Sorenstam, a member of NGF’s Board of Directors since 2018, has championed golf’s global growth since the end of her Hall of Fame playing career
JUPITER, Florida (Jan. 7, 2021) – The National Golf Foundation is proud to celebrate Annika Sorenstam’s appointment as new President of the International Golf Federation, which officially took effect on Jan. 1, 2021.
Sorenstam, widely regarded as the best female golfer of all-time, joined the NGF’s Board of Directors in 2018 to help further the organization’s mission to sustain a community of well-informed advocates committed to the growth of the game and industry.
In her newest role as IGF President, Sorenstam will oversee an international federation that organizes golf competitions at the Olympics and promotes the game on a global level, working with the IGF Board, the International Olympic Committee, and governing bodies in golf.
“Annika is a fantastic ambassador for the game on an international scale, and gives unselfishly to many important efforts to help golf grow and become more inclusive,” said NGF President and CEO Joe Beditz. “We are very proud to have Annika on the board of NGF and incredibly appreciative of her contributions. With a respected voice and passion that rivals her once-in-a-generation playing accomplishments, Annika is the ideal choice to help the IGF continue promoting the game globally.”
Sorenstam succeeds former R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson, who spent the past 10 years as IGF President but opted not to seek reinstatement when his latest two-year term expired at the end of 2020.
Sorenstam, 50, won 72 LPGA Tour titles, including 10 major championships during her Hall of Fame playing days. Since her competitive career ended, she’s been dedicated to developing women’s golf at all levels through her ANNIKA Foundation. At the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open, 55 of the competitors were ANNIKA alumnae, having played in the foundation’s junior events at one time.
Sorenstam in 2015 was among the first seven women to join the formerly all-male Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in Scotland, and her foundation is among the charter members of the R&A’s Women in Golf Leadership Development Program.
Sorenstam has also been instrumental in her time as a board member for NGF, which is the only trade organization to work with every sector within the golf industry. She’s part of a diverse group that includes industry leaders at companies from TaylorMade, Toro and Troon to Golf Channel, PGA Tour Superstore and PING.
About the National Golf Foundation
The National Golf Foundation is a community of individuals and golf businesses committed to being the most well-informed advocates for the growth of the industry. With the world’s largest research team dedicated to golf, NGF provides members with the most accurate and objective insights on the game, while helping golf companies and organizations better understand their market and grow their businesses. The NGF is the only association for everyone in golf, advocating for growth by educating and connecting its members.
