Move over, Tiger Woods. Step aside, Michael Jordan. Caitlin Clark is here to rewrite the sports-celebrity manual—and the LPGA and Golf Channel are wisely hitching a ride on the hype train.
Clark, a 22-year-old WNBA phenom with a jumper deadlier than your Uncle Larry’s slice, is set to dazzle in a less familiar arena: the golf course. She’s headlining the pro-am at The Annika, and no one—not the LPGA, not Golf Channel, not even her pro partners Nelly Korda and Annika Sorenstam—wants to miss a single swing.
So, what does the LPGA do when a certified unicorn like Clark hits the links? They tear up the usual playbook. Golf Channel’s coverage will kick off 90 minutes early, giving fans a front-row seat to Clark’s morning adventures. We’re talking live look-ins, highlight reels, and maybe even a slow-mo shot of Clark juggling a golf ball on the range (hey, she’s got skills). On social media, the LPGA will be going full influencer mode, flooding feeds with updates faster than you can say “birdie.”
“The Caitlin Effect”
Why the fuss over a basketball star in a golf pro-am? It’s simple: Clark isn’t just a great athlete; she’s a gravitational force. Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley summed it up best. “Every once in a while, someone comes along who captures the imagination of the sporting world,” Ridley said last April, clearly still starstruck. “Her passion, her energy—it transcends basketball.”
Translation: If Caitlin Clark is holding a golf club, you’d better be watching.
The Clark-Korda Power Duo
Clark’s round will be a tale of two halves. On the front nine, she’ll pair with Nelly Korda, golf’s reigning queen of cool. Korda’s been on a heater in 2024, bagging five straight wins and a major, which is kind of like your fantasy football team winning every single week—including the bye. But even Korda knows the spotlight will shift when Clark steps up to the tee.
Korda, of course, isn’t fading into the background. She’s leaned into her own superstar potential, attending the Met Gala and landing a coveted spot in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. (If you didn’t know golfers could also be fashion icons, now you do.)
But this isn’t just about raising profiles. It’s about feeding the beast of sports stardom. And Korda, like the LPGA, knows that standing next to Clark is like standing next to a lighthouse: you’re gonna shine, too.
The Annika Sideshow
On the back nine, Clark will team up with golf legend Annika Sorenstam, whose trophy case could double as a small museum. If Korda’s pairing is a power duo, this one’s more of a masterclass. Expect plenty of banter, maybe some “back in my day” stories from Sorenstam, and more than a few jaw-dropping moments.
Let’s be honest, though: no one’s watching for flawless swings or textbook course management. They’re watching for Clark—her swagger, her charisma, and the very real possibility that she’ll sink a 40-foot putt and celebrate like she just hit a game-winner at the buzzer.
Unicorns, Assemble
The LPGA is banking on “The Caitlin Effect” to supercharge its brand, and why not? As Ridley put it, “We need more unicorns.” Clark is that rare breed of athlete who turns everything she touches into must-see TV. Whether she’s draining threes in the WNBA or driving golf balls into oblivion, she makes you care.
So, tune in early, grab your popcorn, and watch as Caitlin Clark takes her talents to the fairway. Who knows? By the end of the day, she might just leave Nelly and Annika wondering if they’ve got room for one more on the LPGA Tour.
