THE ANNIKA DRIVEN BY GAINBRIDGE AT PELICAN

November 13, 2024

Caitlin Clark

Pelican Golf Club

Walk and Talk

Q. How is it going? You've been seeing Nelly Korda do that over and over again for six holes now.

CAITLIN CLARK: It's just satisfying. The way she hits the ball is just satisfying. It's pretty awesome.

Q. Have you picked up anything, learned anything from her?

CAITLIN CLARK: Unfortunately, no. I watch and she's been amazing, but golf is hard. It's hard to replicate that fast. She's been incredible and really cool, too, somebody I've been watching and following for a while now.

It's fun to be out here and get to see an up-close look at how she does things, just so smooth and really good at what she does.

Q. You got to spend some time with Annika yesterday. As a kid I know you grew up playing golf. When did you become aware of who Annika is?

CAITLIN CLARK: Oh, gosh I've known for a while. I think from the standpoint of understanding the impact she's had not only on golf, but women's sports in general. She played in a men's tournament. It's pretty incredible.

Just like one of those trailblazers. You know, challenges herself every single day. And also just like the joy she exudes and the way she treats people. The short time I've got spend with her you can just feel that.

I think that's is what is really incredible, how much she gives back and gets to do things like this. It's fun for me to be a little part of it.

First time meeting her.

Q. Speaking of giving back, Gainbridge is passionate about parity and closing that pay gap for women and girls through sport. Why is that something that you're very passionate about as well?

CAITLIN CLARK: Yeah, I think it's awesome that I get to be a partner with Gainbridge, a brand that really puts their money where their mouth is and really supports and loves it. They've supported my foundation and just a big supporter of women's sports in general, whether it's golf, basketball, whatever it is.

So I feel very fortunate. Obviously women's sports is on the rise, you know.

Q. Yeah.

CAITLIN CLARK: This is only the beginning. It's only going to get better and better. I've been a fan my whole life, so it's cool for it to be where it is now. I know it can go even better places.

Q. Who put a golf club in your hand for the first time? Who taught you the game?

CAITLIN CLARK: My dad. I loved it. My dad played a little bit growing up. I remember for one of my birthdays I asked for golf clubs and I got this cute little pink set. Probably from, who knows, like just the store up the street. A cheap plastic -- not plastic, but pretty cheap pair. Had them for a while; they were cute.

Got some nice clubs eventually.

You know, I really love it. I love being outside, being with my friends. We make it competitive. We are all kind of hacks, but we still find a way to make it competitive because that's what we do.

But it's a fun way to spend the afternoon or the morning, whatever it is, with your family and friends. That's what I love about it.

Q. What's the competition like? Are we betting? Is it teams?

CAITLIN CLARK: It's not betting. It's bragging rights so we can talk crap to each other. In college we had managers that were mostly all boys and so we would like go and play versus them. It would be like me and one of my teammates versus two of them. We would go like play twilight every day after practice. It would be so fun.

We would go talk about it, talk crap the next day at practice. That's what made it so fun.

Q. I heard yesterday you said that your Bucket List course is Pebble. Why Pebble?

CAITLIN CLARK: I have a million.

Q. You named that one specifically.

CAITLIN CLARK: That just came to my head. That might be a bad choice because of how windy it can get there.

Q. Gives you as excuse though.

CAITLIN CLARK: That's true. I like that. That's a good point. I like how you're thinking.

It's just beautiful. Hey, I'm not going to turn down any golf course that's pretty. I'm open to really anything.

Q. This is Golf Channel so I think we can set that up. Before I let you go, I got to ask a basketball question.

CAITLIN CLARK: Let's hear it.

Q. I know you work really hard in the off-season. You said yesterday you're always trying to get better. What's the thing you're working on this off-season?

CAITLIN CLARK: Honestly, besides the actual basketball skill part, I think getting stronger. I'm in the weight room a lot just building that strength. It was hard going straight from the college season to the professional season. Spent a lot time in the weight room. That's what I tried to focus on the most here.

Obviously a lot of things on the court. I'm always wanting to get better and that drives me and I love it. I love getting to do it and I feel very fortunate it's my job.

Q. This the if first time you've had an off-season.

CAITLIN CLARK: Yeah.

Q. What has it been like to have this much time off as a adult?

CAITLIN CLARK: It's nice, but at the same time I'm still so busy. I got to get things done that I haven't been able to do during basketball season. Everybody thinks I have a bunch of free time, but I have been busy, been doing stuff. I like to keep myself in a routine and working out, whatever it is. It's been a lot of fun and I enjoyed it.