[Golf Topic] Sorensdam and Player "Awarded the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom"

Annika Sorenstam

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ○…'Former Golf Queen' Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) and 'South African Golf Hero' Gary Player will receive the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The White House announced on the 7th (Korean time) that "the Medal of Freedom award ceremony for Sorenstam and Player will be held on the 23rd." This award is given to civilians who have contributed to U.S. national security and interests, world peace, culture, and public service regardless of nationality. It was established during the presidency of John F. Kennedy in 1963. Sorenstam, along with Karrie Webb (Australia) and Park Seri (43), formed a troika that dominated the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.

She turned professional at the age of 22 in 1992 and achieved her first victory at the 1995 U.S. Women's Open. She won three times in 1995 and continued to collect trophies every year, with an impressive 11 wins in 2002. She added three more wins before retiring in 2008, totaling 72 career victories. She also held the world number one ranking for 60 consecutive weeks. Player won 24 times on the U.S. Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Tour, including nine major championships. Both players are members of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

U.S. President Donald Trump has a connection with them, having played golf together at his own golf course in Sterling, Virginia, last September. Last year, he also awarded the Medal of Freedom to 'Resurrected Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods, Jerry West (both U.S.), the actual model for the NBA logo and father-in-law of Korean-American Michelle Wie, and Mariano Rivera (Panama), the greatest closer in Major League Baseball (MLB) history.

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