Last year’s pro-am wasn’t just another warm-up round — it was a ratings earthquake. In what many insiders call the most-watched non-competitive round in LPGA Tour history, Clark turned a typical Wednesday into a cultural event. Fans packed Pelican Golf Club in Florida at a rate organizers had never seen, with ticket demand reportedly 12 times higher than normal. People didn’t just come to watch golf — they came to watch Clark play golf, even after she launched a tee shot over the gallery’s heads in a moment that instantly went viral.
She didn’t win anything that day. She didn’t need to. She moved the needle, and everyone — from LPGA officials to TV networks — took notice.
This year, the buzz is admittedly different. Clark’s injuries have kept her out of the headlines she usually dominates. But make no mistake: her return is still a broadcasting magnet. Golf Channel isn’t rolling the dice — they know exactly what her presence does. They saw it last year. They want it again.
And the setup feels familiar. Just like 2024, Clark will tee it up with World No. 2 and defending Annika champion Nelly Korda for the opening nine holes, with an 8:30 a.m. tee time that is expected to draw early crowds. After the front nine, Clark will join Lauryn Nguyen, the former Northwestern All-American who is now turning pro with a sponsor’s exemption.
But the action isn’t limited to Clark’s shots. Golf Channel is treating this like a mini-Super Bowl, planning live, mid-round interviews with tournament host Annika Sorenstam, Clark’s Indiana Fever teammates Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull — who will caddy for her — and former U.S. soccer legend Briana Scurry.
Even Sorenstam herself admits Clark’s impact is something the sport can’t ignore.
“She added so much excitement to the tournament,” Sorenstam told Golf Channel. “People were standing at the first tee at 7 a.m. waiting for her. She loves golf, and I’m so glad she wanted to come back because it brings more people to the game — and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Clark’s return proves one thing: she’s bigger than basketball. She’s a cross-sport phenomenon capable of transforming any arena — hardwood or fairway — into a headline machine. The WNBA may miss her presence this fall, but the LPGA is more than happy to borrow her for a day.
Wednesday won’t be a tournament round. It won’t crown a champion.
But it will dominate the conversation — because Caitlin Clark is swinging a golf club again, and that alone is enough to send the sports world into another frenzy.
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