Great Sorenstam in SA
Gary Player Invitational to take place at Sun City from November 22 to 25.
Champion golfer, World Golf Hall of Famer, businesswoman and full-time mother, Annika Sorenstam, will head to South Africa in November to join Gary Player in a meeting of golf’s best in business and philanthropy at the Gary Player Invitational.
The meeting is presented by Coca-Cola at The Lost City Golf Course at Sun City.
The Swedish global superstar of women’s golf is the first player to be confirmed for the South African tournament in the Black Knight’s global charity series to take place at Sun City from November 22 to 25.
Sorenstam’s presence in the Gary Player Invitational will be her second tournament appearance in South Africa.
The other tournament she featured in South Africa was also at Sun City when she teamed up with Liselotte Neumann to win the 2006 Women’s World Cup of Golf for Sweden.
“I’m thrilled to be invited by Gary, to be playing in the GPI and to be coming back to South Africa with my family,” said Sorenstam, who hung up her clubs and retired from active tournament golf a decade ago.
Both share a strong desire to give back. The Player Foundation has to date raised more than $64-million (R947.2-million) for charity. The aim is to reach a $100-million mark by 2025.
The Annika Foundation supports junior girls golf with six tournaments around the world, with more than 500 girls moving through the programme every year.
“I am so happy to have Annika in our field and supporting our cause to raise funds for our South African charities,” said Player.
“Annika is a true legend of the game who has a strong desire to give back. Her success in golf and business is such a great example of the power of women making a difference in their respective fields, and it aligns perfectly with our own commitment to the empowerment of women.”
Sorenstam’s presence in the field of this charity pro-am brings two of the biggest names in the game with a combined 28 Majors between them as well as 249 tournament victories worldwide.
“It is an incredible honour to be part of the Player’s charity series and to help in any way I can to meet the goals he has set for The Player Foundation.
“He was certainly an inspirational figure throughout my career, particularly when I realised that as golfers we should be exercising and training like athletes, which is something he pioneered. It’s going to be really special playing in a tournament with him for such a good cause.”
The invitational is the final on the annual series of global Gary Player Invitational tournaments played in Abu Dhabi, London, New York and Shanghai, all with the purpose of raising funds to bring hope, help, and healing in those cities and countries.
For more information on the Gary Player Invitational, visit www.garyplayerinvitational.com
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