Congratulations Lorena

The LPGA season is officially over and I would like to congratulate Lorena on a fantastic season. She has played some tremendous golf this year. I think she has blossomed as a player and a person. She is a great ambassador for the game and I am glad to see her win the ADT playoffs today.                                                                        Viva Lorena!!

Comments

[Tiffany Schoning]

Annika,
Thank you so much for responding to my post. It really brightens up the day and I think that it is awesome how much fan interaction you are doing. This is so great! This congrats to Lorena was an amazing gesture that I don't think you see very often from players and again just shows what an awesome person you are. Quick question, how come you don't play in the Safeway Classic in Oregon anymore?

[Chris]

Lorena Ochoa represents the only protection we have against the wild hordes of Nordic blondes currently overruning women's golf.

[Annika the Cat]

Hi Annika,
Lorena played well and if there is anyone who can appreciate the efforts it takes at playing at that level it's you. And congrats to your buddy, Natalie too.

Looking forward to see who the teams are for the Lexus Cup.

One Purr Wishes - (Concept stolen from Pia & Lynn - don't tell them)

[lesley]

Kudos to Annika for being such an unselfish human being. Your efforts both on the course and off are an inspiration to many. Your accomplishments are phenomenal. Keep living and don't lose sight of what's important, but most of all-have fun!!!! You deserve it..

[Dora]

Annika,
This is a classic example of all your actions from early on which typify sportsmanship in the highest degree. Simply put, you touch everything with class. We, Canadians love you and hope to see you in our Open next year.

[Annika]

I love the Portland tournament. I have missed the tournament the last few years because of scheduling issues...

[kathinmtpsc]

hello from charleston,sc. now i know why i admire you so much. you are truly a class act when it comes too representing the golf world. congratulating lorena for 2007 and her success was the icing on the cake. word is your coming on strong in 2008, cant wait and i know you can do it,no one but T.W. has focus like you do. go back to the past years and look at photos and you will see it. the intensity is there and you know how to bring it back. congrats on the engagement even if he is a buckeye lover, hey mike maybe you will pull for tarheels in b. ball or maybe an honest wager can happen. have a great thanksgiving and good luck at lexus. ps if need recipes for TG i have many. thank you and best wishes, kath

[Annika]

Thanks Kath. I appreciate your kind words.

[Joseph Martin]

Annika,
I watched you play in the ADT event. You tried hard but the golf gods were not with you this time. You are right, you will be back. I remember when you played the PGA Colonial event.(see below) I enclose my thoughts then and now.You will always be remembered for your tenacity and you will be back!

J.X.M

A Profile in Courage

Early Thursday morning, Annika Sorenstam, a courageous young woman from far away Sweden, stepped out onto the crowded first tee, at the Colonial Golf Course in Fort Worth Texas. With the elegant physical grace of a world-class athlete, she performed the complicated ritual ballet of a golf swing and propelled a small, surlyn-covered sphere out into the Texas sky and into the annals of history.

This isn’t just another sports story. This is a profile in courage that will inspire a generation of women and men to take on challenges that they might never have considered. It is one of those seminal events in a culture’s history that sometimes are not recognized for what they are. I well remember the Bobby Riggs, Billy Jean King Tennis match of the early 1970’s. In retrospect, a world-class Tennis player pummeled an aging male Tennis pro into submission. That isn’t how we saw it then. It was a titanic battle of the sexes. Most of us just merely assumed that a female athlete could not stand up against a male athlete, in any sport. In winning, I think King laid the philosophical ground work for the emergence of the federal Title Nine Sports initiative, that allowed hundreds of thousands of young girls to become involved in athletics, to the enrichment of our entire society.

And now Annika Sorenstam is pushing the envelope once more. Regardless of the hype and the public persona, this is someone’s very feminine and graceful young daughter challenging all of these great big men here. The match up reminds me of an old Saturday Evening Post cover, by Norman Rockwell. It depicted several great big Federal Marshalls escorting a small, fragile young African American girl to school during the bad old days of segregation. Challenges like these take a level of personal courage and a graceful aplomb under pressure that few of us could manage.

I am pulling for this courageous young woman to succeed. Go Annika go. Let those surlyn-covered missiles fly straight and true, like the character of the one that propels them. You have given all of us an example of personal courage that we will long remember. Hopefully a generation after you will be inspired to achieve things that they might never have dared, before you pointed the way for them.

