Annika Sorenstam cruises to eight-shot win in her U.S. Senior Women’s Open debut
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – There was a moment late Friday afternoon at Brooklawn Country Club when Annika Sorenstam’s two children, Ava and Will, went racing down the seventh hole to greet her. They’d just flown into town to watch their mom compete in a major championship for the first time. Sorenstam ran to meet them, and then promptly birdied the next three holes.
Many aspects of the 3rd U.S. Senior Women’s Open felt like one of golf’s greatest flashbacks. The most dominant player in the modern era didn’t just come back and win her first major title in 15 years and 30 days – she blew away the field by eight strokes. And while a woman who’s been retired for 13 years was expected to win, it was still surreal to watch the ease in which she did it.
“It’s really hard to describe,” said Sorenstam after being soaked in champagne and sprinkled with confetti.
“I think the joy and the happy tears, the moments, the journey, the shots, the friends, the family, everything has been great.”
There weren’t any ropes at Brooklawn Country Club, which made the most intimate of all her victories feel even more personal. The 72-time LPGA winner interacted with fans and playing partners in ways she’d never done in her prime.
“It was kind of different,” said Laura Davies, “but it’s still the same Annika isn’t it? She beat the hell out of us.”
LPGA Hall of Famer Hollis Stacy stood behind a crowded 18th green and declared the moment exactly what women’s senior golf needs.
“This could be our breakthrough,” she said.
1 ꜰᴏʀ 1!
In her first appearance, @ANNIKA59 wins the 3rd #USSeniorWomensOpen by 8 shots at Brooklawn Country Club. pic.twitter.com/KKmrGvL5YM
— USGA (@USGA) August 1, 2021
Only five players broke par at Brooklawn. Sorenstam finished the event at 12 under after a closing 4-under 68. Liselotte Neumann finished second at 4 under while Davies, the inaugural winner of this event, placed third.
“I couldn’t give her a fight,” said Neumann, who opened up with an eagle on the first hole to pull within a stroke but then lost all momentum with bogeys on three of the next seven holes.
Sorenstam decided to tee it up in a USGA event for the first time in 13 years to help grow the game and solidify the U.S. Senior Women’s Open. If Sorenstam deemed the title worthy of coming out of retirement to play for, perhaps younger stars will follow suit.
She also did it, of course, for her family.
“I think it’s good that our kids see that I work,” Sorenstam once said years ago, “because I want them to understand that what we have today didn’t just show up in the mail.”
Husband Mike McGee shed his first tear on the 10th green when Sorenstam drained a sizable birdie putt to take an 8-shot lead over Neumann, the first Swedish woman to win a U.S. Women’s Open title.
“Nope,” Sorenstam told her husband, “we’ve got work to do.”
When Sorenstam turned 50 years old last October, they family had a discussion.
“Do you want to see mama play?” she asked.
To do that, she explained, mom would have to put in the time. Sometimes 11-year-old Will, a golf nut, would tag along to practice, watching her grind.
As Sorenstam lagged behind the crowd walking up the 17th fairway on Sunday, Will went back to give her a few encouraging words.
Will knows all the numbers. He’s seen the trophies. But nothing beats walking alongside mom as she’s winning.
“The (stat) that blows my mind the most is that 46 percent (of the time) she was in the top 3,” said Will of his mom’s Hall of Fame career, “and that she only ever missed the cut 10 like times, which is pretty good.”
Pretty good, indeed.
In 2008, when Sorenstam holed out her approach for eagle on the 72nd hole at the U.S. Women’s Open, it seemed there could be no better way to end a major championship run.
What happened at Brooklawn felt like an incredible bonus, another moment in which Sorenstam reached the top of the mountain on her terms.
Saturday’s even-par 72 felt scrappy said McGee, and they went to the range after the round until about 7 p.m. where she found something. When asked what it was, Sorenstam went over all the advice she’d received from the family.
“Ava kept telling me, ‘When you hit a shot tomorrow, Mommy, don’t have anything in your mind,’” said Sorenstam.
“And then Will told me to believe and that I can do it, and obviously Mike said, ‘Just go out there and just enjoy.’ I got a lot of advice, a lot of good pointers. Sometimes you don’t know if kids listen to what you say, but a lot of these words I feel like they’ve come out of my mouth to them and now I’m get being it back, so I’m happy about that. I’ve got to live to my own lessons.”
Sisters Sadie and Mackenzie Lee were two of 40 juniors selected to attend Sorenstam’s “Share My Passion” clinic on Tuesday at Brooklawn after submitting a letter and hand-drawn picture. They came back on Sunday with their mom to watch Sorenstam victory parade. During the closing ceremony, several little girls were perched on top of their dad’s shoulders listening to Sorenstam talk about inspiring the next generation.
“I really enjoyed interacting with the fans the last 10 years or so with the Annika Foundation,” she said, “just being with kids and remembering what it’s like to be in their shoes. I want them to see somebody who’s having fun do it.”
All the little girls sitting on their dad’s shoulders watching the greatest player of the modern era win for the first time in a long time … truly special. pic.twitter.com/tuCKhaFWt1
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) August 1, 2021
The victory at Brooklawn gives Sorenstam an exemption into next year’s U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles, site of her 1996 victory. Sorenstam wouldn’t commit to playing, but it’s still fun to imagine how many LPGA she events she might compete in next year to gear up for it.
That being said, no title or upcoming tournament will change her priorities.
“Mike is a great dad and a great supporter in a lot of ways,” said Sorenstam, “but I can’t just disappear. You know what, it’s not that important to me anymore. I’ve done that, and if they can’t be part of it and it’s not something we agree on, then certainly won’t be.”
On Monday morning Sorenstam flies direct out of New York to Tokyo where she will perform her duties as IGF president at the Olympic Games.
As she prepared to share a toast with friends and family on the porch of Brooklawn’s stately clubhouse, young Will picked up the heaviest hardware in golf off the dais and said, “Mom, you forgot the trophy!”
He’s likely already got a spot picked out for it.
