HILTON GRAND VACATIONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

January 21, 2024

Annika Sorenstam

Lake Nona Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. We're here with Annika Sorenstam, second place behind Jeff McNeil in the celebrity division. Very close this week. Talk about how today was and how you feel about the week as a whole.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, first of all I want to thank Hilton Grand Vacations for putting this tournament together. It's always a treat to be able to play here and be part of the celebrity division, having everybody here. I do enjoy it.

As far as my game goes, I was super excited after round one. I felt like I hit some good shots. It was like old times. It was fun. Had a good time.

Then the last three rounds I've been struggling quite a bit and don't feel so excited as I did after number one.

But you know what? I got to take the positives out of it. I thought I really scrambled well. Some of the shots I hit were really crazy. Made some incredible up and downs. Those are kind of fun, too.

So, you know, I know I'm super close. Feel like I left so many things out there, but that's the game of golf.

Q. Maybe it's a Rory thing where he's chasing the Masters. You're going to win this and it's going to mean more when it happens.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Maybe. If this is how he feels, then I feel sorry for him. I think he puts a little bit more time into it and he's in a little bit more control of his game than I am.

It's been a treat to be here. The golf course is in great shape and I had so much support out there. Just lovely, whether it's Will's friends or Ava's friends and our friends, and obviously went to the concert last night had my daughter there. It was just fun. To be able to do the whole week is cool.

Q. What is your schedule the rest of the year?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: You know what? At this point I have no idea. You know, a lot of times when I leave after feeling like this I'm not going to play again. Few weeks and months go by, and honestly, I don't have anything planned at this point. We'll see.

Q. There was a big check that goes to your foundation this week. What are some of the main initiatives that that will help?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, as you know, we have seven global tournaments, so that will be spread out these those seven. We have Share My Passion clinics, about to five or six of those. Then also increasing our Annika Development Program. Started with four. We have Katherine Muzi at the foundation event. She was talking about that. She was one of the four.

Now we're going to do 12, so that's another eight we are adding to the program, which we give them money on top of the playing opportunities. Then we're partnering with the All Women's Golf Tour.

I would say there is not going to be a lack of where it's going. I mean, our goal is to do a lot more. I've said it all along with Rob Ono as the president now. The goal is to be kind of the one and only platform for women and girls golf as far as competition, knowledge, resources, where to turn, inspiration.

So, yeah, this check is very appreciated and will be used to really good sources. Natalie played really well here. It's fun to see the partnerships are working.

Q. I think during play today Mark announced a 5-year extension with Hilton Grand Vacations.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Oh, did they?

Q. Can you speak to the uniqueness of this event?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I played with Mark yesterday and he was -- I asked him about the future and he was positive and excited. I'm glad that it's official now I guess. I think it's really unique for the LPGA. I think it brings some more people into the sport.

I mean, just think of the baseball players, actors, whatever it is, people that are following them, bringing them out to the golf course, and now get a chance to see like Lydia or Brooke or whoever is out there playing.

So I think it's good. It's a fun start to the season. I don't know what the LPGA players think about playing with them, but I enjoy it. It's amazing how this game brings people together in a lot of the ways.

Has anybody seen such a hospitality tent by 18 with the music? There is a lot happening here.

Q. Brooke was in here earlier and I was asking her about Lydia potentially going within one point of the Hall of Fame.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah.

Q. Curious what you think about the number 27, if you think it's still a good number for the number of points needed to qualify or if as the Tour gets more competitive and the depth is greater if that number should change?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Oh, it should stay the same. Let's not change the rules. It's been like that. Competitive or not, I mean, we've had full fields, good competition, lots of Hall of Famers because they've won a lot of tournaments. No, shouldn't be changing, no.