PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Annika Sorenstam, the LPGA Hall-of-Famer and 10-time major winner, will join PGA of America and industry leaders at the 60th PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., to present the keynote address following PGA of America President Ted Bishop’s welcome and opening remarks on Thursday, Jan. 24, at 10:00 a.m. Sorenstam will open the three-day PGA Forum programming schedule with her unique insights on the future of golf and current growth-of-the-game initiatives. Sorenstam’s presentation will be followed by a brief question and answer period with attending industry professionals who have traveled from around the world for the industry’s annual PGA Merchandise Show.
“I have attended the PGA Merchandise Show often throughout the years and I look forward to sharing my perspective on the PGA Forum Stage about the future of the game and how we can help more people enjoy all the benefits of golf,” said Sorenstam. “Growing the game is very important to me. We need to keep the game friendly and fun. One of the main reasons I started the ANNIKA Foundation is to help promote the game and teach the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through golf.”
“Annika Sorenstam is one of the most successful professional golfers of all time, winning countless awards, re-writing record books and bringing a whole new audience to women’s professional golf,” said PGA President Ted Bishop of The Legends Golf Club in Franklin, Ind. “We’re delighted that Annika will be our keynote speaker at the 2013 PGA Merchandise Show and share her insights on growing the game. She is a tremendous ambassador for our sport and for our collective interests to help many others enjoy this great game.”
Growth-of-the-game initiatives, including Golf 2.0, will be a major focus of the 60th PGA merchandise Show, January 24-26. Educational and promotional opportunities across multiple PGA Show platforms – PGA Show Outdoor Demo Day, on the PGA Forum stage, the PGA Education Conference, within exhibits on the PGA Show floor – will be reflected in nearly every new program and presentation throughout PGA Show week.
Organized by The PGA of America, the PGA Forum was introduced in 2007 to provide the game’s leaders with an unprecedented stage to reach the more than 40,000 attending international industry professionals with pressing matters impacting the business of golf. Sorenstam’s keynote presentation will be followed by a full schedule of programs by the industry’s foremost leaders, award-winning golf teachers, major manufacturers, touring professionals and nationally-renowned business executives.
About Annika
During her 15-year Hall of Fame career, Annika rewrote the LPGA and Ladies European Tour record books, won countless awards and changed the way women’s golf was played, viewed, and covered. She amassed 89 worldwide professional victories, including 72 LPGA wins, ten of which are Major Championships. She represented Europe in eight Solheim Cups, is the LPGA’s All-Time Money Leader and the only female to shoot 59 in competition. Annika stepped away from professional golf after the 2008 season to focus on her family and the ANNIKA brand of businesses, including the ANNIKA Academy, ANNIKA Financial Group, ANNIKA Course Design, the ANNIKA Collection of apparel, and signature high-end wines. In 2007, Annika created the ANNIKA Foundation as a way to teach children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offer aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams.
About the PGA Merchandise Show
The 60th PGA Merchandise Show, held January 24-26, 2013, in Orlando, Fla., will welcome some 1,000 top golf companies and brands and more than 40,000 industry professionals from around the world to the industry’s annual global summit for the business of golf. The PGA Show Outdoor Demo Day, the world’s largest professional golf testing event, will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the Orange County National Golf Center. During Show days, PGA Professionals, retailers and industry leaders will uncover the latest trends, source the newest golf merchandise, test the latest equipment, learn proven business best practices, network among peers and move forward the business of the game. Organized in partnership with The PGA of America as a trade-only event, the 2013 PGA Merchandise Show will be held in the Orange County Convention Center ~ 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 24-25; and 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Jan. 26. For more information, visit www.pgashow.com.
About The PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.
Contact:
PGA of America: Jamie Carbone, (561) 624-8446, jcarbone@pgahq.com
PGA Merchandise Show: Sherry Major, (716) 662-3855, smajor@reedexpo.com
