Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Bellair, FL–
Today kicked off the start of the LPGA’s ANNIKA Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican Golf Club… except today this one was just for fun and it included one of the biggest names in sports, Caitlin Clark.
Clark, who joined the Pro-Am field for the second straight year also had two of her Indiana Fever teammates in two as caddies. Both Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull joined Clark for some fun banter along the way as she played with two-time ANNIKA LPGA Champion Nelly Korda, who is fully healthy and ready to get back on the course and back to winning.
“It’s so cool to see how many people she brings to a different sport, how many fans she has, how much of a needle she moves,” said Korda, who does a pretty good job of that herself as No. 2 in the Women’s World Golf Rankings.
As Clark rolled on the back nine, she seemed to get the game together quite a bit better than the front of the course and she had another amazing golfer with her Northwestern All-American and NCAA Champion Lauryn Nguyen, who with a sponsors exemption, is going to be making her pro debut tomorrow and with the way she played today, she is definitely one to pay attention going into 2026.
Clark pumped her fists when her drive on No. 10 landed in the fairway. And then again when she rolled in a long putt from the logo. Overall, she was happy with the ability to play with so many talented players but did say she could use a few lessons.
“Any time you get to be out in the sun and in Florida and in front of really cool fans, it makes for a great day,” Clark said.
With all the fun and games out of the way tomorrow, the real action starts at 7:00 am tomorrow morning with Korda scheduled to tee off at 12:10pm
