‘Forced Me to Face My Fear’: Annika Sorenstam Revealed Her Dad’s ‘Tactic’ That Helped the Tour Legend Build a Successful Career in a 2019 Interview

Annika Sorenstam is the voice of female professional golfing. She uses her hard-earned name and authority to make everyone aware of the importance of women in the sport. So far, the Swedish-born golfer has helped hundreds of girls achieve their dream. However, according to an exclusive interview she gave in 2019, none of this would have been possible if her father hadn’t used his tactics on her.  

Father of Annika Sorenstam played an important role in making the person she is today 

Annika might have tried her luck once in caddying for a PGA Tour player when she was young. However, the Swedish golfer soon realized that she wouldn’t be able to quench her love for the sport unless she played as a professional. While she was the best of her time, she struggled with an internal issue, which could have broken her dream of becoming the best golf pro. 

In an interview with golfscape.com in 2019, Annika revealed how she struggled with shyness when she was young. “I was very shy as a child,” she told Golfscape. According to her words, Annika purposefully “dropped a shot or two” by the end of every junior tournament so that she wouldn’t win. And of course, the golfer did it so she wouldn’t have to face her worst enemy, public speaking. 

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“That way I wouldn’t be forced to give a little victory speech at the awards ceremony,” Annika added. However, her father, Tom Sorenstam, was quick to learn this habit of his daughter. “My dad picked up on this and started asking tournament organizers to request that the second and third-place finishers say something as well.” 

An extremely thankful Annika still credits her father for helping her get rid of such a phobia. “This tactic forced me to face my fear and was exceptionally beneficial to me in the long run. If I hadn’t faced and conquered this fear as a child,” she added. “It undoubtedly would have affected my career trajectory.” 

Tom Sorenstam’s trick worked and helped the golf world get a gem of a pro

After trying out Tennis, Annika Sorenstam chose golf because she found it more suitable than the first. Although she had what it takes to be the best in her, the young Swedish golfer needed a little push from someone, and her father acted as that someone when she needed it the most. 

With his help, Annika started winning junior and other amateur events, which made her turn professional. This eventually made her the GOAT of women’s golf, with more than 70 wins under her belt, and started her own Academy to help train other girls who share the same dream she had as a teenager. 

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If not for her father, Annika couldn’t have reached the places she had as of now. And she is proud to admit this as a fact.