Profile - Suzann Pettersen

In 2011, Suzann played the majority of her season on the LPGA and had a sensational season including 2 wins and 11 top-ten finishes. First victory came in May at the Sybase Match Play Championship and her second win at the Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola. 

She finished fifth at the Money List and made a total of $1,322,770.00 season’s earning. She also played three LET events which included a win at the Ladies Irish Open and tied for 6th place at the Evian Masters. Made her sixth appearance at the Solheim Cup and helped lead the European Team to victory by securing one of the most important points in the Sunday singles.

In 2010, Suzann played the majority of her season on the LPGA. Finished runner-up at the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand, the Kraft Nabisco Championship and the Bell Micro LPGA Classic; tied for second at the U.S. Women’s Open, the CN Canadian Women’s Open and the Lorena Ochoa Invitational with season’s earnings of $1,557,174.50. Suzann’s best finish on the LET was 5th at the Evian Masters Presented by Société Générale.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Won the French Open in 2001 in only her second start as a professional after beating Becky Morgan in a playoff. Finished runner up at the German Open behind Karine Icher. Finished runner up at the WPGA Championship of Europe behind Helen Alfredsson. Finished second at the Mexx Sport Open behind Karine Icher after a playoff. Won LET Rookie of the Year on 2001. Lost another playoff to Karrie Webb for the Australian Open in 2002. 

Lost yet another playoff to Iben Tinning for the Irish Open. Lost in her most recent playoff to Sophie Gustafson at the 2003 HP Open after shooting 62 to get into it. Playoff is not her favourite word! 

Represented Europe in the 2002 Solheim Cup in her rookie year. Represented Europe in the 2003 Solheim Cup, winning four points and conceding her singles match to Beth Daniel when she knew Europe had won the Cup. Represented Europe in her third Solheim Cup at Crooked Stick GC, Carmel, Indiana, where she was undefeated winning 3 points out of a possible four. 

Played in The Solheim Cup in 2007 at Halmstad GC in Sweden. Won six tournaments around the world in 2007 and rose to number two in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings by the end of the year. Won 2 LET tournaments in 2008: the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open at Golf Gerre Losone and the AIB Ladies Irish Open at Portmarnock Links. Ranked fifth in the world at the end of the 2008 season. 

Earned 10th worldwide victory at the 2009 the CN Canadian Women's Open. Made 5th Solheim Cup appearance at Rich Harvest Farms, USA. Ranked as World No.3 at the end of 2009. In 2011 added three more individual victories (two on the LPGA and one on the LET) to her CV. She also made her sixth Solheim Cup appearance at Killeen Castle, where the European Team regained the Cup from the US Team. She won one of the most vital points in her singles match against Michelle Wie, recovering from being 1 down and finishing with three birdies to help secure victory for European team.

AMATEUR

World Amateur Champion 2000, British Girls Champion 1999, Norwegian Champion 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000. Gained Evian Tour card after finishing 11th in LET Qualifying School 2001. 

PERSONAL

175cm with blond hair and blue eyes. Lists most sports, especially skiing, keeping fit and music amongst her hobbies. Names Norway’s Athlete of the Year in 2008 and 2010. Attached to Oslo GC. Represents Nike. 

TOUR VICTORIES

2001 French Open, 2007 SAS Masters, 2008 Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open, 2008 AIB Ladies Irish Open, 2011 Ladies Irish Open.

OTHER VICTORIES

2007 Michelob ULTRA Open, McDonalds LPGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola, Longs Drugs Challenge, HANA Bank KOLON Championship, Honda LPGA Thailand 2007, 2009 CN Canadian Women's Open, 2011 Sybase Match Play Championship, 2011 Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola.

SOLHEIM CUP

2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011.

Factfile

DOB: 7th April 1981

Place of Birth: Oslo Norway

Residence: Norway

InterestsAll kinds of sport and music

Turned Pro. 4th September 2000

Exemption Status: LET Ranking Tournament Winners

SponsorNike

RepresentsNorway

Annika Named Solheim Vice Captain

Annika Sorenstam has been appointed vice captain for the 2013 European Solheim Cup team.

Captain Liselotte Neumann announced the selection Tuesday at Colorado Golf Club, which will host the event next August. Carin Koch also was named a vice captain.

Sorenstam filled a similar role in 2011 when the Europeans won the Cup in Ireland. She has played in the event eight times, accumulating 24 points in 37 matches.

The former world No. 1 golfer retired in 2008. Sorenstam had quite a career as she won 90 tournaments, including 10 major championships.

Sorenstam said she is elated at the chance to help Neumann, who was her role model as a young golfer.

U.S. captain Meg Mallon announced in July that Dottie Pepper will be her vice captain.

Related articles

• Pepper appointed assistant captain for Solheim Cup
• Pepper appointed assistant captain for Solheim Cup

Louise Solheim Honoured by LET

At The Solheim Cup Gala Dinner on September 21, European Captain Alison Nicholas announced that Louise Solheim had been granted the first honorary membership of the Ladies European Tour.

