Tim Schmitt
October 8, 2020 8:00 am ET
She’s the only player in LPGA history to card a 59. And that’s just one of what feels like a million feats when it comes to Annika Sorenstam’s golf career.
Born on October 9, 1970, Sorenstam won 72 times on the LPGA, including 10 majors. The eight-time LPGA Player of the Year was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003.
Born near Stockholm, Sweden, Sorenstam won the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open title, her third, 19 days after she was sworn in as an American citizen at a ceremony in Orlando, Florida.
Back then, Sorenstam said that she kept the American flag the government gave her on Flag Day displayed in her kitchen, a most beloved spot for a woman who authored a cookbook.
Here’s a look back at an amazing career.
U.S. Women's Open
Annika Sorenstam holds the U.S. Women's Open trophy after the conclusion of the final round of…
Annika Sorenstam holds the U.S. Women's Open trophy after the conclusion of the final round of the 1995 U.S. Women's Open Championship held at Broadmoor GC in Colorado Springs, Colo. (USGA/Robert Walker)
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Solheim Cup winners: Through the Years
2003: The European team celebrates with the trophy after winning the Solheim Cup against the United…
2003: The European team celebrates with the trophy after winning the Solheim Cup against the United States at Barseback Golf and Country Club in Loddekopinge, Sweden, Sept. 2003. (Photo: Ola Torkelsson/AFP via Getty Images)
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Bethany Wu and Annika Sorenstam (photo courtesy ANNIKA Foundation
Golf - Annika Australasia Invitational Junior-Am, 15 December 2018
Annika Sorenstam puts on a coaching clinic at the 2018 Annika Australiasia Invitational Junior-Am at Royal…
Annika Sorenstam puts on a coaching clinic at the 2018 Annika Australiasia Invitational Junior-Am at Royal Wellington Golf Club in Upper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand Photo credit: Dave Lintott
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EXHIBITION
From left, Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb and David Duval pose before teeing off at…
From left, Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb and David Duval pose before teeing off at the Canyon Course Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, California, in July 2001. (Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images)
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Augusta National Women's Amateur - Final Round
Annika Sorenstam takes part in the First Tee ceremony prior to the start of the final…
Annika Sorenstam takes part in the First Tee ceremony prior to the start of the final round of the 2019 Augusta National Women's Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club. Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
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Annika Sorenstam with Argentina's Agustina Zaballos, winner of last year's ANNIKA Invitational Latin America. (Annika Foundation)
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Jeongeun Lee6 of South Korea is presented with the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year…
Jeongeun Lee6 of South Korea is presented with the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year by Annika Sorenstam during the LPGA Rolex Players Awards at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
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2006 U.S. Women's Open
Annika Sorenstam poses after winning the 2006 U.S. Women's Open held at Newport Country Club in…
Annika Sorenstam poses after winning the 2006 U.S. Women's Open held at Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island, Sunday, July 3, 2006. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)
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PGA TOUR - 2005 Merrill Lynch Skins Game - First Round
Fred Funk receives a skirt from Annika Sorenstam after Sorenstam outdrove him on the third tee…
Fred Funk receives a skirt from Annika Sorenstam after Sorenstam outdrove him on the third tee at the Merrill Lynch Skins Game at Trilogy Golf Club at La Quinta in La Quinta, California November 26, 2005. (Steve Grayson/Getty Images)
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Skins Game
Annika Sorenstam celebrates after making an eagle on the ninth hole and winning four skins worth…
Annika Sorenstam celebrates after making an eagle on the ninth hole and winning four skins worth $175,000 during the Skins Game on November 29, 2003 at the Trilogy Golf Club in La Quinta, California. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
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Annika Sorenstam Arizona Wildcats 2019 ANNIKA Intercollegiate
Annika Sorenstam and the Arizona Wildcats women's golf team at the 2019 ANNIKA Intercollegiate at Royal…
Annika Sorenstam and the Arizona Wildcats women's golf team at the 2019 ANNIKA Intercollegiate at Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo, Minn. (Taylor Britton/ANNIKA Foundation)
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MLB: Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins
