Golf Legend Balances Family & Career

Annika Sorenstam is a driven performer in many ways. 

Not only did the native Swede reach the pinnacle of women’s golf in her storybook 16-year career; she walked away from the sport she conquered at the early age of 38 and has never looked back.

Now 41, Sorenstam has been as busy in her post-golf career as she was during it. And that’s saying something for someone who won 90 professional tournaments, 10 majors and was named the Player of the Year a record eight times. 

Since her retirement, Sorenstam has started a family and become an entrepreneur.

She has two young children with husband Mike McGee, whom she married in 2009, and started her own brand, ANNIKA, which features a foundation, a golf academy, worldwide course designing and even her own wine. 

Sorenstam visited this week to announce a partnership with Sheila Johnson’s Salamander Hotels and Resorts, which will unite Innisbrook, Hammock Bay and Reunion Resort in Orlando in what is called the Grand Golf Resorts of Florida. 

Palm Harbor Patch spoke to Sorenstam following the partnership announcement at Innisbrook and got a little insight into what makes the legend tick. 

How do you feel about the new partnership? 

I’m certainly delighted. I’ve known about it for a few months now because Sheila first joined my foundation board, and then she broke the news that she’s taken over Reunion where my golf academy is. I think it’s going to open up some opportunities for both of us. 

Sheila’s been very successful, and I’ve just started in the business world, so she’s certainly somebody I can learn the ropes from. We share a lot of things … a passion for golf and philanthropy. I think creating something one-of-a-kind is what we have in mind, so it’s going to be fun. 

You’ve been called one of the most successful golfers in history. What advice do you have for young girls who want to get into golf? 

Obviously, golf has been tremendous to me. It started as a hobby, and then I took it on to something else. But I always tell people golf is a game for life. Golf teaches so many things about life. It teaches you a lot about the character of a person, and it’s fun. 

I tell girls, "Pick up a club, try it, learn the fundamentals and just have fun with it." 

Who was your inspiration when you first started? 

My parents have been very instrumental — my dad is very active in sports — so I would say they have been there from the beginning. Then I started looking at successful golfers, and Nancy Lopez is someone I’ve always admired. On the men’s tour, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus — I think we all did. 

I would pick a little here and a little there, and say "I would love to be good in that area." I think athletes in general are great role models, and that’s how I got inspired to play golf. 

You have two young children. How do you juggle it all? 

I have a very supportive husband. But it does take some planning. When I played, it was about Annika. It’s not about Annika anymore. It’s about the kids and my husband, and we just try to do as much as we can and be with them as much as we can. 

But then I enjoy this part of my life, as well, so I think I found a good balance there.