Checking in with
ANNIKA SORENSTAM BY GEORGE DICKIE
Annika Sorenstam, one of the greatest female golfers of all time, has multiple honors to her name, including 72 LPGA wins (plus another 18 international), 10 major championships, eight Player of the Year awards, $22 million in career winnings and enshrinement in the World Golf Hall of Fame. But there is only one thing missing: an Olympic gold medal. And as women’s golf gets going for the first time in Olympic competition since 1904 in the Rio Olympics Wednesday, Aug. 17, on NBC and Golf Channel, the 45-year-old analyst says she was never once tempted to come out of the retirement she began in 2008 to compete. “I would have loved the opportunity to represent Sweden in the Olympics,” she says. “It really would have been special, but I never considered coming out of retirement for it. I have moved on and don’t look back. I’m enjoying my young family and the various business ventures we have. Sweden has great young players who will carry the torch for our country. I am happy for this generation to have the opportunity.” Sorenstam’s love of golf is lifelong but it wasn’t the only sport in which she participated growing up near Stockholm. In addition to playing soccer, she was also a nationally ranked tennis player and a good enough skier that she attracted the attention of the coach of the Swedish national ski team. But by age 12, she decided golf was for her and her parents encouraged her love of the game. “My sister and I used to go to the course with my parents,” she says. “I remember riding their pull carts like a horse and getting ice cream at the turn. We had a great time and looking back I think it was smart of my parents to make the golf course somewhere that we associated with family and fun.” Full name: Annika Sorenstam Date of birth: Oct. 9, 1970 Birthplace: Bro, Stockholm, Sweden Education: University of Arizona Family: She and second husband Mike McGee are the parents of 7-year-old Ava and 5-year-old William; sister Charlotta is also a professional golfer Additional accomplishments: 1994 LPGA Rookie of the Year; six-time Vare Trophy winner for lowest overall score on the LPGA Tour; eight-time Tour top money winner; in 2003, became the first woman in 58 years to play in a PGA event with her participation in the Bank of America Colonial Business ventures: A golf academy, a clothing line, golf course design and a wine label – all under the ANNIKA brand name If she weren’t a professional golfer: “I probably would have wanted to be an engineer.” Favorite book: “ ‘Good to Great’ (by Jim Collins).” Favorite movie: “ ‘Shawshank Redemption.’ ” Favorite musical artist: “Coldplay and Chris Martin.”
Net Picks “Fearless,” www.netflix. com It’s likely that most folks who enjoy watching bull-riding exhibitions and competitions don’t need to be told that the riders take their lives in their hands during every round, where excitement can turn to tragedy in a split second. This gripping new docu-series, premiering Friday on Netflix, underscores just how high the stakes are for the competitive U.S. and Brazilian professional bull-riders who appear in these six episodes.
Muskogee Phoenix
“I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead,” https://youtu.be/ WYrittJaatM Director Justin Krook’s new documentary profiles Steve Aoki, currently one of the biggest names in electronic dance music. The film catches Aoki as he prepares for his biggest concert ever. In the run-up to that career milestone, Aoki reflects on his complicated relationship with his father, Rocky, a former Olympic wrestler and founder of the Benihana restaurant chain. The older Aoki died in 2008, before his son shot to fame.
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“Take My Wife,” https:// youtu.be/hc-Bu_Hw4C8 Comics Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher — who tied the knot in 2015 — star in this new sitcom currently airing on Seeso, which follows a young couple whose daily lives make their way into an underground standup comedy showcase they co-host (somewhat like the popular podcast Esposito and Butcher have worked on together for some time now). Esposito previously appeared on the streaming service earlier this year when her comedy special “Marriage Material” premiered.
“I Ship It,” http://www. cwseed.com/shows/i-shipit/episode-1/?play9f4565fe4b2c-4e62-b3ab8eeee9d38851 Los Angeles-based writer, director and filmmaker Yulin Kuang is attracting more and more attention via this shortformat comedy series that’s currently airing on CW Seed. The title uses “ship” is the fandom sense — i.e., “worship” — and the story line follows Ella, a young woman who is reeling from being dumped by her boyfriend as the series opens. She decides her healing process should include starting a band.
August 14 - 20, 2016