The ANNIKA, an LPGA Tour event held annually at Pelican Golf Club, returns next week in Belleair, Fla. However, one of the biggest attractions at its Pro-Am will be missing.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark will not participate in the Pro-Am for a third consecutive year, sources told Fieldhouse Files.
Her absence had been expected for some time because of a scheduling conflict, but it is now confirmed. The Pro-Am will be held in exactly one week, on Nov. 11, ahead of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.
Clark, as part of her partnership with Gainbridge — which is headquartered in Zionsville, Ind. — first played in the event in 2024 following her rookie season in the WNBA. The tournament saw attendance surge more than 1,200% as a direct result.
Then, she returned in 2025, playing with 2024 winner Nelly Korda, as well as sponsor invite Lauryn Nguyen.
“We have enjoyed the energy she’s brought to the tournament the last two years and look forward to having her back in the future,” a source connected to The ANNIKA told Fieldhouse Files.
Last year’s tournament was even more special because Clark was joined by Fever teammates Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull. They served as celebrity caddies for the round.
Named in honor of golf legend Annika Sörenstam, the tournament has commitments from the world’s top seven ranked women’s golfers. It will feature a field of 108 players competing for a share of the $3.25 million purse.
Sponsorship exemptions for this year’s tournament include Zionsville native Annabelle Pancake-Webb, University of Miami sophomore preseason All-American Scarlett Schremmer, 2027 LPGA Tour rookie and Wake Forest senior All-American Macy Pate.
“The tournament is shaping up to be one of our strongest fields yet, and we look forward to welcoming many of the world’s best professional golfers to Tampa Bay for The ANNIKA in November,” said Ryan Dever, tournament director for The ANNIKA.
Clark Lands New Partnership
Tuesday marked publication day for Clark’s new children’s book.
On Wednesday, she added another major partnership to her growing portfolio — and this one is a first for two prominent retailers: Dick’s Sporting Goods and Foot Locker.
The agreement gives both retailers an opportunity to capitalize on Clark’s global popularity while expanding her reach beyond the basketball court. It will be interesting to see how they utilize her, and the unique ways they can promote her Caitlin 1 shoe and apparel.
