HILTON GRAND VACATIONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

January 21, 2022

Annika Sorenstam

Lake Nona Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, we welcome Annika Sorenstam. Annika, great playing today. You are tied for second with Mark Mulder, one point behind Derek Lowe going into the weekend, so tell us about today.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, today was -- I must say it was a little up and down. I had some good holes and some not as good, but I really fought out there. I was really trying to scramble and make sure I didn't throw any shots away like yesterday on the back nine.

I got a little sloppy. Today was a few sloppy shots, but then I was somehow able to come back, especially here on 18. I was very happy with that up and down that I made.

So just hanging in there. Got to be patient. There is a long, long journey for us. I know there is a lot of points out there, so keep on grinding.

But I had a great time playing with Gaby. She played so well. Nice to see her finish the way she did because I thought she played really, really well.

Then of course Mike Flaskey, kind of the owner of that event and kind of the starter. So it was a great pairing. Nice to see my family out here, so it's a good day.

Q. Gaby was thrilled to play with you. You played a couple last year, was it?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, we played together last year this event, yeah.

Q. Yeah. What about her game strikes you and impresses you?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, no, I feel like she has gained quite some distance over the winter or the last year. I mean, I know I've gotten shorter, but she certainly has gotten longer. Nice to see some club head speed. She played very solid. I mean, her iron shots, and she left a few shots out there. She really could maybe be a few more.

I just like her demeanor: real calm, sweet, taking her time. I heard her giggle a few times with her caddie, so she must be having fun out here.

Q. She made a couple late bogeys but didn't seem very rattled.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No, not at all. She seems quite poised, seems quite together. Didn't really shake her too much, which I think is good.

We all know there is going to be few bad shots here and there, maybe a bad bounce, but she just came back. She's been here for seven years she said, or her seventh season. I guess she's getting a bit more mature knowing what it takes to be out here and not getting too uptight when things don't go your way.

Q. After the Senior Open, how much golf have you legitimately played?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I played quite a bit to probably October, and then I ruptured or had a bulging disk so I was gone from the game for about six weeks, around Thanksgiving giving and beginning of December. It really wasn't as much.

Then we went on a ski vacation and got COVID, so there was no golf there either. I wish I would've had maybe another two weeks maybe to get ready.

Then on the other hand, it's nice to be here and nice to be playing. I was hitting some balls the other day and I told Mike, can you please come out here? I think I found it. I was super excited. Now like it kind of comes and goes. Hopefully I can feel that tomorrow, that's it's coming.

Some good shots and then some shots it's like, Where did that come from? So it's probably a little bit of lack of not playing as much as I would like to, but, you know, it's just -- it is the way it is.

I'm thinking how much golf am I going to play after this event. I'm not really sure. Probably going to take a little break. I really don't have something big coming up.

Q. How difficult is it to transition from sponsor golf, which is really entertainment, to competitive golf?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I mean, it's really a fine balance, especially when you come out here and you play with the best. You know, yesterday was Jessica and now with Gaby. You just kind of see the level they're playing and you realize you're just not there anymore, and my mindset is not the way it used to be.

The roles are very different. This morning, you know, it's trying to get the kids ready for breakfast and getting them out here, and then my daughter is complaining about her foot. We take her to the doctor; now she has a sprained ankle and she comes on the course and she has a boot.

Those are things that you really don't -- you know, 15 years ago I really was -- I made sure I got breakfast and warmed up and made sure I was in good shape. Now it's like everybody around us.

And my assistant got hit with a golf ball on 15 and she fainted, so it was just one thing after another. Not excuses, but the point is there is a lot of roles. You wear a sponsor hat, mama hat, a wife hat, so there is a lot of roles back and forth. Sometimes I really don't click as quickly as I need to when I change the hats.

Q. You mentioned Will was going to want to review the round when you got home. How did that go?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, no, I'm waiting. Hopefully he saw the up and down on the last so dinner will taste a little better.

But he did say that he was going to get a pin sheet and we're going to go through every shot, so I'm sure that will happen. I will take his advice and listen. Hopefully I can do what he says.

I think that's the biggest thing. I know what to do but doesn't always happen, so as long as he has a little patience for his mama I think we're going to be okay.

Q. Is he a pretty good course manager?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: He is, yeah. He's pretty good. The thing is he really understands the game, so when we talk about shots or different settings or where the pin location is, he knows exactly where to be, which I think is fun because it's legit. It's not just throwing things out there.

So, yeah, you know, I've caddied a few times for him; Mike has caddied a few times for him as well. He's pretty good listener. I think I'm going to listen to him this time.

Q. The weather is going to turn here overnight, get colder. What's that going to do to this golf course?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, well, I think, you know, obviously colder temperatures the ball is not going to go as far. We'll see if they get any rain tomorrow. It was kind of looking so-so. I'm not sure. That will certainly soften up the golf course.

But I that would put more premium in the fairways. Always have, but if the ball doesn't go as far it's really going to make a difference to be in the fairway.

So tomorrow my goal is to hit a lot of fairways, a lot of the greens, and then we'll see what happens. Hopefully they go in and I can put some pressure on these guys to see if they can -- they're big and strong, so let's see if they're as strong as they look.

Q. Did you get a spot in the Women's Open with your victory last summer?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I did, yes.

Q. Do you plan to play given where it is?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: We're talking about it, yeah. I mean, it's a big possibility. Obviously I'm flattered about that and it's Pine Needles, good memories with Peggy Kirk Bell. She won't be there this time around, but the place has a fond place in my heart, so...

But it's hard to go out there and play against these young players, so if I can just go out there and have a good time and not be so competitive -- which is my biggest issue, I am so competitive, even though I don't play as much.

If I can just go out there and relax and swing and see what happens.