1 week Ago By Oliver Browning
Caitlin Clark is swapping the basketball court for the golf course this week. The WNBA star, who set records in her rookie season with the Indiana Fever, will on Wednesday make her long-awaited appearance at The Annika in Florida. She is slated to take part in the Pro-Am and will play the front nine holes with the world's top-ranked female golfer, Nelly Korda .
Clark will then play the back nine with tournament host Annika Sorenstam, who is regarded as one of the best in history. Both basketball fans and the golf world are buzzing about the 22-year-old's participation in the event, excited to see how she will fare alongside some of the top-ranked stars. And 24 hours before teeing off, Clark gave an insight into how her game is progressing.
"I'm strong, and I can hit it. It just usually doesn't go straight," she said of her swing, while she took part in an LPGA Women's Leadership Summit conversation. "Sometimes it goes straight, but it depends.
You just step up there and hope for the best. "It's so much different to basketball, that's why I love it. It's individual, it's a challenge - especially mentally - that's what's so beautiful about golf.
"I love it, it's something fun to do." After admitting that she is 'praying to break 100' on her lowest round, Clark went on to set her own expectations pretty low. "I just don't want to hit anyone with a golf ball," she said with a smile.
"That's my number one priority." All eyes will be on Clark as she takes to the Pelican Golf Club on Wednesday, where she will get the full professional experience . LPGA and tournament social media accounts are expected to live stream Clark's warm-up on the range, as well as conduct an in-round walk-and-talk interview.
Meanwhile, Golf Channel's Golf Today programme, which typically airs at 12:30pm ET, will air from the earlier time of 11am to show highlights and live look-ins from her round. While Clark has set her expectations low, there will be no way to avoid the cameras once she steps onto the green, such is the hype around her appearance. Even tournament host Sorenstam has admitted that Clark is the 'hottest thing' right now.
"I’m looking forward to spending time with her and getting to know her," the ten-time Major winner said. "She’s just done so much for women’s sport. She’s the hottest thing right now.
"I’m glad she’ll take some time out of her busy schedule to come out and see what kind of golfer she is." There's not much pressure on Clark's shoulders, then. Although, after smashing record after record in her rookie WNBA season, it's unlikely that she will be feeling it at all.
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