-30-

5/22/03

J.X.M

[Christopher-Chicago]

Annika-

You remind me of a gracious man who once traversed the fairways and greens of the PGA-Jack Nickalus. You are as professional in your wins as your loses, the mark of a true Champion.
I feel sorry for the LPGA girls in 2008!! You will be back, healthy, engaged, your "Brand" launched, academy running and ready to make a statment on the Tour. I would expect you to win and win often and use this season, your injuries and the ADT experience as fuel to play excellent golf in 2008. If Lorena, Suzann, Paula and the girls are not ready, yikes, they may have to contend in the Tournaments that you do not play in-haha. Good luck in 208
Christopher
P.S. I am a dynamic, hard working, unique minded, studly attorney whom loves waatching Women's golf on the LPGA and would be honored to work for the Annika Team!! If you are looking for any more great people for your Team, I am sure you can find my e-mail address from your website. I have many ties in Florida and am ready to work for the greatest women golfer on the planet.

[Annika]

Joseph,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. The Colonial was a special moment. I have memories for life.

[Annika]

Hi Christopher,

I appreciate your kind words. I am proud of the ANNIKA team members. I'll keep your e-mail address on file for future possible positions.

[Robert (Minneapolis)]

It appears like 2008 will be a tremendous rivalry between you and Lorena. It's going to make for an extremely exciting year. Can't wait to see you at Interlachen for the Open.

[Annika]

Thanks Robert.

[Karla Villegas]

As expected, a total class act from you. It's always nice to read others thoughts about Lorena, but it makes it even more special coming from you.

[Dean Blake]

Annika-Since we first saw that litle girl from Sweden win the US Opem in 1995--you have been my favorite golfer.Then you also turn out to be
a great,great athlete with the super class that
we would like to see in every person's life.Wish you a reaally good career as you come back wuth good health in the future golf tournaments.

[John]

Annika,

2 questions.

1. What did you learn specifically (not I learned a lot) about men's golf as played on the PGA TOUR that you did NOT know before you played in the 2003 Colonial?

2. If Lorena is asked to accept an exemption to a PGA TOUR event (perhaps a PGA TOUR event in Mexico) and Lorena came to you for your thoughts before she accepted, what would you tell her?

Thanks

[Robert (Minneapolis)]

THANK YOU ANNIKA!! The comments thanking you for giving back to the fans are truly right on. This Blog was a brilliant idea. Whether it was your idea or Mike's, it really gives your fans a wonderful connection with you that we never really get, other than perhaps when seeing you in person at a tournament and we get some sort of acknowledgement from you. It really does make us feel a part of the ANNIKA team. The website is wonderful, as well.

Good luck at the Lexus and Thank you again for all you do.

Robert

[Kristen]

Annika,

Lorena is a terrific champion and I can't wait to see you in top form doing battle with her next year. Now that will be compelling stuff - and great for women's golf! The leaderboard (and the fans) will be privileged to have two such classy ladies at the top.

Great work with the Academy and this blog. I'd love to interview you on my site. Drop me a line if you're interested.

Kristen

[Cynthia]

Annika,
I will always remember following you at your practice rounds. What was so impressive to me was the way you interacted with the gallery. You even gave my daughter an autographed ball and chatted with her while she was playing with her game-boy. I think you are an awesome talent, but more importantly, you are an awesome person who obviously appreciates your fans. Thank you. Hope your back is healing well and I can't wait to see you give Lorena a run for her money next year!!!! Oh, and by the way, congratulations on your engadgement!!!

[Thomas Nilson]

Hej Annika

Well I guess you want it in english, but as a swedish guy living in Spain I wish you all the luck for next year and I know that you will do everything to be number one again. But please come and play in Andalucia Spain next year.

Hälsningar/Best Regards

Thomas
Marbella Spain

[Annika]

Thomas - Swedish or English is welcome. My spanish is nor so good...

[Annika]

Cynthia,

Welcome. My back/neck is healing very well. I feel like I am almost 100%. I look forward to a great '08.

[Annika]

Thanks Kristen. Happy Thanksgiving.

[Annika]

We have worked hard on the website and the blog. It's been in the works for sometime, so I appreciate the nice comments Robert. Please keep posting your comments.

