The LPGA Tour will return to Florida next month. Annika Sorenstam, the tournament host, is already gearing up to help the local community after Hurricane Helene. The LPGA icon announced that spectators can buy ‘Florida Strong’ tee shirts online. 

The proceeds from the sale will directly go towards the Florida Disaster Fund through the Volunteer Florida Foundation. Fans can also buy the tees from the pro shop at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair.

Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on September 26 as a category 4 hurricane. Reportedly, in some areas, 90% of homes have been washed away. Whereas, some communities have been totally wiped away by strong winds of 140 MPH and massive floods.

Visuals showed that a gym near Belleair Beach was mangled across a tree after the storm. The area alongside Belleair Causeway was partially flooded. Damaged boats could be seen sprinkled across the bay. Various community development programs are already underway. And Annika Sorenstam hopes to play a part.

The tournament with a $3.25 million purse will kick off on November 14. It has traditionally attracted a strong field. This year, there is one more surprise as Caitlin Clark, the WNBA sensation, is expected to tee up in the Pro-Am. Nelly Korda, the reigning world no. 1, is expected to pair up with Clark.

Naturally, the footfalls are also estimated to be higher than last year. Even during the Pro-Am part of the tournament. A higher footfall will translate to more funds for Sorenstam’s noble efforts. The former major winner’s announcement is one in a long series of activities by golfers to help the affected communities.

How has the golf world come together after Hurricane Helene?

The impact of Helene in Florida can be gauged from the devastation John Daly faced. The two-time major winner shared that part of his big mansion in Clearwater was partially destroyed. Long John tweeted, “You live in Florida; you have to understand that’s going to happen, but not like this. I didn’t think it would be this bad.”

North and South Carolina were also heavily affected, as was Georgia. Augusta National was battered by Helene as massive pines fell on the greens. The scale of the impact was evident only after drone footage went viral on social media. Notably, Augusta National donated $5M for local community development.

Two Georgians, Luke List and Henrik Norlander, announced they would donate $500 to the local Red Cross for every birdie they make at the Sanderson Farms Championship. They raised over $12000. While Kevin Kisner organized a concert to fundraise for the post-Helene development. Notably, golf broadcaster Amanda Balionis’s foundation has also raised over $25K to support Helene’s victims. The Annika Drive by Gainbridge comes next in line to overcome the damage Hurricane Helene did.