Earned her seventh Rolex Player of the Year award to tie Kathy
Whitworth for the most in LPGA history.
Posted 16 top-10 finishes in 18 starts, including eight wins-
Safeway International Presented by Coca-Cola, Office Depot Championship
Hosted by Amy Alcott, LPGA Corning Classic, McDonald's LPGA Championship
Presented by Coca-Cola, John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic presented
by Ford, Samsung World Championship, Mizuno Classic and ADT Championship.
The McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola was
her seventh major championship victory.
Her win at the Mizuno Classic was her fourth-straight victory
at the event, making her the second LPGA player to win the same
LPGA event four consecutive years (joined Laura Davies, who won
the Standard Register PING from 1994-97).
Defeated Cristie Kerr in a one-hole, sudden-death playoff at
the ADT Championship to become the event's first three-time champion.
Set or tied LPGA records for fastest to $400,000, $500,000,
$700,000, $800,000, $900,000 and $1 million in season earnings;
set or tied LPGA records for most consecutive $400,000, $500,000,
$600,000, $700,000, $800,000, $900,000 and $1 million seasons;
became the first player to reach $14 million in career earnings
with her win at the McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by
Coca-Cola and the first player to reach $15 million in career
earnings with her win at the John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic presented
by Ford.
Broke the LPGA single-season scoring average record, which she
set in 2002; her 68.69696 average bested her previous record by
.000399.
Won the ANZ Ladies Masters and the HP Open on the Robe di Kappa
Ladies European Tour (LET) for her 11th and 12th international
wins.
Competed against Fred Couples, Tiger Woods and Adam Scott in
the Merrill Lynch Skins Game.
2004
Stats (Rank)
Rds under par: 57/66 (1)
Rds in the 60s: 40/66 (1)
Birdies: 311 (15)
Eagles: 10 (8)
Greens in reg: 78.8% (1)
Driving accuracy: 77.7% (19)
Sand saves: 37% (69)
Putts per GIR: 1.75 (2)
Driving avg: 268.2 (3)
Career Highlights
In 2003, officially qualified for the LPGA Tour and World Golf
Halls of Fame on Oct. 10 after completing the first round of the
Samsung World Championship, giving her 10 years of membership
on the LPGA Tour; inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on
Oct. 20; Sorenstam is the first international player to be inducted
into the Hall of Fame through the LPGA criteria; earned her sixth
Rolex Player of the Year award; won the McDonald's LPGA Championship
Presented by AIG in a sudden-death playoff over Grace Park; captured
the Weetabix Women's British Open to become only the sixth player
in LPGA history to complete the LPGA Career Grand Slam; became
the first woman since 1945 to compete on the PGA Tour when she
teed it up at the Bank of America Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas,
May 22-23; shot 71-75 to miss the cut, but garnered unprecedented
worldwide interest and media attention; the week after her PGA
Tour appearance, shot 62 in the opening round of the Kellogg-Keebler
Classic and went on to win the event, setting an LPGA record for
lowest first round by a winner; at the Safeway Classic Presented
by Pepsi, her fifth win of the season, became the sixth player
in LPGA history to record back-to-back eagles (round three, holes
6 and 7); set or tied a total of 22 LPGA records; became the first
player to reach $12 million in career earnings with her win at
the McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by AIG and the first
player to reach $13 million in career earnings with her win at
the Mizuno Classic; a member of the European Solheim Cup Team,
where she posted a 4-1-0 record to lead the team to victory; is
now tied with Laura Davies as the event's all-time points leader
(17-1/2 points); won the Nichirei Cup on the LPGA of Japan Tour
for her 10th international victory; competed against Fred Couples,
Phil Mickelson and Mark O'Meara in The Skins Game, finishing second
with five skins worth $225,000; Sorenstam holed a 39-yard bunker
shot on the ninth hole for eagle, only the eighth eagle in The
Skins Game history, to win $175,000 and four skins on the first
day, the most money won by any player on the first day in the
event's history; competed against Reteif Goosen, Jesper Parnevik
and Lam Chih Bing in the Tiger Skins Event in Singapore, finishing
second with five skins worth $35,000; finished second to Karrie
Webb in the ConAgra LPGA Skins Game, capturing three skins worth
$70,000.
