BELLEAIR — Prior to The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Annika Sorenstam said she hoped the event would be a big success and help revitalize a region decimated by back-to-back hurricanes.
By the time the tournament concluded on Nov. 17 — with Nelly Korda raising the trophy on a sun-splashed 18th green — it was clear that mission had been accomplished.
The penultimate event of the 2024 LPGA season drew record crowds to the Indian Rocks Road course throughout the week, thanks in part to WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark’s participation in pre-tournament activities.
There was free admission and accommodations for active military, veterans and first responders. Other draws included clinics for junior girls’ golfers, with tips from Annika herself, and a final weekend that saw two of the sport’s biggest superstars, Korda and England’s Charley Hull, battling for the biggest slice of the $3.25 million purse.
“What an amazing week it’s been,” Sorenstam said before Korda came out of the scorer’s tent to raise the championship trophy at Pelican for the third time in four years and accept an almost $500,000 winner’s check.
Sorenstam said Korda is a great ambassador for the game.
“We love how you play, and we’re very happy to see you win this trophy,” she said.
Korda, a Bradenton resident who notched her seventh victory this season, notched five straight birdies on the back nine in cruising to a three-shot win.
She credited the Pelican, which she called “a special piece of property.”
Korda also praised the grounds crew for getting the course in “spectacular” shape and thanked family members — including her brother, pro tennis player Sebastian Korda — for being on hand and her fans “for being so loud all week.”
She added: “I didn’t start the day the way I wanted to, but it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. To have that run that I did on those five holes, I kept myself in it all day. I didn’t make big mistakes, but couldn’t get really anything going. To go on that run that I did feels really nice.”
The week was filled with memorable moments leading up to Sunday’s battle to finish before sunset, as a slew of special appearances and activities and chamber of commerce weather drew people to the course.
The festivities kicked off on Tuesday with the annual Women’s Leadership Summit featuring Sorenstam, Clark and former model turned business mogul Kathy Ireland, where the three keynotes spoke about the power of leadership and having the ability to inspire others, especially children.
