitive golf worldwide. The always-entertaining Englishwoman, fresh off a victory on the Ladies European Tour, currently leads The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican by two strokes over World No. 1 Nelly Korda.

The pair, of course, squared off against each other in singles last September at the Solheim Cup, where Hull dusted the American, 6 and 4.

“Yeah, I like playing with Nelly,” said Hull after her round. “She makes loads of birdies, so good fun to watch. Yeah, it’s really cool. I’m going to ask her about her swimsuit thing because she’s looked really nice in it. I think it was pretty cool.”

The “swimsuit thing” is the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, which featured Korda for the first time. Korda admitted to being shy at first on the set of the shoot.

“By the end of day, I was having so much fun with them,” she said of the crew.

The 2024 Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican
Nelly Korda looks on during the second round of the 2024 Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican

in Belleair, Florida. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

A two-time winner of The Annika, Korda said she may have rushed her rehab a bit after a neck injury to return to Pelican this year. Back-to-back 66s have her at 8 under. She’s quite comfortable playing close to home.

“Even with it being windy, tough conditions,” said Korda, “I just kind of know the holes where you kind of have to be safe and the holes where you can be a little bit more aggressive on.”

Hull made a bet with her boyfriend before the start of Thursday’s round that for every five birdies made they’d stay an extra day on their European vacation. She made seven birdies in the first round and five more on Friday.

“A lot more trickier than yesterday,” said Hull of Friday’s conditions, “so you got to have a good ball-striking day and I’m a good ball-striker, so played more into my hands.”

Alexa Pano chipped it in the water on the 18th to make double but still managed a second-round 64 to hold a share of third with rookie Jin Hee Im, Mi Hyang Lee and Wichanee Meechai at 7 under.

“There is no good miss out there,” said Pano of the closing hole. “Left, long, right, nothing is good. Definitely water is short. That I found out.

“You got to play smart on that hole, and hopefully I’ll figure it out a little bit better over the weekend.”

Brittany Lincicome, who is playing in her final event as a full-time player, made it to the weekend after carding a 69 on Friday to get to 1 under for the tournament.

“I’m super excited, super relieved to get today done,” said Lincicome. “I have not felt that many nerves running through my body. Like my hands were shaking so bad.

“One of the caddies was like, ‘You still got it. You played so great today. Why are you shutting it down?’ I’m like, if you could be in my head and feel what my hands are feeling and how shaky I am on the golf course, you would retire, too.”

Three players did not finish Round 2 due to darkness, which means third-round tee times won’t be released until Saturday morning.

Caitlin Clark amazes world No. 1 Nelly Korda at LPGA pro-am

Caitlin Clark amazed world No. 1 Nelly Korda at the LPGA pro-am on Wednesday.

While enjoying the WNBA offseason following a Rookie of the Year campaign with the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark brought out her golf game in front of a large gathering on Wednesday in a pro-am for the LPGA Tour in Belleair, Fla.

Clark split the 18 holes of The Annika by playing the front nine with world No. 1 golfer Nelly Korda and shot the back nine with one of the winningest female golfers of all-time in Annika Sorenstam.

During a brief interview with Golf Channel, Clark was asked if she learned any tips from golfing with Korda.

“I’ve watched and she’s amazing,” Clark said. “But golf is hard.”

One of Clark’s many endorsement deals is with Indiana-based Gainbridge, the presenting sponsor of the LPGA’s penultimate tournament on the schedule. Clark also participated in a recent women’s leadership summit hosted by Gainbridge.

Korda said she has messaged with Clark on Instagram, but nothing surpasses spending time with her on the links.

“To see the influence that she has on people, bringing people out here, and to see how amazing of an influence she is just for sports, was really cool to see firsthand today,” Korda said.

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Clark is no stranger to golf as she has admitted to enjoying the sport in her downtime and even played in the John Deere Classic pro-am last summer on the PGA Tour.

Korda spoke about Clark’s game by praising her ability to remain relaxed, which she attributed to her constant bombardment by sports media over the past two years.

“It was great to see how relaxed she was,” Korda said. “Obviously with the media attention she has gotten probably in the past year-and-a-half, two years, you can see how she’s comfortable playing in front of a larger crowd. And she was just really enjoying it. You can tell.”

Although most of the golfing day was a success for Clark, there was one shot from the tee box that she shanked into the gallery nearby. Clark was able to laugh off the poorly hit ball by firing off a second shot onto the fairway.

As for Clark, it appears she is enjoying her own leisure life during the offseason prior to the start of her second WNBA season with the Indiana Fever in May of 2025.

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Nelly Korda off to strong start at The Annika, talks migraines, SI Swimsuit Issue

“Sometimes your body gives you signs, right? It’s smart. I need to listen to it a little bit more.”

