Current:Home > NewsCaitlin Clark has one goal for her LPGA pro-am debut: Don't hit anyone with a golf ball -NextGenWealth
Caitlin Clark has one goal for her LPGA pro-am debut: Don't hit anyone with a golf ball
View
Date:2025-04-27 20:22:37
BELLEAIR, Fla. — Brittany Lincicome, a two-time major champion and mother of two, brought a basketball to her press conference on Tuesday. She was there to talk about her decision to walk away from full-time competition, but she stayed late so that WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark could sign the basketball for her young daughters.
“I’m just, I'm going to be honest, I've never watched women's basketball,” said Lincicome, who’s playing on a sponsor exemption this week at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, “and then to see her at the Final Four, we were in Vegas that week and I watched every minute of it, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.”
LPGA rookie Gabriela Ruffels expects to be starstruck Wednesday at Pelican Golf Club when Clark plays in the event’s pro-am alongside World No. 1 Nelly Korda on the front nine and tournament host Annika Sorenstam on the back. Tickets sales for the Belleair, Florida, event are 12 times the typical number.
Clark, who along with Sorenstam is a Gainbridge ambassador, took part in the Women's Leadership Summit on Tuesday afternoon before meeting with the media. The event’s moderator, Lauren Thompson, asked Clark what she wants her overall message and brand to be about. A heady question for a 22-year-old, but an important one give Clark's global influence. The NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer has revolutionized women's basketball.
“Coming from college and now to professional level, I've just been myself," she said. "I think that's what resonates with people. Like what you see on the court is kind of how I am off the court. I'm the same person.”
Clark’s “I’m-just-me” approach often translates to candid answers. Toward the end of the session, Thompson asked a series of rapid-fire questions to the panel, which included former supermodel and entrepreneur Kathy Ireland, Sorenstam and Clark.
What’s your biggest fear?
Ireland talked about being paralyzed by fear. Sorenstam said waking up and not having a purpose.
And Clark?
“Cats,” she said. “I really don’t like cats.”
The room erupted.
Clark went on to explain that there was a particularly mean black cat on her street growing up, and that led to a lifelong fear.
Apologies to anyone in the room who has a cat, she added.
As far as answers go, it was as genuine as they come. Much like her answer to what's your favorite snack. Right after Sorenstam said “any fruit,” Clark shot back with Doritos, nacho cheese flavor.
For a generational talent, she’s highly relatable.
When it comes to her golf Wednesday, which gets starts as 7 a.m., Clark has one goal: Not to hit anyone in the gallery.
x.com
Growing up, she got a set of pink golf clubs for one of her birthdays and begged her dad to take her out to the course. She played just about every sport as a kid and loved being outside.
There are times when Clark can shoot in the mid-80s, but most of the time she’s just praying to break 100. Clark said her handicap is “like 16.”
Pebble Beach Golf Links is on her bucket list. Later this month, she’ll play a few rounds in Arizona when she’s with family over Thanksgiving.
She’s been looking forward to playing in this week's pro-am for a long time. Once her WNBA season ended, she started teeing it up with some of her Fever teammates. She also took lessons from retired LPGA player Martha Foyer-Faulconer.
She has pro-am experience, having teed it up in the John Deere Classic pro-am in the summer of 2023.
“I'll probably be nervous tomorrow, too,” said Clark. “I don't know. I mean, I remind myself, like I don't really care what happens. Doesn't really matter. I don't play golf for a living.
"Just have fun with it. This isn't super serious. Enjoy the experience. There are so many people that would kill to be in my position or in my shoes.”
veryGood! (6688)
Related
- Jury finds man guilty of sending 17-year-old son to rob and kill rapper PnB Rock
- Why this is the best version of Naomi Osaka we've ever seen – regardless of the results
- Water buffalo corralled days after it escaped in Iowa suburb and was shot by police
- Scam artists selling bogus magazine subscriptions ripped off $300 million from elderly
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- Report says instructor thought gun was empty before firing fatal shot at officer during training
- Water buffalo corralled days after it escaped in Iowa suburb and was shot by police
- Bowl projections: Preseason picks for who will make the 12-team College Football Playoff
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- Harris and Walz are kicking off a 2-day bus tour in Georgia that will culminate in Savannah rally
Ranking
- Charges: D'Vontaye Mitchell died after being held down for about 9 minutes
- Family of Grand Canyon flash flood victim raises funds for search team: 'Profoundly grateful'
- Navy recruiting rebounds, but it will miss its target to get sailors through boot camp
- 'Heinous, atrocious and cruel': Man gets death penalty in random killings of Florida woman
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- College football Week 1 predictions and looking back at Florida State in this week's podcast
- 'Beloved' father who was clearing storm drains identified as victim of Alaska landslide
- Brandon Jenner's Wife Cayley Jenner Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 3
Recommendation
'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
Georgia’s former first lady and champion of literacy has school named in her honor
US Open: Iga Swiatek and other tennis players say their mental and physical health are ignored
Bud Light rolls out limited-edition college football team cans: See which 26 teams made the cut
Bodycam footage shows high
Iowa water buffalo escapes owner moments before slaughter, eluding police for days
Brandon Jenner's Wife Cayley Jenner Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 3
Sweaty corn is making it even more humid