When Annika Sorenstam speaks, the golf world listens … and that is what has happened in the presentation of the La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational, Ladies European Tour event to be held this week at the golf course of La Reserva Club de Sotogrande. Sorenstam, winner of ten majors and member of the Hall of Fame of golf, has begun his career as hostess of the tournament teaching to the press and sharing the limelight with Marc Topiol, CEO of Sotogrande SA, sponsor of a project that was born with the aim of becoming a fixed calendar of the European women’s circuit.
Annika Sorenstam returns to the Ladies European Tour supporting the first tournament of the circuit that comes to Sotogrande, and in addition to participating in the Pro-Am during the day on Wednesday, on Saturday she will give a clinic to offer golfers of a new generation her unique point of view on golf.
“For the past eleven years I have been focused on helping younger players through my foundation, a way to give back to this sport a part of how much it has given me. On the other hand, the Ladies European Tour is very important to me because it was where I started my career. I still feel very involved in the world of golf and so I want to see how I can support the tournament,” recapped Sorenstam. “Young players need more sponsors like La Reserva de Sotogrande. You have to give credit to Spain, host of three LET tournaments and a country with a national circuit – that’s how you create a new generation of players.”
The hostess of the tournament must be recognized for the success in the educational work carried out through her foundation, since 25 of the golfers present at the La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational previously participated in events organized by the ANNIKA Foundation, and if we look back to the recent Augusta Women’s National Amateur, the percentage rises to a spectacular 82% (59 of 72 players). One of her ANNIKA Foundation pupils, Italy’s Anna Zanusso, will be playing this Ladies European Tour event as a guest.
Sorenstam also had words of praise for an area she remembers fondly from the years when she was on the Swedish national team some 30 years ago.
“I used to visit the area and have wonderful memories. This is where I started to focus on the target and dream of becoming a professional golfer. It’s great to be able to come full circle by coming so long after with my family and being part of a Ladies European Tour tournament.”
Marc Topiol, La Reserva’s top representative, was very excited with Annika Sorenstam’s involvement and hopes that the ties between La Reserva and the Swedish champion will become even closer in the future.
“We are delighted to have Annika and I still find it hard to believe that I have the best player in history next to me here at La Reserva,” explained Topiol. “We intend to create an event that goes beyond golf and revolves around family, equality, excellence and the women’s world, and we hope it will long be Annika’s tournament, just as the Bay Hill tournament is associated with Arnold Palmer and the Muirfield Village tournament with Jack Nicklaus.”
Success in The Challenge, the most solidary challenge
The Spanish Association Against Cancer was the undoubted winner of The Challenge, a bloodless, fun and solidary “battle of the sexes” that pitted Catriona Matthew and Noemí Jiménez against Manuel Piñero and Jean Van de Velde. The good game of both couples was reflected in the amount raised in this entertaining duel, since the five birdies obtained were converted into 5000 € that will go to the coffers of the AECC.
In the end, it was the male couple who won by two holes ahead, but not before submitting to the original skill tests that the referee posed to resolve the ties that were occurring. The participants delighted the audience with their refined technique and juggling, and made the public enjoy every moment of this six-hole duel.
La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational is sponsored by Sotogrande SA, the founding company of Sotogrande, and organized by Deporte & Business and the Ladies European Tour. The tournament will have extensive international television coverage and viewers in our country will enjoy it live during the four days through Movistar Golf, Teledeporte and Andalucía TV.
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