BELLEAIR, Fla. – Nelly Korda had never suffered from a migraine in her life until she got to the 2024 Solheim Cup. The only time she felt relief early that week in Virginia was to sleep in a dark room.

“I just wasn’t sure what was kind of going on,” said Korda. “I never thought it could have been an injury. I just thought maybe with everything, all the stress that I went through during the year, that like my body was kind of in overdrive in a sense.”

Several weeks later, as she was prepping in California with her coach Jamie Mulligan before heading to South Korea, she suffered what she called a minor neck injury.

“Sometimes your body gives you signs, right?” she said of the headaches. “It’s smart. I need to listen to it a little bit more.”

Nelly Korda of the United States plays her shot from the second tee during the first round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican 2024 at Pelican Golf Club on November 14, 2024, in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Korda, who teed it up in Wednesday’s pro-am with WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, said she might have “rushed” her rehab to get back in time for this week’s event. A two-time winner of The Annika driven by Gainbridge, it was important for her to get back inside the ropes at Pelican Golf Club and play in front of somewhat of a home crowd.

Korda opened with a 4-under 66, chipping in for birdie on the 18th to sit two strokes back of leaders Charley Hull and Jiwon Jeon.

The 2024 Rolex Player of the Year, a six-time winner this season, wasn’t sure what to expect her first week back after a two-month break. Thursday marked her first time walking 18 holes since mid-September in Cincinnati. A doctor cleared her to practice on Oct. 28.

“Whenever I go through these things, I’m just kind of grateful to be out here playing,” said Korda. “Didn’t really know what to expect. Was definitely a little nervous on the first couple holes, just not knowing what to expect of my game because I have not been playing too much.”

During her time away from the game, Korda took part in a photoshoot for Sports Illustrated’s 2025 Swimsuit Issue. Korda said the invitation came about two months ago and it fit into her original schedule coming back from Asia.

More: First look at Nelly Korda in Sports Illustrated’s 2025 Swimsuit Issue is here

“MJ Day, the editor, she was so amazing,” said Korda. “The whole crew was so amazing. I was very shy at first. I’m not used to doing anything like that; so outside my comfort zone.

“I think that’s what’s great about these opportunities is that you do get to step outside your comfort zone and do something different. I was just really excited for the opportunity to do this. I mean, it was so cool. The whole crew was amazing. By the end of day, I was having so much fun with them.”

Nichols: At what feels like a tipping point for the LPGA, a closer look at the rocky tenure of commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan

Rarely is the LPGA at the forefront of anything, including the current surge in women’s sports.

BELLEAIR, Fla. – In October 2021, Caitlin Clark sent a direct message to the LPGA’s Twitter account asking for one of its cotton-candy logoed hoodies designed by Michelle Wie West.

“Think you could hook me up w the best sweatshirt ever made?!!!” Clark asked. “Huge fan.”

Tour officials didn’t actually see the message until Clark made her debut in an LPGA pro-am, and they scrambled to present her with the hoodie Wednesday morning on the first tee at Pelican Golf Club.

In creating the WNBA-like hoodie, which raised awareness for the tour and money for charity, Wie West said “We’re often hidden; we’re often left out; we’re often not covered.”

That it took three years for the tour to even notice Clark’s request is a terribly on-brand whiff.

Rarely is the LPGA at the forefront of anything, including the current surge in women’s sports.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCU2BVrRHGu/

Yes, purses on the LPGA are at an all-time high. Major championship prize funds alone have more than doubled since 2021 to nearly $48 million. Total prize money in 2024 topped $125 million, up more than 80 percent since 2021.

It might be tempting to underline those numbers and deem LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan’s tenure thus far a success. The sport, after all, seems to center around money these days.

Except that’s not the whole story. Far from it, in fact.

Coming off the dreadfully public transportation disaster at the Solheim Cup, which quickly escalated into a crisis-management catastrophe, it’s appropriate on the eve of the LPGA’s season-ender to dig a little deeper and attempt to answer a simple question: After more than three years at the helm, how is she doing?

First, it was always going to be hard to replace Mike Whan, a master communicator. The current USGA CEO, Whan announced his decision to step down as LPGA commissioner in January 2021 after a successful 11-year stint. Hired in May 2021 as the tour’s ninth commissioner, Marcoux Samaan didn’t actually get to work in her new role until August, and the first thing on her 100-day agenda was to listen and learn.

The former Princeton athletic director got off to a painfully slow start.

Failure to breakthrough to the mainstream

At the 2023 CME Group Tour Championship, Marcoux Samaan called this a period of transformational growth for women’s golf. And yet, there’s little evidence that the LPGA has broken through into the mainstream at a time when female athletes are experiencing an unprecedented amount of exposure.

