This LPGA great once beat peak Tiger Woods in a match off the tips

Exclusive: LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam opens up about her secret matches with Tiger Woods, the misogyny she’s faced as a female golf course designer, and why the Ladies European Tour needs to merge with the LPGA before it’s too late.

There are not many golfers in the world who need to build an extra trophy cabinet in the garage because they’ve run out of space in their house. Annika Sorenstam is one of them.

Between 1993 and 2008, the now 54-year-old was the Tiger Woods of the women’s game. She won 10 major championships and another 88 tournaments, placing her first on the all-time LPGA money list with a 23.5% winning record.

She even became the first – and so far only – female to break 60 in competition. It earned her the nickname ‘Miss 59’. Her success paved the way for future generations, many of whom have benefitted from the tournaments, awards, and foundation that bear her name.

To mark her inclusion in our list of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Golf, we sat down with the Swede to reflect on her legacy and a storied career that featured a Presidency, a rare PGA Tour start, and an unseen victory over Tiger Woods.

Q. A lot of people make comparisons between you and Tiger. It always felt like your achievements happened in parallel. Did you feel like you were in competition with him?

Yeah, there was a lot of fun bantering about that. We spent a lot of time together, practising or texting in
the early 2000s. He lived about 30 minutes from me.

We would practise on weeks off. For me, it was so great because he was so good, but he would also make me open up and see the possibilities. That was motivating, even though he was obviously stronger, taller, faster. 

My goal was always to reach my full potential. When I competed in tennis, I always wanted to play somebody a little bit better than me because then you have that challenge, right? I always wanted that in golf. I always wanted somebody who was better, who could push me, and help me see things from a different perspective. And Tiger was that person. It was kind of cool.

Q. Did he bring your game up a level?

Yeah, totally. He was hitting it further, but he made me want to work on my game so I could close the gap. We would talk a lot about the short game.

We were in the bunker one time and I’ll never forget him telling me to get some clubspeed going. I was like, “What do you mean?” He started showing me how I could get it to spin and come out higher. I learned from watching someone who was that little bit better. And I think that’s the same for anybody at any level.

Q. Did you have many matches? Did you ever beat him?

I beat him over nine holes at Isleworth, his home club. But I had to shoot a few under par to do it. Keep in mind this was his peak, too. It was a challenge for me, playing from the tips and shooting two-under. I was like, I’ll take it. I’ll never forget that. He beat me most of the time, but we did tie some.

Q. How much did those matches influence your decision to compete on the PGA Tour? It’s incredible to think you were the first woman to do so since 1945.

I just saw it as a part of growing, getting better and pushing myself. When I got that invite, I wanted to see how I could perform under that scrutiny and spotlight. There were a few mixed comments, but everything I did was about becoming a better player.

This was in 2003. I had been No.1 for a few years and I was looking for ways to motivate myself and reach my full potential. 

When the opportunity came in January, I had four months to get ready. And I worked so, so, so hard. Even though I didn’t make the cut, I had a putt on the last hole to break even. I think I shot 72-74 and I beat a few guys. But at the end of the day, I think I learned a lot about myself and how to compete at such a high level. When I came back to the LPGA, it just felt like I was so prepared… more than I perhaps ever was.

Q. You won twice or more every season from 1995 to 2006. Was there ever a point in time when you expected to win whenever you teed it up?

Yeah. A lot of times, honestly. Not at the beginning of my career of course, but I would say from 2000 and on I did. I worked hard. I pushed myself extremely hard and I put that pressure on myself, knowing that I was prepared, and should be a contender every single week.

Q. How much did golf consume your life at your peak?

I wouldn’t say 100%, but it was close. I didn’t play as much as many of the other players, to me it was more about quality over quantity. But it didn’t mean I was at home and hanging out on the couch. I’ve got a personality where I’m go, go, go. Golf was my life. There were not many birthday parties or occasions.

This was my full-time job. I remember I turned professional and a friend from Sweden asked, “What do you do?” And I was like, “I play golf.” They couldn’t believe it was a full-time job. But I made it one. It wasn’t 40 or 60 hours a week. It was more like 75, 80 hours a week, whether I was in the gym or practising.

Q. Did you ever struggle for motivation?

No. The results kind of motivated me. Once I achieved a goal, I was onto the next one. And then it was like, if I’m going to achieve that, I need to work on my short game, or my fitness, or increasing my distance.