Louise Solheim and her late husband Karsten founded Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, which makes PING golf equipment. In 1990, the Solheim family developed the concept and became the title sponsor of The Solheim Cup, professional golf's international matchplay competition for women. 

The Solheim Cup is Karsten and Louise Solheim's legacy, and despite his death in February 2000, his memory lives on through his family's dedication to the event and to women's golf. Louise has attended all 12 editions of the competition. 

In addition to The Solheim Cup, Karsten Manufacturing Corporation sponsors The PING Junior Solheim Cup, which was launched in 2002 with the aim of giving participants the best golfing opportunities to further their careers.

“During the past 22 years, Louise Solheim has been one of the greatest supporters of women’s professional golf and we would like to recognise her enormous contribution,” said Ladies European Tour executive director Alexandra Armas. “Speaking on behalf of all of the players and staff, we would like to thank Louise for her role in developing the game and for providing such wonderful opportunities for women and girls from across Europe.”

In addition to her contribution to golf, Louise Solheim is a generous philanthropist and is a long-time supporter of many organisations including the The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington and the Cronkite School which focuses on professional journalism education on the undergraduate and master’s levels. 

She considers her family to be her proudest achievement and has three sons, one daughter, 10 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren. 

Her son, John A. Solheim, is chairman and CEO of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation/PING.

Annika Sponsors ILGU Junior Medal

Annika Sorenstam, the greatest female golfer of all time and Golf Digest Ireland, the country's biggest selling golf magazine, have announced a joint sponsorship of the ILGU's Junior Medal.

Annika is one of the most successful professional golfers of all time. Born in Sweden in 1970, she won a total of 89 tournaments worldwide - more than any other player in the sport. On the LPGA, she won 72 times, including an incredible 10 majors. The LPGA's Rookie of the Year in 1994, Annika went on to become the tour's Player of the Year eight times in the following 10 years, and was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003. She is also the record points scorer at the Solheim Cup history. 

Annika stepped away from professional golf after the 2008 season to focus on her family and the ANNIKA brand of businesses, which include the ANNIKA Academy, ANNIKA Foundation, ANNIKA Financial Group, ANNIKA Course Design, the ANNIKA Collection of apparel with Cutter & Buck, signature high-end wines with Wente Vineyards, and an online retail shop, shopannika.com. The ANNIKA brand is becoming one of the most recognised brands in world golf. 

As one of the two vice-Captains to Alison Nicholas for the upcoming Solheim Cup - to be held for the first time ever in Ireland this September in Killeen Castle, Co. Meath - Annika is a committed ambassador for the game around the world and is a dedicated supporter of getting girls into golf at a young age. As the most successful female golfer ever, there is no one better placed to inspire the next generation of Irish golfers. 

"I am happy to be able to share my passion for growing the game of golf globally, specifically for junior girls," said Annika. "I couldn't have achieved what I did without support from an early age, and I love being able to give back in some way now". 

"I'm excited to be working with the ILGU," continued Annika. "It's the oldest ladies golf union in the world and its record for promoting and supporting the game is incredible. Together, I believe we can have a positive effect on girls golf in Ireland and hopefully inspire the juniors to follow their dreams and reach their potential in golf." 

The "ILGU Junior Medal sponsored by ANNIKA in association with Golf Digest Ireland" is the latest in a number of steps taken in this country in recent years to grow the female game and one of many spear-headed by the ILGU. 

Sinead Herarty, the Chief Executive of the ILGU said, "The development and growth of Girls golf is a key priority for the ILGU. To have a player of the reputation and stature of Annika encouraging more girls to participate in the game is a wonderful opportunity for us in the ILGU and we look forward to the momentum her endorsement will bring to this competition. I know all the girls will compete to the best of their abilities and the opportunity to meet Annika at the Solheim Cup will be a great incentive." 

The aim of the Junior Medal is to encourage girls of all standards to participate in golf competitions. Open to all female juniors (under 18 years of age on 01/01 of each year) who are members of an ILGU affiliated club, the qualifying period for the ILGU Junior Medal Final will begin is May and continue to July. Then, the 60 girls with the lowest aggregate of three nett score differentials (relative to CSS), one in each month, will qualify for the Final, which will be played at Seapoint Golf Club, Co. Louth on 23 August 2011.

Although traditionally a Medal competition is played under the strokes format of golf, the Junior Medal Final will be played under the stableford format - with a shot-gun start in operation. It is hoped that this will enhance the experience by creating an encouraging, social and competitive environment.

The gold ILGU Junior Medal will be awarded to the overall winner at the Final, with the silver medal awarded to player with playing handicaps up to 20 and bronze medal awarded to player with playing handicaps of 21-36 inclusive. 

As part of the commitment, on Sunday 18 September, just days before the Solheim Cup, Annika and Golf Digest Ireland will be hosting a special Q&A forum for the ILGU and 200 of their girls at the Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa. The three victorious players, plus the gross winner, will be invited to have lunch with Annika and will receive their medals at the special and very unique ILGU event afterwards.