Andretti INDYCAR teammates Herta and Ericsson to Serve as Guest Caddies During Wednesday Pro-Am for Clark and Annika Sorenstam; Sign Autographs for Fans During Thursday’s Opening Round
BELLEAIR, Fla. – Gainbridge® and tournament officials at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican announced today that Andretti INDYCAR drivers Colton Herta and Marcus Ericsson will attend the LPGA Tour event and participate in various tournament week festivities at Pelican Golf Club, Nov. 11-17.
Herta, the 2021 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg winner, and Ericsson, the 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2023 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg winner, will walk inside the ropes as guest caddies during the Wednesday Pro-Am with WNBA star and Gainbridge® ambassador Caitlin Clark and tournament host Annika Sorenstam. Wednesday’s Pro-Am is open to the public, with tickets on sale Wednesday-Sunday at www.TheAnnika.com.
“It’s not every day that you get to be inside the ropes, and I can’t wait to witness the LPGA Tour players’ skills and strategies up close on the course,” said Herta. “Gainbridge® has played such a significant role in my INDYCAR career, and I’m proud to be a part of a brand that has a strong commitment to racing and women’s sports.”
“As a fellow Swede, I grew up watching Annika Sorenstam play, and she has been an inspiration to me all my life,” said Ericsson. “Colton and I get a lot of unique opportunities as INDYCAR drivers and representing the Group 1001 family in Tampa Bay next month is going to be an experience to remember.”
Herta and Ericsson will also participate in autograph sessions for fans during Thursday’s opening round (9-10 a.m. ET) and photo opportunities. Herta’s No. 26 Gainbridge Honda and Ericsson’s No. 28 Delaware Life Honda will both be showcased at the main entrance throughout tournament week.
“Having Colton and Marcus join Annika and Caitlin is an opportunity for Gainbridge® to showcase the variety in our sports sponsorship portfolio,” said Mike Nichols, Group 1001 Chief of Sponsorship Strategy and Activation. “The Tampa/St. Pete market is the perfect spot to do this as it hosts the start of the INDYCAR season and our premier LPGA Tour event. I know racing fans will enjoy watching Colton and Marcus caddie, and we’re thankful to Andretti Global for bringing the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda and No. 28 Delaware Life Honda on site for golf fans.”
Herta and Ericsson will enter their seventh seasons of NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition in 2025. Herta, a second-generation driver, is a nine-time INDYCAR race winner, while Ericsson is a four-time INDYCAR race winner.
Aligning with some of the biggest names in sports, Gainbridge® is a sponsor of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, and the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge, known as the World Cup of Women’s Tennis. Both events coincide with Parity Week by Gainbridge. In November, the 21 Parity Week grant recipients will host events that support girls and women through sports and education. To learn more about Parity Week, visit https://paritynow.co/parityweek.
Hosted by World Golf and LPGA Hall-of-Famer Annika Sorenstam, The ANNIKA will feature a field of 120 of the world’s best female professional golfers competing for a share of the $3.25 million purse, one of the largest purses on the LPGA Tour. World No. 1 and two-time champion Nelly Korda, defending champion and World No. 2 Lilia Vu, former World No. 1’s Lydia Ko and Ruoning Yin, and three-time winner in 2024 Hannah Green headline a stacked field of early commitments for The ANNIKA.
For more information on The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, including tickets, corporate support. and volunteer opportunities, visit www.TheAnnika.com and social media: @TheAnnikaLPGA on X, @TheAnnikaLPGA on Instagram, and The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican on Facebook.
About The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican
The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican is the LPGA’s annual tournament in the Tampa Bay region and features the world’s best female golfers competing over four rounds for a share of the $3.25 million purse, one of the largest purses on the LPGA Tour. The tournament is contested at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla., a Donald Ross design that offers world-class amenities and an unmatched golf experience. The sole namesake event on the LPGA Tour, Annika Sorenstam serves as tournament host with proceeds benefiting the ANNIKA Foundation. The championship is operated by Outlyr, a global sports, event management and lifestyle marketing agency. For more information on The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, visit www.TheAnnika.com.
About ANNIKA
In 2008, Annika stepped away from professional golf and created the ANNIKA Foundation, which currently hosts six global tournaments for junior girls with over 600 girls from 60 different countries competing annually. The Foundation also hosts the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M, a premiere event on the NCAA Division I women’s golf fall schedule featuring 12 of the top DI schools in the country. New this year, a member of the winning team will earn an exemption to compete in The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.
Annika, the ANNIKA Foundation and the Haskins Foundation annually recognize the NCAA Division I women’s golf player of the year via the ANNIKA Award. LSU’s Ingrid Lindblad was named the Annika Award winner for 2024.
In 2014 the LPGA, in partnership with Rolex, the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award was established to recognize the player who, during a current LPGA Tour season, has the most outstanding record in all five major championships. In 2020, Annika was elected the President of the International Golf Federation which oversees golf in the Olympic Games. In 2021, Annika became the first female golfer to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
About Gainbridge®
Founded in 2018, Gainbridge® is an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Its platform provides access to financial products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge® is headquartered in Zionsville, Indiana. For more information, visit www.gainbridge.io or follow and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.
About Group 1001
Group 1001 is a collective that empowers companies to create positive growth. Our insurance and annuities are easy to understand and accessible to all. Our online investing platform gives individuals control over their savings. Our technology and innovation help companies succeed. And our strategic partnerships bring people together through education and sports.
As of June 30, 2024, Group 1001 had more than 1,400 employees and combined assets under management of $65.2 billion, serving more than 950,000 customers. It comprises the following brands: Delaware Life, Gainbridge®, Clear Spring Health, Clear Spring Property and Casualty Group, Clear Spring Life and Annuity Company, and RVI Group, among others.
About the LPGA
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is the world’s premier women’s professional golf organization. Created in 1950 by 13 pioneering female Founders, the LPGA, whose members now represent more than 60 countries, is the longest-standing professional women’s sports organization. Through the LPGA Tour, the Epson Tour, the LPGA Professionals, and a joint venture with the Ladies European Tour, the LPGA provides female professionals the opportunity to pursue their dreams in the game of golf at the highest level. In addition to its professional tours and teaching accreditation programs, the LPGA features a fully integrated Foundation, which provides best-in-class programming for female golfers through its junior golf programming, and its LPGA Amateurs division, which offers its members playing and learning opportunities around the world. LPGA aims to use its unique platform to inspire, transform and advance opportunities for girls and women, on and off the golf course. Follow the LPGA online at www.LPGA.com and on its mobile apps. Join the social conversation on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.
About the LPGA Tour
The LPGA Tour is the world’s leading competitive destination for the best female professional golfers in the world. The Tour hosts more than 30 annual events across 10 countries for over 200 Active Players, awarding total prize funds exceeding $125 million and reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. Follow the LPGA Tour on its U.S. television home, Golf Channel.
Media Contact:
Jeremy Friedman
The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican
Outlyr
407-721-9752
jfriedman@outlyr.com