Even when World No. 1 Nelly Korda got off to an historic start to the 2024 season, her fame didn’t exactly explode. Domestically, the tour still lacks a bona fide household name.

There are bright spots, to be sure. Such as next week’s $4 million winner’s check, the largest prize in women’s sports history. Marcoux Samaan and CME Group Chairman and CEO Terry Duffy endured a rocky time two years ago when a long list of LPGA players no-showed an important dinner. An embarrassed Duffy blamed leadership, telling Golfweek he was “exceptionally disappointed.”

One year later, however, Duffy signed a contract extension and poured more money into the season-ending event. Duffy and the tour worked it out, but the black eye said much about Marcoux Samaan’s ability to relate to the game’s power players.

Players appreciate the focus on missed-cut money, free hotels and an increased health insurance stipend. But there’s a common refrain among many in and around the tour that they can’t articulate Marcoux Samaan’s overall vision. And when it comes to big-picture issues – such as the tour’s Gender Policy or its dealings with Golf Saudi and the potential of an LET merger – the tour lacks transparency and is slow to act.

Nelly Korda and Caitlin Clark at The Annika
Annika Sorenstam talks with Mollie Marcoux Samaan, commissioner of the LPGA, during a pro-am ahead of the 2024 The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican in Belleair, Florida. (Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

When there weren’t enough buses on Friday morning to transport fans at the Solheim Cup, resulting in wait times of more than two hours, the tour’s communication with the public and media was virtually non-existent for most of the day. It wasn’t until late Friday evening that the tour publicly addressed the issue with a plan (that was quickly deleted and replaced with a scaled-down statement). The commissioner didn’t take questions until the following morning.

What started out as a bus shortage turned into a crisis of leadership.

Promise of growth not being achieved

It’s not that the LPGA is struggling to stay afloat – which has been the case in the past – it’s that the tour’s not experiencing the transformational growth Marcoux Samaan preached.

The departure of Cognizant, a Fortune 100 company that was bullish on the LPGA from the start – signaled a red flag. The hope was that Cognizant’s leadership would sing the LPGA’s praises to other blue-chip companies and lead to organic growth.

Instead, they’re out after title-sponsoring four editions of the event, leaving the tour scrambling to back its own Founders Cup as the LPGA celebrates 75 years.

In addition, stops that have been on tour for decades in Portland and Toledo have been on life support now for several seasons. For reference, the inaugural Portland Ladies Classic dates back to 1972. The Toledo stop began in 1984.

As the LPGA looks to add to the number of events it owns and operates, it has become increasingly clear that the tour lacks the resources needed to make what it currently runs – such as the Solheim Cup and Founders Cup – a success. The tour has invested heavily in boosting its staff in recent years.

A demanding job that requires strong relationships

There’s no question that leading the LPGA is one of the most difficult and demanding jobs in sports. There’s no time to relax. It’s a constant turnover of sponsors, staff and talent. Just as one win goes up on the board, a fire breaks out somewhere else.

It takes help to be successful at this job, which requires strong relationships. And that’s probably where Marcoux Samaan, whose contract expires in the summer of 2026, currently struggles the most. She hasn’t won over enough key people in the event business, the player body, the press or inside her own headquarters. There’s a profound lack of confidence and inspiration among those in her charge.

How much opportunity is being left on the table?

It’s a question that can’t be escaped.

Caitlin Clark mania in full force on LPGA as WNBA star plays alongside Nelly Korda, Annika Sorenstam

The crowd following Clark’s foursome on Wednesday was larger than many final-round groups on the LPGA.

BELLEAIR, Florida – “Please, don’t push!”

“Guys, you’ve got to stop pushing.”

“Caitlin, please! Caitlin, please!”

“Breathe, everybody.”

Caitlin Clark mania descended upon the LPGA Wednesday, transforming what’s normally a sleepy pro-am day into a must-see event. After splitting her 18-hole round alongside World No. 1 Nelly Korda and Annika Sorenstam, Clark made her way to the rope line behind the 18th green at Pelican Golf Club to sign autographs. The frenzied crowd swarmed to get to her, holding out posters, jerseys and basketballs.

Caitlin Clark at Pelican: Photos with Nelly | Gold shoes | Wayward shot

Security officials encouraged everyone to relax amidst the crushing support. The crowd following Clark’s foursome on Wednesday was larger than what many final-round groups attract on the LPGA.

From the moment Clark stepped on the first tee just before 7 a.m., fans lined the fairway for a rare close-up view of the WNBA superstar. Terry and Tina Beert came down from Davenport, Iowa, to watch Clark. Tina wore a sign on her hat that said, “It takes an Iowa village.”

