As a young amateur at her first U.S. Women’s Open, Annika Sorenstam walked into the locker room at Oakmont Country Club, took one look at the frozen yogurt machine and free massages, and thought why would anyone ever want to leave?
The quiet young Swede couldn’t have known in 1992 how much the championship would eventually shape her career as a three-time winner (1995, 1996 and 2006). Or the extent to which she’d shape the game itself.
Sorenstam’s sensational career was bookended by special U.S. Women’s Open moments. She, of course, broke through as a professional by winning the 1995 U.S. Women’s Open in her first appearance as a pro. And then in her final Women’s Open in 2008, Sorenstam said farewell to the championship by holing her final shot into the par-5 18th from 199 yards at Interlachen Country Club. She called it a fairy-tale finish.
To celebrate the U.S. Women’s Open’s 75th anniversary, the USGA named Sorenstam the championship’s official ambassador. The event was scheduled to take place this week at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, but was pushed back to Dec. 10-13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Golfweek recently talked to Sorenstam about the impact of the Women’s Open on her career. The following are excerpts from that conversation.
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On that 1995 Broadmoor Victory
Two things that really stick out. Some people were very interested in this player from Sweden. As you know, I’m quite shy and had missed shots on purpose growing up (to avoid a victory speech). I never really felt comfortable in the limelight. All of a sudden you win a U.S. Open, being so new, all of a sudden everyone wanted to know everything about me, so that was quite a change. I think the biggest thing was just knowing that I had made the right decision to turn professional. That I was good enough to play on the biggest stage. To play against Meg Mallon, Laura Davies, all the top players that were playing at that time.
I knew at that time that I hadn’t reached my full potential. I’d been on tour for a year and a half; I didn’t have the experience yet. I was still evolving as a golfer. It was really an important victory just knowing I was on the right track and doing the right things. But then I had to open up and maybe show some (other) sides, more of who I am. I always felt like I wanted to take the trophy and run. That’s what I wanted to do. I was terrified to do anything else. I had to grow up and mature and learn what it takes. It’s more than just hitting shots. That was a big learning thing.
On Her Rising Fame
I won a few times after that (first) U.S. Open. I started out the year kind of at the top. All of a sudden, I’d come to these tournaments and I’d never really been a defending champion. And expectations of doing media and talking about it … all of a sudden, my schedule started filling up with things I never really thought that I would do. So I remember just thinking that I was so busy. I was so busy and I felt like I had to share everything with everybody, and I had to just learn how to say no. I think that was the biggest thing.
The Next Nancy
When I won the U.S. Open in 95, I was 24. All they were saying is ‘This is the new Nancy Lopez.’ There’s only one Nancy. I just felt like those shoes are too big to fill. I’m not Nancy and I didn’t come out here to be another Nancy. I can only be who I am. We are different personalities. I felt like I was kind of put in a box, you know what I mean? Like I had expectations of being Nancy and that was difficult for me because they put me on the Letterman Show and all those things to promote and that just wasn’t easy for me. So I told the commissioner, ‘I’ve gotta learn.’
What Comes with Winning
If you think of it, all you do as young players is practice golf, golf, golf. But a lot of times we don’t practice what it takes when you win a golf tournament – expectations, so many things. I think that’s why you very seldom see players win back to back. They don’t win 10 tournament a year. You really don’t see that very much. You only see them win one or two. They get so mentally tired from winning. The expectations of wining. We don’t practice that.
I told the commissioner, I’m here for the long haul, but for me to be here for the long haul and have the best value to you, I told this to Charlie Meacham, my best value to you is if I go about it the way I need to go about it. But you just can’t throw me in the media circle like this. I said if you go underwater and you can’t swim, you’re just going to sink.
Finding Her Own Way
After I won the U.S. Open, I realized that I’ve got to focus my schedule around these four majors, and that’s what I did. One of the things I learned from a Meg Mallon practice round (in 1992), was that she had her coach there. I thought well, the next major I’m going to have my coach there. Well, I realized quickly that did not fit me. I need more than just a few days to get ready for a major. I felt stressed having him there, learning new things while I was preparing for the biggest tournament. It took me a few years to realize that I need to see my coach two weeks before a major.
Biggest Heartbreak
I would say the one in Kansas. Juli Inkster ended up winning. I believe she shot 66. I was at the very top most of the first three days. I played very well, and on Sunday she just had an amazing round. I think I shot in the 60s, and she ended up winning. I remember one of the USGA officials coming up to me saying, ‘Good playing, this type of thing only happens in 1 percent of all major championships.’ I don’t know if it was supposed to make me feel any better, but it certainly didn’t make me feel any better. Juli just played exceptionally well. It was hot and humid in Hutchinson, Kansas. I just felt like I had it, you know what I mean?
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