Annika Sorenstam presents Maria Fassi with the ANNIKA Award for the most outstanding female collegiate golfer…
Annika Sorenstam presents Maria Fassi with the ANNIKA Award for the most outstanding female collegiate golfer before the baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins. Photo: Bruce Kluckhohn/USA TODAY Sports
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The Solheim Cup - Day Three
WEST DES MOINES, IA - AUGUST 20: Annika Sorenstam, Captain of Team Europe dances with Juli…
WEST DES MOINES, IA - AUGUST 20: Annika Sorenstam, Captain of Team Europe dances with Juli Inkster, Captain of Team USA on the first tee during the final day singles matches of The Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf and Country Club on August 20, 2017 in West Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
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Annika Sorenstam 59
Annika Sorenstam poses with a golf ball marked "59" after she became the first women in…
Annika Sorenstam poses with a golf ball marked "59" after she became the first women in LPGA history to shoot a 59. She did so on March 16, 2001 at the Moon Valley Country Club during the Standard Register Ping in Phoenix. Photo by Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Network
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Augusta National Women's Amateur - Final Round
Atlanta Braves Chairman, CEO Terry McGuirk, Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, Bubba Watson of the United States…
Atlanta Braves Chairman, CEO Terry McGuirk, Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, Bubba Watson of the United States and Lorena Ochoa of Mexico attend the First Tee Ceremony for the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur Saturday. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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LPGA: The Solheim Cup
Aug 15, 2017; West Des Moines, IA, USA; Team Europe captain Annika Sorenstam during a practice…
Aug 15, 2017; West Des Moines, IA, USA; Team Europe captain Annika Sorenstam during a practice round for The Solheim Cup international golf tournament at Des Moines Golf and Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
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Office Depot Championship - Final Round
Annika Sorenstam on the first fairway in 2005. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
USP LPGA: AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR - FINAL S GLF USA GA
Honorary starters Lorena Ochoa, Annika Sorenstam, Se Ri Pak and Nancy Lopez at the first tee…
Honorary starters Lorena Ochoa, Annika Sorenstam, Se Ri Pak and Nancy Lopez at the first tee ceremony during the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur golf tournament at Augusta National. (Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
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PGA: Annika Award
Sep 17, 2018; St. Paul, MN, USA; Annika Sorenstam poses for photos at the 2018 Annika…
Sep 17, 2018; St. Paul, MN, USA; Annika Sorenstam poses for photos at the 2018 Annika Award dinner at the 3M Innovation center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
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PGA: Annika Award
Sep 17, 2018; St. Paul, MN, USA; Annika Sorenstam speaks at the 2018 Annika Award dinner…
Sep 17, 2018; St. Paul, MN, USA; Annika Sorenstam speaks at the 2018 Annika Award dinner at the 3M Innovation center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
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The Solheim Cup - Day Two
WEST DES MOINES, IA - AUGUST 19: Georgia Hall of Team Europe celebrates holeing a putt…
WEST DES MOINES, IA - AUGUST 19: Georgia Hall of Team Europe celebrates holeing a putt with Annika Sorenstam, Team Europe Captain during the second day morning foursomes matches of The Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf and Country Club on August 19, 2017 in West Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
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The Solheim Cup - Preview Day 3
WEST DES MOINES, IA - AUGUST 16: Annika Sorenstam, Team Europe Captain talks with Suzann Pettersen…
WEST DES MOINES, IA - AUGUST 16: Annika Sorenstam, Team Europe Captain talks with Suzann Pettersen during practice for The Solheim Cup at the Des Moines Country Club on August 16, 2017 in West Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
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LPGA: Hall of Fame Exhibition
May 6, 2017; Mexico City, MEX; Lorena Ochoa (L), Se Ri Pak (center, left), Annika Sorenstam…
May 6, 2017; Mexico City, MEX; Lorena Ochoa (L), Se Ri Pak (center, left), Annika Sorenstam (center, right) and Juli Inkster pose for a photograph prior to the Hall of Fame Exhibition game at Club de Golf Mexico. SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT FOR GolfWeek - Assigning Editor Beth Nichols at Club de Golf Mexico . Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
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Annika Sorenstam watches her ball miss the hole after hitting from the bunker during the ADT…
Annika Sorenstam watches her ball miss the hole after hitting from the bunker during the ADT Skills Challenge, Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla.
