MIAMI – Caitlin Clark is no stranger to large crowds, given her time in the spotlight as a decorated basketball player in college and now in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
The Indiana Fever star dominated on the basketball courts this season but, on Nov 13, the WNBA Rookie of the Year turned her attention to the golf course for a change.
As expected, the 22-year-old made her LPGA pro-am debut to great fanfare alongside world No. 1 Nelly Korda and golfing great Annika Sorenstam.
Clark drew huge galleries at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, where she played with Korda on the front nine and Sorenstam on the back.
There was a crowd estimated to be over 1,000 people following her every shot.
“It was so fun. Obviously getting to see them do what they do up front is like, people would pay for that. I got to do it for free and have fun with them,” said Clark of Korda and Sorenstam.
The Fever guard, whose popularity helped to massively increase WNBA viewership and attendance in 2024, hit a wayward tee shot on the third that sailed directly over the heads of the spectators who were standing a few feet away.
However, she appeared to have fun at every turn, providing self-deprecating humour along the way. She even did her best to put a good spin after an errant shot hit a fan on the par-three ninth hole.
“Thanks for the good kick, whoever I hit,” she said.
By the time it was over, Clark was swarmed by fans of all ages behind the 18th green where she took time to sign a few autographs.
“To see the influence that she has on people, bringing people out here, and to see how amazing of an influence she is just for sports, was really cool to see first-hand today,” said 26-year-old Korda, who clinched the LPGA’s points-based Player of the Year award on Nov 4.
Sorenstam, a 10-time Major champion who was one of the best players of her generation when she retired from competitive golf in 2008, said Clark’s presence created an atmosphere unlike any she has ever seen before on the LPGA Tour.
“It’s awesome. Yeah, I love all the young girls with the signs. Nothing we would really see on a normal Wednesday. It’s just great how it brings attention to the tournament,” said the 54-year-old. REUTERS