Terry and Tina Beert take in the sights at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican Golf Club (Photo: Beth Ann Nichols/Golfweek)

Five-time LPGA winner Barb Mucha, now 61, drove over from Orlando, Florida, to watch the pro-am. She didn’t watch women’s basketball until Clark came on the scene.

“The way she draws everybody together,” marveled Mucha, “She’s like a Michael Jordan, like a Billie Jean King.”

Current LPGA player Maria Fassi chased Clark down the 18th fairway so that she could beat the rush of fans. She wanted a photo, but she also wanted to say thank you.

“Being out here and supporting us, but also what she’s doing for women’s sports,” said Fassi, “it goes beyond the basketball court or the golf course. I think she’s changing a lot of people’s lives, and I wanted to make sure she heard it from me as well.”

Fassi, for the record, also didn’t watch women’s basketball before Clark, echoing a common refrain.

Clark showed up on the range 18 minutes before her 7 a.m. tee time and hit fewer than 20 balls. She started off with a worm-burner but found a groove, easing in by teeing up a few irons.

On the first tee, Clark played her left-to-right shot to perfection, finding the way to the delight of the adoring crowd. She played from the same tees as Korda and playing partners Dan Towriss, president and CEO of Group 1001 and Gainbridge, and Jason Rickard, who played collegiate golf at Iowa.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCUZWwXROsN/?hl=en

“It was so amazing,” said Korda. “She’s so sweet, so nice. It was nice it kind of get to spend some time with her. We’ve messaged a little on Instagram beforehand but to get to spend some time with her and to see the influence that she has on people, bringing people out here, and to see how amazing of an influence she is just for sports, was really cool to see firsthand today. … We just felt like two friends hanging out.”

Clark engaged regularly with fans outside the ropes and smiled profusely. Bad shots did nothing to spoil her day.

“She’s super mature for 22,” said Sorenstam. “I’m going like, wow, she’s 22; I’m 32 years older. Yeah, she’s an older woman in a younger body if you know what I mean, in a good way. She handles herself really well and good with people, says the right things.”

Clark loves to pound drivers and wasn’t afraid to step up and give it a rip. The natural athleticism and star power were on full display.

“It’s captivating,” said Mucha.

Sorenstam gave Clark a few pointers along the way, noting that when it’s windy, it’s important to find good tempo and get the clubface square to the target.

“She hits it a little quick,” said Sorenstam. “She played with Nelly on the front and Nelly is about power, so of course when you play with someone like that you want to swing harder and faster.”

Clark had one goal for the day: don’t hit anybody.

That actually happened on the par-3 ninth, where she missed one left with fans lined from tee to green.

“Thanks for the good kick, whoever I hit,” Clark joked as she walked up to her ball. She then autographed a ball for the fan and apologized.

“I got hit, too!” another fan yelled.

Professional basketball player Caitlin Clark reacts on the eighth green prior to The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican 2024 at Pelican Golf Club on November 13, 2024, in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

More than a dozen junior players from Miami made the trip up to watch Wednesday’s pro-am round. The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf crew held handmade signs for Clark. It was a good day to skip school.

“The young girls that are at our games having the time of their lives, all lof of them, if you go up to them start crying,” said Clark during Tuesday’s leadership summit. “It’s cute, but also I was just in their shoes however many years ago, I was begging my dad or my mom to take me to whatever sporting event it was and I was screaming, ‘I want to meet the players,’ whether they were a high school team or the pros or college because it was so impactful.”

She was well aware of how many young faces followed her for more than four hours on Wednesday.

Clark signed on with Gainbridge before she even turned professional, and her appearance this week was a natural fit for the partnership. The hope, of course, is that Clark returns to the tour for years to come. There’s a void of female celebrities in the game, making Clark’s presence all the more potent.

“It was so fun,” she said. “Obviously getting to see them do what they do up front, like people would pay for that. I got to do it for free and have fun with them. … Very lucky and fortunate.

“Hung in there, did alright. It was a good day.”

Must-see photos of Nelly Korda and Caitlin Clark playing in The Annika 2024 pro-am

What a morning at Pelican.

Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, was buzzing early Wednesday morning as world No. 1 Nelly Korda and WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark warmed up for their nine-hole pro-am at The Annika, one of the biggest non-major events on the LPGA schedule.

It’s not often you get two of the biggest stars in women’s sports together, and fans took advantage of the opportunity. They came out in droves to watch Korda and Clark, with tournament host and women’s golf GOAT Annika Sorenstam and LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan making an appearance on the first tee.

After Korda and Clark finish the front nine, the No. 1 pick from the 2024 WNBA draft will play the back with Sorenstam.

Here are must-see photos from an incredible morning at Pelican Golf Club.

More: WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark has one goal for her LPGA pro-am debut: Don’t hit anyone with a golf ball

Nelly Korda and Caitlin Clark play in The Annika pro-am