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Annika Sorenstam at her home in Lake Nona for Golfweek Style Issue.
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Orlando, Fla.--02/05/10--Annika Sorenstam at her home in Lake Nona with baby Ava and husband, Mike McGee…
Orlando, Fla.--02/05/10--Annika Sorenstam at her home in Lake Nona with baby Ava and husband, Mike McGee for Golfweek Style Issue.
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Orlando, Fla.--02/05/10--Annika Sorenstam at Her home in Lake Nona with her baby daughter Ava for Golfweek…
Orlando, Fla.--02/05/10--Annika Sorenstam at Her home in Lake Nona with her baby daughter Ava for Golfweek Style Issue.
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Donald Trump and Annika Sorenstam during the State of the Industry Panel on the PGA Forum…
Donald Trump and Annika Sorenstam during the State of the Industry Panel on the PGA Forum Stage at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center.
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Annika Sorenstam shows junior players some of her 40-yard shots.
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Annika Sorenstam, who is 5 months pregnant, hits balls during her clinic after the first round…
Annika Sorenstam, who is 5 months pregnant, hits balls during her clinic after the first round of the Annika Invitational.
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Sweden's Annika Sorenstam kisses the trophy after winning the Women's British Open Golf Championship at Royal…
Sweden's Annika Sorenstam kisses the trophy after winning the Women's British Open Golf Championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes golf course, in St Annes, England, Sunday, Aug. 3. 2003. Sorenstam won with a score of 10 under par.
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Annika Sorenstam and caddie Terry Mcnamara at the 2004 LPGA Corning Classic.
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Annika Sorenstam on the second hole Over Yonder Cay.
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Annika Sorenstam kisses the U.S. Women's Open trophy after she won the Open in Southern Pines,…
Annika Sorenstam kisses the U.S. Women's Open trophy after she won the Open in Southern Pines, N.C. on Sunday June 2, 1996.
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Annika Sorenstam and Mike McGee on their wedding day, Jan. 10, 2009, near their home in…
Annika Sorenstam and Mike McGee on their wedding day, Jan. 10, 2009, near their home in Orlando, Fla.
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Annika Sorenstam plays at St Andrews in 2007.
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Annika Sorenstam celebrates her birdie on the 16th green in the third round of the U.S.…
Annika Sorenstam celebrates her birdie on the 16th green in the third round of the U.S. Women's Open on Saturday, July 6, 2002, at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan. Sorenstam shot a 1-under-par 69 and was leading the tournament by two strokes.
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Annika Sorenstam and Arnold Palmer share a moment at the 2013 3M Championship.
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Annika Sorenstam was named the best women's athlete of all time by a Swedish newspaper.
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Annika Sorenstam of Sweden holds the winner's trophy after winning the Evian Masters golf tournament in…
Annika Sorenstam of Sweden holds the winner's trophy after winning the Evian Masters golf tournament in Evian, eastern France, Saturday June 15, 2002. Sorenstam swept to her second Evian Masters title and her sixth victory of the season world-wide when she shot a final-round, 3-under-par 69 Saturday over the Evian Masters course to finish four shots clear of the field at 269 (-19).
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Annika Sorenstam greets players as they leave the 18th hole during the Annika Invitational at Reunion…
Annika Sorenstam greets players as they leave the 18th hole during the Annika Invitational at Reunion Resort.
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Annika Sorenstam gives a hug to Celine Boutier after she was doused with champagne and water…
Annika Sorenstam gives a hug to Celine Boutier after she was doused with champagne and water after she won the Annika Invitational.
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Sweden's Annika Sorenstam holds her trophy after winning the 1995 U.S. Women's Open at The Broadmoor…
Sweden's Annika Sorenstam holds her trophy after winning the 1995 U.S. Women's Open at The Broadmoor Country Club in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunday, July 16, 1995. It was the first U.S. tour win for the 24 year old.
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Lydia Ko Annika Sorenstam Evian Championship Golf - Day Four
Lydia Ko (left) and Annika Sorenstam
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