In 2002, won 11 LPGA tournaments, joining Mickey Wright as the
only players to win 11 tournaments in one season (Wright won 11
times in 1964; she also won an LPGA-record 13 tournaments in 1963);
earned her fifth Rolex Player of the Year title and fifth Vare
Trophy; set or tied a total of 20 LPGA records; won her fourth
major championship title by successfully defending the Kraft Nabisco
Championship; her 11-stroke victory at the Kellogg-Keebler Classic
tied the LPGA record for largest margin of victory in a 54-hole
event; became the first player to cross the $9 million, $10 million
and $11 million marks in career earnings; posted 11 consecutive
rounds in the 60s, an LPGA record; recorded the third hole-in-one
of her LPGA career during the first round of the Samsung World
Championship; competed on her fifth consecutive European Solheim
Cup Team and posted a 3-1-1 record; won the ANZ Ladies Masters
in Australia and Compaq Open in Sweden on the LET, giving her
13 wins in 25 starts worldwide.
In 2001, recorded eight wins, six second-place finishes, and
a total of 20 top-10 finishes en route to her fourth career Rolex
Player of the Year Award, Vare Trophy and money title; set or
tied a total of 30 LPGA records, including a 59 (-13) during the
second round of the Standard Register PING; became the first LPGA
player to cross the $2 million mark in single-season earnings;
tied the LPGA record for wins in consecutive weeks with four-straight
victories at the Welch's/Circle K Championship, Standard Register
PING, Nabisco Championship and The Office Depot Hosted by Amy
Alcott; came from 10 strokes behind on the final day to win The
Office Depot Hosted by Amy Alcott, tying the LPGA record for largest
come-from-behind victory (Mickey Wright came from 10 strokes back
on the final day to win the 1964 Tall City Open); became the first
LPGA player to cross the $7 million and $8 million mark in career
earnings; won the State Farm LPGA Series Bonus Pool; teamed with
Tiger Woods to defeat Karrie Webb and David Duval in the Lincoln
Financial Group Battle at Bighorn, marking the LPGA's first-ever
appearance on "prime-time" television.
In 2000, won her first title of the season in a sudden-death
playoff with Pat Hurst at the Welch's/Circle K Championship, which
gave Sorenstam the requisite 27 points to qualify for the LPGA
Tour Hall of Fame, however, she had to wait until 2003 to fulfill
the 10-year Tour membership requirement; won the Firstar LPGA
Classic in conjunction with the Children's Medical Center; defeated
Webb, who beat her in a sudden-death playoff at the LPGA Takefuji
Classic earlier in the season, in a sudden-death playoff at the
Evian Masters; won back-to-back titles at the Jamie Farr Kroger
Classic and Japan Airlines Big Apple Classic; defeated Rachel
Hetherington, who dealt the Swede her first career playoff loss
in 1998, in a two-hole, sudden-death playoff at the Jamie Farr
Kroger Classic; recorded her second LPGA career hole-in-one during
the third round of the Welch's/Circle K Championship; crossed
the $5 million mark in career earnings after the Standard Register
PING and the $6 million mark following the Safeway LPGA Golf Championship;
earned two points for the victorious European Solheim Cup Team.
Won more LPGA tournaments than any other Tour player in the
1990s (18).
In 1999, won the Michelob Light Classic in a three-hole, sudden-death
playoff with Tina Barrett, her third consecutive victory at the
event (one of eight players in LPGA history to win an same event
three consecutive times); won the New Albany Golf Classic with
all four rounds in the 60s; was a runner-up four times, including
a one-hole playoff loss to fellow Swede Catrin Nilsmark at the
Valley of the Stars Championship; recorded her first LPGA career
hole-in-one during the third round of the Standard Register PING;
crossed the $4 million mark in career earnings.
