If the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark ever felt like taking her talents beyond the basketball court, we now know where she’s headed: straight to the golf course. Fresh off a stellar debut season in the W, Clark announced with a grin that her offseason ambitions just might include “becoming a professional golfer.” And with that, the golf world let out a collective gasp, followed quickly by can we make this happen?
Clark’s golf journey began in childhood under her dad’s watchful eye, but her true calling landed on the hardwood, where her three-point shots and court command became the stuff of legend. However, she’s now got her sights set on the fairway, ready to shake things up on the golf course. And the LPGA? Let’s just say they’re not exactly opposed. When Clark steps onto the green for the Pro-Am at The Annika this November, she’ll tee off alongside golf royalty Nelly Korda and Annika Sorenstam. It’s the ultimate “if you know, you know” event, but let’s be honest—anyone who hasn’t caught wind of this probably is living under a rock.
Golf Channel’s analyst Amy Rogers is practically writing the LPGA’s marketing plan, stating that Clark’s arrival is a publicity bonanza. “You don’t get this level of buzz every day. I mean, we’re talking about Caitlin Clark here—every highlight reel in the country has her name on it,” Rogers remarked. Her smile hinted at what many are starting to believe: Clark could be the crossover phenomenon the LPGA didn’t even know it needed.
But wait, it gets better. Not only will Clark swing with Korda and Sorenstam, she’s also slated to speak at the Women’s Leadership Summit hosted by the Pelican Golf Club. Between golf prep sessions with LPGA veteran Martha Foyer-Faulconer and her upcoming role as a panelist, Clark seems to be diving headfirst into golf’s orbit. The WNBA phenom has been spotted perfecting her swing, reportedly taking lessons to prep for the Pro-Am. After all, if you’re going to hit the greens with legends, you’d better know your way around a bunker.
Some fans have even dared to speculate on the long-term potential of Clark in golf. Could she become the LPGA’s magic bullet to draw more viewers? Golf icon Nelly Korda once shared that “it’s all about showing fans the passion, the grit, the love for the game.” With Caitlin Clark coming on board, Korda may get her wish—albeit with a three-point shot and a side of sarcasm.
LPGA star Lilia Vu, who lights up at the thought of meeting Clark on the course, can barely contain her excitement. “When I heard Caitlin Clark was joining the Pro-Am, I literally ran to tell my mom!” she shared. Vu even joked that the Iowa native might bring an army of basketball fans to the fairway, turning greenside into “mini Madison Square Garden.” Vu’s excitement is contagious, and Clark’s presence may just be the catalyst needed to put women’s golf back on the mainstream map.
Despite all the excitement, though, there’s a catch: this year’s Pro-Am isn’t being broadcast. Not yet, anyway. For now, fans will have to go old-school and see Clark in person, a rare treat for anyone who wants to watch her test her basketball-born precision in a new sport.
So, Caitlin Clark, golf clubs in hand, might just become the LPGA’s surprise guest of honor—and if she swings as well as she shoots, women’s golf may be in for a buzzy, basketball-infused boost. One thing’s for sure: whether she’s on the court or the course, Caitlin Clark is coming to play, and we’ll all be watching, one way or another.
