Golf Course Buzzes Over Arrival of WNBA Rookie of the Year

WNBA Clark LPGA Tour Pro-Am Play
Front Nine with Korda, Back Nine with Sorensen Round
Many Fans Gather, Signing and Photo Sessions Draw Big Crowds

A basketball player appeared at a US Women's Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour event.

WNBA star Caitlin Clark (right) and world No. 1 Nelly Korda are hugging after playing together at the LPGA Tour Annika Driven Pro-Am event. Bel Air, USA ? Photo by AP and Yonhap News

The protagonist is Caitlin Clark, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year. On the 13th (local time), she participated in the LPGA Tour Annika Driven Pro-Am event held in Bel Air, Florida. Clark, who said she wanted to become a professional golfer after finishing the WNBA season this September, played the front 9 holes with world No. 1 Nelly Korda (USA) and the back 9 holes with the tournament host Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) during the pro-am event.

Clark nearly caused an injury when she sent her tee shot toward the left gallery. She also recorded her only birdie on the 12th hole. She described her golf skills by saying, "If I'm lucky, I can shoot in the mid-80s, but usually I try not to exceed 100 strokes."

Before turning professional, Clark played at the University of Iowa and sparked a "women's basketball craze" across the United States. The NCAA women's basketball final in April this year was watched by 18.7 million viewers nationwide, surpassing the viewership of last year's Major League Baseball World Series and the NBA Finals.

Clark is the first-ever two-time recipient of the James E. Sullivan Award given by the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, and global companies such as Nike, Gatorade, Buick, State Farm, and Goldman Sachs are competing to sponsor her. The US sports media outlet ESPN reported, "Although it was a pro-am event before the tournament started, more fans gathered than usual during LPGA Tour events," and added, "After finishing the round, Clark signed autographs for hundreds of fans," conveying the local atmosphere.

LPGA Tour player Brittany Lincicome (USA) welcomed Clark's participation in the pro-am event, saying, "It helps the growth of women's golf." Nelly Korda, who played alongside her, also said, "Clark is such a popular player that many fans came to the tournament. Her influence is tremendous."