(ORLANDO, Fla.) – LPGA legend and 10-time major champion Annika Sorenstam has been named an ambassador for IMG Media’s Golfing World.
Golfing World (golfingworld.tv) is a diverse media platform, covering TV, web, mobile and In-Flight, delivering an unrivalled mix of golf content daily to millions worldwide. Golfing World covers all aspects of the game including the latest highlights, exclusive features and behind the scenes news from all the major tours, as well as instructional tips, destination reviews and player interviews.
As part of the agreement, Golfing World will cover Annika throughout the year at various events. These include major championships, ANNIKA Foundation junior tournaments, corporate outings and elsewhere. Annika joins a stellar list of Golfing World Ambassadors that includes Colin Montgomerie, Retief Goosen, Natalie Gulbis and Beatriz Recari.
“We’re excited by the possibilities of this new partnership with Golfing World and our long-time associates at IMG,” says Annika, a 2003 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee. “Despite stepping away from competitive golf in 2008, my schedule is even more hectic nowadays. Golfing World’s video platform will give fans a unique glimpse into my travels across the globe as I pursue my new passions like fitness and nutrition, girls’ junior golf and course design. We look forward to sharing the content across our websites as well.”
Rupert Hunter, VP IMG Media commented “Golfing World is very excited to be working with Annika in her capacity as a brand ambassador for our ever evolving media platform. To have the opportunity to work so closely with one of the game’s greats and share the wide variety of her business interests with golf fans around the world is something we are very much looking forward to.”
Over the last five years, Annika has turned her attention to raising her two young children and growing her ANNIKA-branded businesses. They include the ANNIKA Foundation, ANNIKA Academy, ANNIKA Course Design and more.
About Golfing World
Golfing World is an international program, produced for an international market, and broadcast in over 40 countries around the world with a potential homes reach of over 300 million. The program is produced five days a week (Monday to Friday), 48 weeks of the year – totalling 240 hours of programming across the year. Golfing World can also be viewed In-Flight on 19 different airlines including British Airways, Emirates, Cathay Pacific and China Airlines.
Golfing World is delivered to a global digital audience via www.golfingworld.tv and the Golfing World Player which sits on over 1,100 sports and news sites. Golfing World was also selected by Samsung, the world’s largest television manufacturer, to provide on demand golf content to Samsung Smart TV’s via the Golfing World Smart TV App.
About the ANNIKA Academy
The ANNIKA Academy (theannikaacademy.com) is a state-of-the-art, “boutique” golf school at Reunion Resort, near Orlando, Fla. It opened in 2007 as a way to share Annika’s passion for golf, fitness and nutrition, along with her personal team of coaches. Their simple techniques allow players of any age, gender or skill level to reach their potential by transferring more energy and power from the gym to the course. The Academy is a Certified Callaway Performance Center with two spacious hitting booths that offer custom club fitting and video swing analysis. Complete with a modern fitness facility, conference room, and full-service locker rooms, the Academy provides individualized golf instruction, personalized fitness and nutrition programs, and custom corporate packages. Guests can play with Annika or learn the proven winning approach she established with her world renowned team of instructors.
About the ANNIKA Foundation
Annika created the ANNIKA Foundation (annikafoundation.org) 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. The Foundation has partnered with key organizations to promote healthy, active lifestyles for children, including SPARK, Florida Hospital for Children in support of its Healthy 100 Kids initiative and The First Tee in development of the Nine Healthy Habits curriculum for children.
It annually conducts four major golf events for aspiring junior girls, including an award-winning AJGA tournament, ANNIKA Invitational at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Fla.; the ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills, the first all-girls junior tournament in China; the ANNIKA Invitational in Europe; and the ANNIKA Cup, a team event for the top juniors in Sweden. The Foundation awards SPARK grants to schools, is a financial supporter of Healthy 100 Kids and has endowed an ACE scholarship with the AJGA. Other key initiatives include ANNIKA Junior Day, the ANNIKA Inspiration Award and scholarships for aspiring Swedish juniors.
About ANNIKA Course Design
Annika’s course design philosophy is shaped by more than 20 years of international travel and competition on the world’s best golf courses. Capturing the landscape’s natural character and crafting an environmentally-friendly layout is paramount. She has received acclaim for a global menu of designs in the U.S., China, Turkey, South Africa, Malaysia, Canada, Korea and the Philippines. Learn more at annikasorenstam.com/Course_Design.htm.
Contact:
Shane Sharp
Buffalo Communications
704.519.8381 (cell)
ssharp@buffalocommunications.com
buffalocommunications.com
twitter.com/buffalocomm
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3509
sreynolds@buffalocommunications.com
