Caitlin Clark tees off at Annika Pro-Am, Fever teammates cheer her on
Caitlin Clark was just one of the big names for the tournament. See how her Indiana Fever teammates supported her on the course.
Indiana Fever All-Star Caitlin Clark played in The Annika Pro-Am for the second consecutive year on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Fever teammates Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull caddied for Clark at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. Clark played with Nelly Korda and sponsor invite Lauryn Nguyen.
“I actually grew up playing a little bit. I remember for one of my birthdays, I got this cute little set of pink golf clubs,” Clark said. “Then, I kind of stopped playing and then during COVID, I picked it back up.”
Clark talked about her golf swing, alluding how tough the game can be for even the best athlete.
“I am slicing it off the tee, but (on the 10th) was probably my best drive of the day,” Clark said. “I swing so fast and so hard, that’s my problem, I always want to kill the ball.
“Honestly, I have hit some good iron shots, and some good putts. I need a long putt to go in so the crowd can go crazy. I think they are waiting for that.”
Clark played in 13 games in her second season in the WNBA due to a series of soft tissue injuries. She last played on July 15, right before the All-Star break, injuring her right groin. She was on the bench as the Fever advanced to the WNBA semifinals.
Annika Sorenstam on Caitlin Clark
Annika Sorenstam said Caitlin Clark brings a new audience to the LPGA.
“If you’re here, you would see the amount of people that are here, you see the atmosphere, I mean, she’s very popular and great to have a part of this event in many ways,” Sorenstam said. “I played with her last year and, you know, quite the athlete. What can I say?
“She has added a lot to this tournament and a lot of different ways and it’s fun. … We have some celebrity caddies, some other great WNBA players, Sophie and Lexi, so it’s kind of fun.”
Caitlin Clark is known for her logo-3s on the basketball court. But she made a logo-putt on No. 10 during The Annika Pro Am on Wednesday. The long putt drew quite a response from the gallery.
After Caitlin Clark made an impressive drive off the No. 10 tee, the WNBA star pumped her fist to amp up the crowd. Her Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham tried to follow suit – but to no avail. Cunningham yelled “Happy Gilmore” as she sliced her drive into the crowd. No one was injured, and everyone was amused.
As her round winds down, Caitlin Clark has been cheered on every step of the way by her Fever teammates Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull.
Caitlin Clark played her first nine holes with Nelly Korda and is currently playing the back nine with Lauryn Nguyen. But before the Fever star’s day started, Clark received a new pair of Nikes from Korda.
Nelly Korda played nine holes with Clark in the pro-am again this year, after playing last fall. She was asked if Clark’s game had improved.
“Definitely more about having fun. I mean, her teammates were out, too,” Korda said. “They were a lot of fun. I think maybe she was a little bit more comfortable. We knew each other a little bit more. So for us, like chitchatting was a lot of fun.
“I would say, the same amount of people showed up this year as they did last year. And, that to me is really cool to see.”
Caitlin Clark enjoyed large galleries at The Annika. Many had on her No. 22 Iowa and Indiana Fever jerseys. One fan held a sign asking Clark for a picture for her 17th birthday.
“I just like how hard she works,” Micah Ross said when interviewed about her love for Clark on The Golf Channel. “She has helped me stay motivated.
“She is a really good role model.”
At the turn, Clark will play the back nine with Lauren Nguyen after playing the first nine with Nelly Korda. Her Indiana teammates, Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull, each took a tee shot off the 10th hole, with Hull signing autographs for fans after her shot went awry and landed in the crowd.
“She enjoys everything that she does. Sometimes, there’s so many things that you can juggle, there’s so many things that we kind of have to do and for her to be so laid back and relaxed and have fun and just chill out with everyone is cool to see,” Korda said about Clark.
Korda said she also gifted Clark new shoes before the round and Clark asked if they would make her golf better, to which Korda responded, “Guaranteed.”
Head to toe Nike
Caitlin Clark showing off her golf fit.
Getting ready to go
Group shot before teeing off with celebrity caddies, Fever teammates Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham, NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar and former Team USA goalie Brianna Scurry.
What time is The Annika Pro-Am with Caitlin Clark?
Caitlin Clark’s group tees off at The Annika Pro-Am at 8:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. The Golf Channel will begin airing highlights at 10 a.m. ET.
The Annika Pro-Am with Caitlin Clark: TV, streaming
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 12
Time: 10 a.m. ET
Location: Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida
TV: The Golf Channel
Stream: Fubo, NBC Golf, beginning at 11 a.m. ET
