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Caitlin Clark joked she would spend her WNBA offseason trying to become a professional golfer after the former Iowa women’s basketball star won Rookie of the Year, made the All-WNBA First Team, and helped set numerous attendance and viewership records across the league.
As she ponders a “Lionel Messi–like,” seven-figure offer to play in the new Unrivaled 3-on-3 women’s basketball league that will begin in January, Clark is getting the chance to show off her golf skills on the LPGA Tour, where she’s competing in Wednesday’s pro-am event ahead of this week’s event in the Tampa Bay area.
The tournament, officially named The Annika driven by Gainbridge, has seen a big boost in interest since announcing Clark’s participation last month. A tournament spokesperson tells Front Office Sports there was an increase in ticket sales ($25 for the pro-am day) after the Clark news.
Clark will play with No. 1–ranked Nelly Korda and tournament host Annika Sörenstam, winner of 72 LPGA events and 10 major championships. Before teeing off at 7 a.m. ET, Clark’s warmup range session will be livestreamed on social media.
While Clark’s full 18-hole round won’t be streamed or televised, Golf Channel’s studio show Golf Today is coming on the air at 11 a.m. ET, 90 minutes earlier than its typical start, and will include live tournament look-ins—likely including the conclusion of Clark’s time on the course. A mid-round walk-and-talk interview with Clark will also be livestreamed on social media.
On Tuesday, Clark—who has her own endorsement deal with tournament sponsor Gainbridge—will be a panelist at a women’s leadership summit at Pelican Golf Club, where the event is being played. That will also be livestreamed online.
Clark’s interest in golf has been growing in recent years. Last month, she posted a video on social media of her nearly making a hole-in-one. Last summer, she drew big crowds while playing in the pro-am of the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic in Illinois. While at Iowa, the Big Ten Network posted several YouTube videos of Clark playing golf.