My goals constantly changed because I got to a point where I kept ticking them off. But I didn’t want to sit still. I wanted to climb up the ladder and that was my way of staying motivated and being able to push myself. I grew with my goals.

I read that in your younger years, you used to lose tournaments on purpose just to avoid speaking in front of an audience.

You’re right, I did (laughs). I would have a little three-putt or I’d leave it in the bunker. But, you know, I was such a competitor that I realised that I had to face my fear. It took a little while. I would go home from these junior tournaments and I’d be so upset at myself for throwing shots away.

I then realised that after a 30-second speech of thank-yous, that winning feeling was worth the nervousness that I felt, so I was able to overcome it. 

Q. It’s a good job, because you did win a lot. Which achievement means the most to you?

The US Open was my first win and that kickstarted my career. I’ve always felt the US Open for women
is the biggest competition in the world. It’s global, you’ve got the biggest names on the trophy. But if you want to summarise it all, being part of the World Golf Hall of Fame encompasses everything as it’s a very exclusive group. That’s one I cherish quite a bit.

Q. How did you handle the pressure of carrying the women’s game on your shoulders for so long?

Early on, I didn’t know what to do. I never went looking for the limelight. I didn’t play golf to be seen or be heard. I played golf because I love the sport. All of a sudden I became one of the highlighted players and that’s when I realised that I had this role outside the ropes as an ambassador and a role model for young girls.

It was flattering, but I also took it very seriously – and I still do – because I remember growing up, looking up at other female athletes, and dreaming about doing what they were doing. They gave me that little bit of hope, that something to aim for and aspire to.

Q. Two days before you announced you were retiring at the end of the season, you won by a margin of eight shots – your third win in three months. Why did you decide to call time on your career then?

I actually made the decision to retire in January. So, I kind of felt like there was a little pressure on me in that tournament, because I knew what I was going to do a few days later.

It didn’t show.

(Laughs) It was nice that it turned out that way, but my mind was already made up. You can look at it now and say, “Well, that was interesting timing.” But it was pre-planned. It was in May, I still had another four or five months to play, and I didn’t want to leave on a bad note.

Q. Do you ever sit at home and think, maybe I did retire a little too soon?

I feel like I could have won more tournaments during that final season, but that’s because you always feel like something slips away. But you know, you win some and you lose some. But winning really wasn’t that important to me anymore. That was one of the reasons why I stepped away, because I didn’t need any more wins. 

I actually got to the point, in 2007, when no natural goals came to me. It was almost like I had to come up with goals, make them up. And when you have to make them up, they don’t mean anything. When you have a goal, it’s in your heart, it gives you energy. I just didn’t have that. That’s when I realised that I didn’t have an extra gear. 

You just have to look at the signs. I had other things that meant something to me, and that’s why I decided to step away. In a way, it was nice to be able to do it on my own terms and to not feel like I was forced out.

Q. So why did you come back, 13 years later?

That’s a good question. The only thing I can say is that my son Will is really into golf, so I would go out with him, see how rusty I was, and then that would motivate me to practise. Then Covid came and one of the things that we did was play golf, and the more I played, the more I realised it was fun.

They had just started the US  Senior Women’s Open two years before I was eligible to play, and I thought, the USGA has been so good to me, so I should support them. And that’s kind of what happened. 

To then go and win… I mean, that was special – and it was nice to do it in front of my kids too, to show them I can still do it, you know. But it’s getting harder now. I don’t play a lot – it will be five or six events by the end of the year, so it’s not that much. Every time I play, I’m rusty. I never quite get into the swing of things, so it can be frustrating at times.

Q. How have you found the transition from player to businesswoman in golf?

It’s been hard. I don’t have a business degree, but I feel like I have knowledge in this sport and a work ethic. With the ANNIKA Foundation, the goal is to give back to the next generation and provide playing opportunities and exposure for these young girls. I feel like we’re making strides, but maybe they are not as big or as fast as we would like them to be.

Q. What are the biggest strides you’ve made?

Well, participation rates have gone up. When we started the Foundation, it was only like 17% of our juniors in America were girls. That’s not that many, right? It’s less than a fifth. Now it’s 36%. That’s a good start. But I think we all realise now that it’s not just about initial initiatives, it’s how we can keep young girls in the sport. That is actually more challenging, because there are so many other things that distract young people today.

Our mission is not to create the next superstar. Our goal is to impact young girls and to highlight golf through competition, mentoring, and the different development programs we have.

