ANNIKA Blog

2011 Solheim Cup

We just returned from Ireland after an incredible week. I am very proud of Captain Alison Nicholas and our entire European Team for their incredible victory. The US Team fought hard as usual and we were fortunate to finally get the cup back…..it has been a while! That action was about as exciting as I have ever seen with the entire Cup literally coming down to the last matches.
 
I really enjoyed my role as Vice Captain. It was a very busy week and I got a an entirely new perspective on the amount of work and attention to detail it takes. My hats off to Alison on super planning and execution. It was fun to be there and be a part of it albeit in a different role. Congratulations to both teams on a super show for the entire golf world.
 
I hope you enjoy some the photos from the week.

Speaking to the ILGU

Hello from Ireland!

Hello from Ireland! It's been a great week gearing up for the Solheim Cup; there certainly hasn't been a dull moment. It's trips like this that really spark memories for me from 'back in the day' yet this trip is completely different for me than any before. My family is here (the kids are having a wonderful time!) and I'm enjoying my role as Vice Captain very much. It has been a great experience being in this position and I'm learning a lot. I have a great deal of respect for Captains Alison Nicholas and Rosie Jones who have been working very hard the last 24 months.

 The course is in great shape and the greens are rolling a little faster than earlier in the week. Killeen Castle is a beautiful backdrop to the 18th hole; however, it's actually just a shell of a building. The investment group ran out of money during construction and were not able to complete it.

 All of the players have been working very hard with early practices and long meetings. That said, there has also been time for some fun too! Last night I went to the gala dinner where we were treated to traditional Irish dancing and lots of laughs!

 The official countdown is now less than 24 hours. Although the weather is quite chilly over here, things will really start to heat up once the players get on the course in the morning!

 Good night from Dublin. Turning off the lights, an early wake up call, bus leaves at 5:30 am.

Incredible life-changing story from one of my Academy's past guests

For most of you, your golf season is coming to an end as the colder weather blows in. For the ANNIKA Academy our fourth season is just beginning. One thing that sets us apart from most golf schools is the integration of golf, fitness and nutrition. The fitness routines at the ANNIKA Academy are designed to improve strength, balance and endurance. For some, like our past guest Heidi Happy (below), fitness and nutrition took on a much bigger role. Heidi came to the ANNIKA Academy for the first time on March 19, 2009. Since her visit, she has lost 52% of her body mass and a total of 149lbs!

Check out the before and after pictures!

Cool Sorenstam reveals darker side of Solheim Cup

IT'S not all face paint, high fives and pony tails. Far from it. The Solheim Cup stirs passions as deep and sometimes far darker than any you'd find at Samuel Ryder's biennial bunfight.

Of course, the leading women golfers from Europe and the US are a lot closer today than their forebears.

Half of the 12-strong team which home captain Alison Nicholas fields in this week's Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle played in the Navistar LPGA Classic in Alabama at the weekend and flew into Dublin yesterday on the same charter flight as Rosie Jones and her US team.

Familiarity has helped breed respect for European players and soften America's old arrogance at the Solheim Cup. Yet with so much emotional energy coursing through two highly motivated teams, there's always a chance of thunder in Co Meath this weekend.

Annika Sorenstam, arguably the greatest ever female golfer and certainly one of the toughest competitors to grace the professional fairways, admitted she got goosebumps as we discussed a formidable European team's prospects of winning the Solheim Cup for the first time since 2003 and only the fourth time in all. And she's not playing!

Read the full article here.

Greetings from the ANNIKA Cup!

Today was the final day of the fifth annual ANNIKA Cup and I must say it was probably the most exciting. The teams played foursomes and match-play and the entire tournament was literally decided by the final group on the 18^th hole. Mariana Hedlund, from Northern Sweden chipped in for birdie to win her match one up and secure victory for the Red Team.

 After the matches we had team photos and some media. We ate together and recapped the past few days and I tried to provide some parting words of wisdom. Then I surprised them by doing my Morning Drive call in live with them in the room on speaker phone. They were able to say “Goooo Sweden,” which brought some smiles.

 All in all I think it was a very productive and fun couple of days. It seemed like the girls felt the camaraderie amongst the group and I hope they made some friends for life. They left Bro Balsta full of energy and hopefully encouraged to keep working hard.  With the European Solheim Cup next week I hope this inspires some of these girls to one day represent Europe.

The ANNIKA Cup and our trip to Sweden

I hope everybody is having a good week! Mike, Ava, Will and I have had a great couple of days in New York City. We have done some sightseeing, went to meetings and even caught some of the tennis on Sunday. Now we're off to our next adventure...Europe! Our first stop is Sweden and I am very excited to get there! I always love going back and it's extra special these days to go with my family. Although Ava doesn't remember visiting last summer, she sure is excited to visit her grandparents at their house and to show Will around for his first visit!

 I am very much looking forward to the ANNIKA Cup, the annual match-play event with the top amateur girls in Sweden. It will be an action packed few days and I can't wait for it to begin! Be sure to visit the Foundations blog for updates: http://annikafoundation.blogspot.com/.

 We will stay busy by heading to Ireland next for the Solheim Cup. The anticipation has been building for the past few months and it’s hard to believe it's almost go-time. I am honored to be the Assistant Captain for the European team and wish all of the players the best of luck.

 Enjoy the photo of the four of us before heading to the airport this morning. Any tips you have on taking big trips with a two-year-old and a baby are appreciated!  

The Countdown Continues!

The Solheim Cup countdown continues! I couldn't believe it when I realized we are just a couple of weeks away. My team and I are getting ready to head to Ireland and the excitement is definitely building. The US team has already won the Solheim Cup 8 times but this may be the year for the Europeans to win. We will find out soon!

 Now that both teams are both selected, who do you think will win?

 I will be sure to take lots of pictures while I am there and will share with you when I get back to the States. Also, the Golf Channel is broadcasting the Solheim Cup on September 23, 24 and 25th. Be sure to tune in!

The Solheim Cup Countdown

Lower your scores with a stronger mental game

Outside the ropes, golf can seem so easy. But as you know, playing the game can be a lot harder than it looks because it’s not just about a great swing, perfect technique and a good strategy. Golf is a mental test and as they say, “the longest distance in golf is the six inches between your ears.” When I was playing as a professional, I always felt my mental game was one of my strengths. I had confidence and I trusted myself. Of course it took some practice and learning the hard way through trial and error.