America’s ‘basketball goddess’ Clark’s tee shot… LPGA Pro-Am Competition ‘Cloud Spectator’｜Dong-A Ilbo

Play with Korda-Sorenstam
Wearing a basketball uniform and being asked for autographs

When 18 holes of golf were played, the galleries watching the game gathered in one place. Fans took out basketball uniforms and balls one after another and asked for autographs. This is a sight that is rarely seen on a golf course.

WNBA rookie of the year Kaitlyn Clark (22, USA) appeared at the LPGA Tour’s ‘The Annika Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican’ pro-am tournament held in Bel Air, Florida on the 14th. Clark played with former and current world No. 1 women’s golf players Nelly Korda (26, USA) and Annika Sorenstam (54, Sweden). ESPN, an American sports media outlet, said, “Although it was a pro-am event, more fans flocked than usual for LPGA tour tournaments. “After the game, Clark signed autographs for hundreds of fans,” he said, describing the local atmosphere.

Clark, a point guard for the Indiana Fever, is a golf fanatic who is known for his off-season goal of “becoming a professional golfer.” Clark, who participated in this tournament at the invitation of Gainbridge, who sponsors him, played the first nine holes with Korda and the second nine holes with Sorenstam. Sorenstam, who has a total of 72 wins on the tour, is the host of this tournament. Korda, who has 14 wins in her career on the LPGA Tour, was selected as Player of the Year this season.

Clark’s track record in women’s basketball is no less than that of the former and current world number one in women’s golf. While Clark was at the University of Iowa, he became so popular that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) finals broadcast attracted the largest audience ever (18.7 million viewers) to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) finals broadcast this April. He also won the James Sullivan Award, given by the American Amateur Sports Association (AAU) to the most exemplary amateur athlete, twice for the first time in history.

Clark created a dizzying situation by sending his first tee shot of the day over the head of the gallery standing on the left side of the tee box. As the game progressed, he seemed to relax and showed off impressive approach shots and long putts. He also caught a birdie on the 12th hole (par 3). Clark explained his golf skills, saying, “If I’m lucky, I can hit a score in the mid-80s, but usually I try not to go over 100.”