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Caitlin Clark has one goal when she plays in an LPGA pro-am.
“I’ve tried to practice as much as I can,” Clark said Tuesday. “I’m just the average golfer. I’m going to hit some good, I’m going to hit some bad. … Just going to try not to hit anyone standing outside of the ropes. But it’ll be fun.”
The WNBA rookie of the year and Indiana Fever star was invited to take part in Wednesday’s pro-am at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, ahead of The Annika. The presenting sponsor is Gainbridge, which has an endorsement deal with Clark and a naming-rights deal for the arena in Indianapolis where she plays, Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
She took part in an LPGA Women’s Leadership Summit on Tuesday with Annika Sorenstam, the tournament host, and former model and business leader Kathy Ireland.
Clark will be playing the front nine with Nelly Korda, the No. 1 player in the women’s ranking who has clinched the LPGA’s player of the year award. She’ll play the back nine with Sorenstam, who retired in 2008 and now dabbles in senior golf.
Clark had said after the Fever were eliminated from the WNBA playoffs that she planned to play golf until it became too cold in Indiana, adding with a smile, “Become a professional golfer.”
Yes, she was kidding.
“I’ve tried to take as much time as I can to practice, but there is only so much hope. You just cross your fingers, pray,” she said Tuesday. “No, I’ve practiced a little bit and I just had the quote about becoming a professional golfer. Everybody thought I was serious. I was not serious. I love it. I love being outside and making it competitive with my friends.
“It’s challenging, and getting to come here and be around the best and have a good time is what I’m looking forward to.”
This will be her second pro-am, which often attracts athletes and entertainers. Clark played in the pro-am at the John Deere Classic in July 2023 when she was still at Iowa.
The Golf Channel has expanded coverage of The Annika to televise much of the pro-am due to the popularity of Clark, who is scheduled to tee off Wednesday at 7 a.m.
The LPGA’s social media outlets also plan to live-stream some of Clark’s round.
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