Q. You’ve also tried your hand at course design, but your portfolio is limited to six. Why not more?

I’d love to do more. I have a few in the works, but a lot of it just sits there. One is starting to pick up again in Estonia. I’m talking to somebody in the US to be able to do a design, but for a while it’s been really slow. 

Maybe the demand for new courses or for female designers might not be there. It’s different in different cultures, but the first few times I go, I throw my hat in the ring, and then they’re like, “But we want a championship course.” And I’m like, “I won a few championships, that doesn’t scare me.” 

But a lot of it is lady-driven and sometimes it can have a negative tone on it, meaning it’s going to be short and easy. When I first got that, I got defensive and said, “Hey, I’ve played a lot of courses. If you want to have a 7,600-yard golf course, let’s build it. And I’ll play you from the back tees and then we’ll see how you feel.”

There’s no doubt it is a man’s world, and it probably will be for a long time because there are more men in the industry.

Q. What’s the solution?

Well, I’m a believer that, as a woman, it’s nice to get a chance, but we also have to prove ourselves. We can’t just go in there, simply because we’re female, and expect the door to be open. You still have to do the work and I don’t mind that.

I’m proud of what I’ve achieved and I feel confident I can prove that. I don’t believe in DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). I’ve never been a fan of that, because I’d rather prove myself.

Q. In your role as President of the International Golf Federation, you obviously have a big say in what the Olympic competitions look like for men and women. How close are we to having a mixed event for LA ’28?

Honestly, I can’t think of anybody who doesn’t want it to happen. But it’s not about what we want. We have to work with the IOC and make sure it fits with them. They have their rules, so we’ve got to work around that. But I hope that by 2028 we get to see that. That would be really fun.

Q. Is golf missing a trick by not having more events like the Scandinavian Mixed, which brings men and women together in the same event?

Of course, I thought it was fun and the feedback was good, but it is very hard to pull off from a sponsor and timing perspective. Now, with LIV and the way the purses are going, I don’t think we can attain the same level for mixed events because of the prize difference. Players will just turn it down.

Q. What about a mixed gender version of the World Cup of Golf? Stacy Lewis has been a strong advocate for something similar.

Absolutely. We’ve even talked about having a mixed legends or senior Ryder Cup. But again, with a younger version, it’s just how do you get everybody together at the same time? There are so many tournaments right now, but I think there would be an interest, no doubt.

Q. We’ve got the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, so why isn’t there a Masters for women?

Well, we have… it’s not called the Masters, but we have other tournaments that kind of classify as our premier majors. It used to be the Dinah Shore, now it’s the Chevron (Championship). We also have the KPMG PGA Championship.

I don’t think we need to be at Augusta to make women’s professional golf even better. I think the tournaments we have can learn from Augusta to make their product better and to create our own history.

Q. Does it bother you that you’re one of just a handful of female members at Augusta National?

No, it doesn’t, because women can play there. Every time I played there before I became a member, everyone was always super welcoming. When I was given the membership, it was a total surprise. I had no idea. But I think they have opened up quite a bit. I see a lot of women playing there.

Q. This time last year there was a lot of talk about the LET and LPGA merging. Now that doesn’t appear to be happening. Without it, are you concerned at all for the future of the Ladies European Tour?

I don’t know why they don’t want to merge. I really don’t. I’ve always believed in partnerships, and I think a merger would be a great thing. I also think it would help with the Solheim Cup, just in terms of marketing and partners.

If you look at the LET, there was a time when they didn’t have a lot of tournaments, and they’ve turned it around, so I give them credit for that. But their peak is where they are right now unless they can get a bigger partner and utilise old players. Once I left, once Laura (Davies) left, once Karrie (Webb) left, it’s like they waved us goodbye rather than using us in a way to build connections and to grow tournaments.

Q. Would you ever consider captaining the Solheim Cup team again?

No. I really enjoyed 2017. We lost at Des Moines, but I relished that experience. But the captain role is a big commitment, and I had my chance, right? There are so many other players that are in line, whether it is Anna (Nordqvist) or Mel Reid. I would love to give them the chance. I don’t want to be greedy.

Q. What about other leadership roles? Would you be interested in an advisory role at one of the tours or at the R&A?

Yeah, I’m open. I’m listening. Being IGF President has been interesting, putting my perspective on things. You know, I care about the sport. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for golf. I feel a bit of a responsibility to make the game better tomorrow. I enjoy building things, creating things, and advancing things. It’s fun to see, especially if you make an impact in people’s lives. It’s certainly worth it.