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Annika Sorenstam : an Inspiration for All.
All through this week I have been
trying to locate time to read and write
about no other than Annika Sorenstam,
the dominant woman golfer of all-time,
who has transcended her sport to become
a prominent mainstream athlete and
celebrity.
Every shot counts and
every day is an opportunity
to make a difference in the
lives of young people.
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Annika’s love of sports
was nurtured by her parents Tom and
Gunilla and was strengthened by a
healthy rivalry with her sister
Charlotta. She began playing golf at
the age of 12, but also occupied her
time with badminton, soccer, tennis and
competitive skiing. In 1987, Annika
joined the Swedish National Golf Team
and credits fellow Swede Liselotte
Neumann’s win at the 1988 Women’s Open
for heightening her interest in golf.
Annika played in the World Amateur Golf
Team Championships in 1990 as well as in
1992 when she won the Championship.
After a series of win she won the
Jerringpriset Award for the second time,
was named the 2003 Female Athlete of the
Year by the United States Sports Academy
and was given the 2003 Golf Writers
Trophy by the Association of Golf
Writers.
In 2008, Annika was named the
Ambassador of the United States Golf
Association with the goal of making the
game of golf more accessible and more
relevant to players of all skill levels.
In addition, Annika will be serving as a
vice-captain for The 2011 European
Solheim Cup Team at Killeen Castle in
County Meath, Ireland, Sept. 23-25.
At the age of 40, Annika has
established herself as the most dominant
women’s player of all time. Throughout
Annika’s many successes on and of the
course, she remains a sincere, down to
earth, and approachable person. With her
unrelenting drive, storied golf career,
academy and charitable institutions,
Annika is motivated and is determined to
bring women’s golf and sports to the
mainstream. Annika represents Callaway
Golf, Lexus, Golf Digest, Oakley, Cutter
& Buck, Rolex, The Ritz-Carlton
Destination Club and Lipton, Wente
Vineyards.
Annika feels very
strongly about giving back, and in 2007,
the ANNIKA Foundation was created to
teach children the importance of
living a
healthy,
active lifestyle through
fitness and
nutrition, and offer aspiring
junior golfers opportunities to pursue
their dreams. The Foundation has
partnered with several key organizations
to promote healthy and active lifestyles
for children, including SPARK, the
leading physical education program for
schools; Florida Hospital for Children,
supporting Healthy 100 Kids initiative;
and The First Tee, developing the Nine
Healthy Habits curriculum for children.
More than 369,000
kids in these schools have begun to
learn the importance of living a
healthy, active lifestyle, and we
have big plans to positively impact
thousands more in coming years.
 The ANNIKA Foundation recently
partnered with the Healthy Weight
Commitment Foundation’s new national
Together Counts campaign. This
initiative encourages families to engage
in
physical activities and eat more
meals together to promote an active,
healthy lifestyle among children. Join
the national movement today by taking
the pledge at www.TogetherCounts.com.
Annika shares her passion
for golf,
health, fitness, nutrition and life
wherever she goes, and with her team,
inspires others around the world during
their many ANNIKA events and
appearances.
-
WF Team
Dated 09 August 2011
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