[Golf54deciple]

Annika,
I appreciate your CONGRATS to Lorena because she's earned it and she's the type of champion who has accepted the RESPONSIBILITY of being in the special position she now holds. It matters a lot for Mexico and the LPGA that she is having her season and understanding how to share her passion.

There will be many champions, but only one Annika . . . . .

To us it feels like we're fixin' to go through another "paradigm shift" when it comes to what opportunities your life choices may release for the betterment of life and golf.

Seems OUR passion for seeing HOW you have been incorporating all that has happened the past two years in golf into stepping out into more unknown" levels of excellence is motivating beyond words for the rest of us who are learning that "little steps, done daily, DO matter"!!

Some get to be famous but ALL are called to be GREAT . . . the genetic material is already in every cell of our bodies.

Like others are saying, this blog site helps to satisfy our insatiable appetite to feel like we're getting to KNOW you.

Don't know if this is a human thing or an American thing, but we feel like if we get to KNOW a person, we're willing to stick with them through thick & thin. It's just easier to release the proper thoughts and words to surround the person with life giving/sustaining energy.

As another fan said earlier, we love seeing "hit the fairway, hit the green, then make the eagle/birdie", because that's just how it has to be. Seeing you do that is NOT boring to us. We love wondering will the ball land 3ft left of the flag or 3ft right!!

But we just feel like that type of perfection comes from a very special person (who is spirit, soul & body all working together).

And so there you have it, I rest my case.

[Golf54deciple]

Annika,
I've been searching the Internet and inquiring of friends for a DVD of the telecast at Colonial. Has such ever been release for sale to the public?

Just wondering . . .

[Annika]

I have not seen a DVD with the telecast from Colonial. Sorry...

[Golf54deciple]

It's a small world . . . will meet somebody along the way, that perhaps recorded on for personal viewing.

thnx

[Cynthia]

Annika, do you remember talking to my daughter at the practice round at the Samsung tournament in Vallejo a few years back? She was only about 11 or 12, and was carrying around her game-boy. You made such an impression on her, and me alike. Thanks for all you do.
Cynthia

[Annika]

Cynthia, I wish I did remember your daughter at Samsung. However, please excuse me since it was over 4 years ago. Hopefully, I will meet her again.

[Oldskibunny]

Annika: I am 54 yrs old and never,ever imagined I would take up golf! Last spring in Florida I rode in the golf cart while my husband and his brother played 9 holes and they had so much fun I thought, "well, I could do this too." My husband took me to the driving range and found I could hit balls 150 yards so he got excited and bought me a set of clubs. My first game was in Hawaii and I hit straighter than the guys who started calling me, "Annika." I did not know who you were, but can see the similarities in our looks (I am Danish-American) and got a big thrill out of this! Now I follow your tips and career with great interest. For once I am sorry to see ski season come and cannot wait til next summer. Taking on a new,fun and challenging sport is a good way to keep me interested as I progress through this part of my life. What fun! Like you, I was unbelievably shy as a young woman. Glad you have moved beyond this and have become such a wonderful inspiration to so many women! Stay strong and of good heart. Christine

[Cynthia]

It is so very cool to be able to chat with you. Too bad more players don't do the same. I think it is so very good for the LPGA. Thank you for being such a wonderful ambassador for the game and for the LPGA. You are truly a class act, Annika.

[Pam]

I hope Im in time for you to read this..

Annika,

Its just awsome to see a player .. a PRO player just congrats to another that is doing a great job in the tournaments... you must know you are already a legend in this sport and you are in the heart of many, so many golf fans.. A shame we lost you at friday for the ADT million race and the next day we lost Suzann, but we know you tried and thats what really matters... so even, instead Im mexican (jeje), and of course I support Lore all the time.. Im fan too of .. sure Annika (jeje), Suzann, Cristie and Paula... I think you all are just great players..

I hope to see you next March?, in here, playing in Mexico City (where I live), Morelia and Guadalajara.. you have a lot fans in here too.. so hopefully I will be able to see you around next year (fingers crossed, jejejeje)..

So, was an awsome detail from you, Im almost sure Lorena just appreciated your words so much, as everyone LPGA fan cause that show us the great human being you are..

Wish you ALL the best to next year and luckly with new trophies, ok..

(sorry for my english maybe is not the best)

Saludos desde Mexico, estaremos esperandote! (Regards from Mexico, we will be waiting for you)