In 1998, defeated Donna Andrews on the second hole of a sudden-death
playoff at the Michelob Light Classic; won the ShopRite LPGA Classic
and JAL Big Apple Classic with all rounds in the 60s; recorded
her 16th career victory at the SAFECO Classic; suffered her first
sudden-death playoff loss at the First Union Betsy King Classic
to Rachel Hetherington; crossed the $3 million mark in career
earnings; became the first player in LPGA history to finish a
season with a sub-70 scoring average (69.99); won her third Rolex
Player of the Year and third Vare Trophy; was a member of the
European Solheim Cup Team; won the Compaq Open on the European
Ladies Professional Golfers Association Tour.
In 1997, captured six titles - the Chrysler-Plymouth Tournament
of Champions, Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open, Longs Drugs Challenge
(in a two-hole playoff with Pamela Kometani), Michelob Light Classic,
CoreStates Betsy King Classic (where she successfully defended
her title) and ITT LPGA Tour Championship (in a three-hole playoff
with Lorie Kane and Pat Hurst); won the JCPenney/LPGA Skins Game
with eight skins worth $220,000; crossed the $2 million mark in
career earnings after her victory at the Longs Drugs Challenge;
won her second Rolex Player of the Year title; won the Compaq
Open on the Women Professional Golfers' European Tour (WPGET).
In 1996, won three tournaments - successfully defended her title
at both the U.S. Women's Open and Samsung World Championship of
Women's Golf and won the CoreStates Betsy King Classic; crossed
the $1 million mark in career earnings; won her second consecutive
Vare Trophy for lowest season scoring average; was a member of
the European Solheim Cup Team; won the Trygg Hansa Ladies' Open
on the WPGET.
In 1995, became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the U.S. Women's
Open, making her one of 13 LPGA players to have the Open as her
first LPGA career victory; won the GHP Heartland Classic by 10
strokes; won the Samsung World Championship of Women's Golf with
a 45-foot chip-in on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff
with Laura Davies; became the second international player to win
Rolex Player of the Year; is the only player besides Nancy Lopez
to have won Rolex Rookie of the Year and then the Rolex Player
of the Year and Vare Trophy the following year; became the first
international player to win the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring
average; also led the WPGET Order of Merit on the strength of
two wins (OVB Damen Open, and Hennessy Cup); won the Australian
Masters on the Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) Tour.
In 1994, was the Rolex Rookie of the Year on the strength of
three top-10 finishes, including a season-best tie for second
at the Weetabix Women's British Open; qualified for her first
European Solheim Cup Team; won the Holden Australian Open Championship
on the ALPG Tour.
In 1993, competed in three LPGA events before joining the Tour,
earning more than $47,000; tied for 38th at the PING Welch's Championship
in Tucson, Ariz., placed fourth at the Standard Register PING
and tied for ninth at the Las Vegas LPGA at Canyon Gate; was the
Rookie of the Year on the WPGET; qualified for the Tour by tying
for 28th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn non-exempt
status for the 1994 season.
Amateur
A member of the Swedish National Team from 1987-92, Sorenstam enjoyed
a very successful amateur career. In 1992, she was the World Amateur
champion, runner-up at the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship and
the second-lowest amateur at the U.S. Women's Open. In addition
to winning seven collegiate titles during her career at the University
of Arizona, she was the 1991 NCAA Co-Player of the Year (with Kelly
Robbins), 1991 NCAA champion and runner-up the following year, 1992
PAC-10 champion and a 1991-92 NCAA All-American.
