Annika Sorenstam

Annika Sorenstam is a Swedish professional golfer. At 38, her achievements rank her as one of the most successful golfers in history. Annika has won 72 official LPGA tournaments and 18 others internationally. She tops the LPGA’s career money list with earnings and is reported to have earned over $22 million, which is $8 million more than her nearest rival. Ninety international tournament wins make her the female golf player with the most wins.

Sorenstam is the winner of eight Player of the Year awards, and six Vare Trophies which are given to the LPGA player with the lowest seasonal scoring average. She is the only female golfer to have shot a 59 during a competition. Annika holds various all-time scoring records including the lowest season scoring average in 2004. She made history at the Bank of America Colonial tournament in 2003 as the first woman to play in a men’s PGA Tour event since 1945.

Sorenstam won her first professional tournament in 1994 at the Holden Australian Open Championship on the ALPG Tour. Here in the United States, Sorenstam was voted LPGA Rookie of the Year and enjoyed 10-finishes including a tie for second at the Women’s British Open where she made her Solheim Cup debut.

In 1995, Sorenstam won her first LPGA Tour title at the U.S. Women’s Open and finished at the top of the money list and she was the first non-American winner of the Var Trophy. She becomes the second player to win Player of the Year and the Vare Trophy the year after being Rookie of the Year.

Sorenstam will quit professional golf in December 2008. She would like to start a family and focus on her business and other golf interests.