Caitlin Clark, this season’s WNBA Rookie of the Yr, introduced final week her participation in “The ANNIKA” pushed by Gainbridge event hosted by one of many best feminine golfers in historical past, Annika Sörenstam. The ANNIKA pushed by Gainbridge at Pelican is an annual LPGA Tour event held within the Tampa Bay space that options prime feminine golfers competing over 4 rounds for a share of the $3.25 million purse – one of many largest on the LPGA Tour. In accordance with the tournament’s official website, Clark will probably be a panelist on the Ladies’s Management Summit on Tuesday, November 12, and can play within the Professional-Am on Wednesday, November 13, each on the Pelican Golf Membership in Belleair, Florida. The event known as the Professional-Am as a result of it requires a skilled golfer and an novice to tee off and play collectively – like Sörenstam and Clark.
Clark will not have the ability to declare the $3.25 million award
“I really like golf, so the chance to play in a pro-am event with a legend like Annika Sörenstam is extremely thrilling,” stated Clark. Whereas the 22-year-old couldn’t have been paired with a extra iconic golfer to start her golf journey, she is not going to be eligible for any prize cash as a result of event guidelines. In accordance with Annika’s event web site, there’s a complete of $3.25 million up for grabs, however celebrities will not be allowed to assert any of it at occasions like this. The professional-am occasion will start after Clark’s participation, with the primary spherical for each amateurs and professionals beginning on Thursday. Nonetheless, the followers is not going to be eligible for any prizes, including Clark, whose contract with the Indiana Fever is for 4 years and $338,056, little or no compared to different sports activities, so it should have precipitated him at the very least some discomfort.
In accordance with the USGA rulebook, part three, “An novice competing in a scratch competitors can settle for prizes, together with prize cash, as much as a restrict of £700 or $1000 per occasion, until a nationwide governing physique has set a decrease cap.” This rule just lately gained consideration when it prevented 20-year-old Nick Dunlap from gathering the $1.5 million prize for profitable a PGA Tour occasion within the first month of this yr. Whereas her contract with the Fever is probably not the most important or the event prize, Clark signed a $28 million endorsement cope with Nike over the subsequent eight years. As a part of the deal, Nike has dedicated to creating an unique shoe for the Indiana Fever level guard, so she will not be burdened by the winnings together with different sponsorships and the skyrocketing fame she’s earned.
Who’s Clark’s associate Annika Sörenstam
Annika Sörenstam is broadly thought to be one of many best feminine golfers in historical past. Throughout her profession, she received 10 main championships and 72 LPGA Tour occasions, making her the third all-time chief in LPGA wins. Sörenstam additionally holds the file for the bottom scoring common in a single season, with an unbelievable 68.696 in 2004. She was the first lady to play in a PGA Tour occasion in 58 years when she competed within the 2003 Financial institution of America Colonial. Sörenstam retired from skilled golf in 2008 however stays a big determine within the sport by her work as a course designer and philanthropist.
