Annika Sörenstam believes the next generation of professionals should learn to choose tournaments and protect their energy rather than play every possible week. The Hall of Famer discussed that approach at an October 29, 2026 press conference ahead of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, scheduled for November 9–15 in Belleair, Florida.
Quality starts, not a packed calendar
Sörenstam was asked what advice she would give Annabelle Pancake-Webb, who earned a 2027 LPGA Tour card by finishing fourth in the season-long Epson Tour standings. A sponsor invitation gives Pancake-Webb an opportunity to play The ANNIKA before her first full LPGA season.
The transition, Sörenstam suggested, is about more than hitting good shots. A newcomer has to understand travel, tournament preparation, practice routines and rest. She urged young players to resist the temptation to enter everything. Her own approach prioritised being well prepared and rested for the events she did choose, while keeping a consistent practice and fitness routine. Those are lessons from her career, not promises of a particular result.
Pancake-Webb described the November event as a useful rehearsal for a different tour schedule in 2027. Her father will carry her bag, and she has been working especially on wedge shots and long irons after seeing the combination of short and long holes at Pelican Golf Club.
A moment for the caddies
The organisers also intend to recognise Terry McNamara, Sörenstam’s former caddie, at the tournament. Sörenstam explained that the idea of honouring him came from fellow tour caddies. She welcomed an occasion to acknowledge the people whose work behind the scenes helps players navigate decisions, travel and the demands of elite competition. The announcement concerns a planned recognition event, not an award already presented.
Young golfers and a high-stakes finish
The ANNIKA sits immediately before the CME Group Tour Championship, making its position on the calendar especially important for players pursuing season-ending opportunities. Sörenstam pointed to the strong field, the club's player experience and opportunities for emerging professionals as key parts of the event's mission. A junior golf programme featuring LPGA players is scheduled for November 14; spectators aged 17 and under may attend free with a ticketed adult.
This is an original account of the public press conference held on October 29, not a separate interview conducted by GOLFTWITT. The November activities remain scheduled future events.