Personal
5'6", blond hair, blue eyes...Started playing golf at the age of
12...Credits her parents Tom and Gunilla and her sister Lotta (Charlotta)
as the individuals most influencing her career...Her sister Charlotta
also is an LPGA Tour member...In 1995, she won the Athlete of the
Year Award in Sweden, the country's most prestigious award in sports...Recognized
during the LPGA's 50th Anniversary in 2000 as one of the LPGA's
top-50 players and teachers...Named Golf Writers Association of
America Female Player of the Year in 1995, 1997, 2000-04...Has won
six ESPY Awards as outstanding women's golf performer of the Year
(1996, 1998-99, 2002-04)...Honored by the March of Dimes with the
2003 Sports Woman of the Year Award...In 2003, won the LPGA's Patty
Berg Award and the 2003 Golf Writers' Trophy by the Association
of Golf WritersNamed 2003 Sportswoman of the Year by the Laureus
World Sports AcademyNamed 2003-04 Associated Press Female Athlete
of the Year...Named 2003 Female Athlete of the Year by the United
States Sports Academy...Received the 2004 Golf Tee Award from the
Metropolitan Golf Writers Association (MGWA)Won the Association
of Golf Writers (Europe) award for 2004 Player of the YearNamed
the 2004 Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the YearAuthored
her first book, Golf Annika's Way, which was released in October
2004Married David Esch on Jan. 4, 1997...Hobbies include sports,
music and cooking...Qualified for the Tour on her first attemptRepresents
Callaway Golf, Mercedes-Benz, Oakley, Cutter & Buck, Rolex, Kraft
and ADT.
LPGA Victories (62):
1995U.S. Women's Open, GHP Heartland Classic, Samsung
World Championship of Women's Golf. 1996 U.S. Women's
Open, CoreStates Betsy King Classic, Samsung World Championship
of Women's Golf. 1997 Chrysler-Plymouth Tournament of
Champions, Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open, Longs Drugs Challenge,
Michelob Light Classic, CoreStates Betsy King Classic, ITT LPGA
Tour Championship. 1998 Michelob Light Classic, ShopRite
LPGA Classic, JAL Big Apple Classic, SAFECO Classic. 1999
Michelob Light Classic, New Albany Golf Classic. 2000
Welch's/Circle K Championship, Firstar LPGA Classic in conjunction
with the Children's Medical Center, Evian Masters, Jamie Farr
Kroger Classic, Japan Airlines Big Apple Classic. 2001
Welch's/Circle K Championship, Standard Register PING, Nabisco
Championship, The Office Depot Hosted by Amy Alcott, Chick-fil-A
Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez, Bank of Montreal
Canadian Women's Open, CISCO World Ladies Match Play Championship,
Mizuno Classic. 2002 LPGA Takefuji Classic, Kraft Nabisco
Championship, Aerus Electrolux USA Championship Hosted by Vince
Gill and Amy Grant, Kellogg-Keebler Classic, Evian Masters,
ShopRite LPGA Classic, Williams Championship, Safeway Classic,
Samsung World Championship, Mizuno Classic, ADT Championship.
2003 The Office Depot Championship Hosted by Amy Alcott,
Kellogg-Keebler Classic, McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented
by AIG, Weetabix Women's British Open, Safeway Classic Presented
by Pepsi, Mizuno Classic. 2004 Safeway International
Presented by Coca-Cola, Office Depot Championship Hosted by
Amy Alcott, LPGA Corning Classic, McDonald's LPGA Championship
Presented by Coca-Cola, John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic presented
by Ford, Samsung World Championship, Mizuno Classic, ADT Championship.2005
Mastercard Classic honoring Alejo Peralta, Safeway International
presented by Coca-Cola, Kraft Nabisco Championship, Chick-fil-A
Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez, ShopRite LPGA Classic,
McDonald's LPGA Championship.
Rolex Player of the Year (7), Vare Trophy (5), Rolex Rookie
of the Year. 1994 Rolex Rookie of the Year. 1995
Rolex Player of the Year, Vare Trophy. 1996 Vare Trophy.
1997 Rolex Player of the Year. 1998 Rolex Player
of the Year, Vare Trophy. 2001 Rolex Player of the Year,
Vare Trophy, Crowne Plaza Achievement Award. 2002 Rolex
Player of the Year, Vare Trophy, Crowne Plaza Achievement Award.
2003 Rolex Player of the Year, Patty Berg Award. 2004
Rolex Player of the Year.
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Annika Sorenstam
