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Annika Sorenstam to compete at American Century Championship

Annika Sorenstam won 89 LPGA tournaments, inlcuding 10 majors, during a stellar professional career. (Associated Press)
Associated Press
Annika Sorenstam won 89 LPGA tournaments, inlcuding 10 majors, during a stellar professional career. (Associated Press)

STATELINE, Nev. – The golfers that compete at the American Century Championship have someone new to worry about this weekend in Annika Sorenstam.

Defending champion Billy Joe Tolliver, a four-time winner of the event, along with seven-time winner Rick Rhoden will have to contend with one of the most successful women’s golfers of all time at Edgewood Tahoe G.C.

Sorenstam, who is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and won 89 events, including 10 majors, is coming out of retirement this week to compete in the event for the first time.

“Even though she hasn’t played, you know she’s going to show up here ready to play,” Rhoden said. “She’s not going to embarrass herself. So I expect her to play really good. But I think we’ve got some guys here that can, if we play good, some of our guys, it would be just like always. I don’t think anybody’s going to run away with it.”

Former NFL quarterback Tolliver won the event last year with a modified Stableford score of 67 (17-25-25). Rhoden, a former All-Star right-hander has long dominated the event and tournament mainstays such as former NFL quarterbacks John Elway and Mark Rypien and actor Jack Wagner are all back.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, last year’s surprise challenger, is back and ready to contend as is Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Other competitors include Pro Football Hall of Famers Steve Young and Jerry Rice and Baseball Hall of Famers Greg Maddux and Ozzie Smith and Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.

Sorenstam is familiar with the event, having attended as a fan in previous years. She has maintained a residence in Squaw Valley’s Incline Village and has played Lake Tahoe-area courses for years.