HILTON GRAND VACATIONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

January 20, 2024

Annika Sorenstam

Lake Nona Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. We have Annika Sorenstam here. Thanks for joining us. Currently tied for second in the celebrity division. One point behind Jeremy Roenick going into tomorrow. Talk about your round a little bit.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I started out really well, thought I had a good front nine. Hit some good shots and thought I putted well. Just had good momentum.

Then on the back nine, just didn't really happen. Very disappointed with the back nine, especially because I like the back nine. I don't know why. Just didn't happen.

So feels a little negative at the moment, but one day tomorrow to go. I get to go out with a low round tomorrow and just give it all and see what happens.

Q. What sort of edge do you feel you have just from a golf competitive standpoint? Everyone here is a competitor. Do you have the feels of...

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I think everybody has a different edge, right? Jeremy has the power. They go for par-5s in two with irons in, maybe even irons into 14.

So that's their edge.

My edge, I've done this before. The course is a little longer, but I know what it's like to be in the hunt and I know how to handle that.

So it's just different. I got to focus on what I can do. Got to play my own game and see what happens.

Q. What have you learned or the years about not trying too hard?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I haven't learned anything apparently. It's the same story every time. Yeah, I mean, it's just a game of golf, right? This is why you're so happy one moment and the next day you're like all the time you put in it doesn't come out.

That happened today. You play so well on the front and literally the wheels fall off on the back. It's a very humbling game. It's not lack the trying, not lack of being there. It's just like, what is happening?

I think that's just where I am in my life with my golf right now. Some good ones and some really bad ones. It makes it difficult to score.

Q. What's been Will's best advice this week?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Just have a good time. Yeah, he told me this morning, have a good time and enjoy. You know, I am. It's hard when you're a competitor and it's not coming out. That's the hard part. It's like how can you enjoy making downs and bogeys on a course that you know like the back of your hand?

It's that battling back and forth.

Q. Does he throw some of your own advice back at you?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Probably. Yeah, it's funny, when I say things to him I don't know if he's listening, but then it comes back to me I know he's listening because I get my own medicine. It's good because I like to think I'm positive to him, keep trying, you know, trust yourself, keep going. Fall down, get back up. All these things I say I'm hearing it back, and it's true. Got to do the same thing.

Q. Your Lake Nona neighbor, Lydia, you have a lot of valleys in your career. She had a tough year and is trying to climb back. What's been your view of her and her efforts to get back to that top level?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I mean, I'm a big Lydia Ko fan no doubt. I see her quite a bit here practicing. She's just a very steady player. I must say I'm surprised of her season last year.

Not really sure. She had such a wonderful season in '22 and got off to a good start in '23. Then we really didn't see her much.

I know she's happy personally and I'm not sure where she is professionally, but I know that I would've expected her to be at CME last year. Just seeing her here, I think last year was maybe a little bit of a fluke. Not really sure. Maybe she's trying too hard. She's been there, like you said, a few times, a few valleys and come back.

She is still so young. I talk to her and I'm like, wow, you've been here forever and she's not even 30. Still a long ways to go.