As the 7am tee time approached at the golf tournament, anticipation filled the air amongst the crowd and the LPGA organizers. Eventually, 16-handicap golfer Caitlin Clark, carrying her golf bag accompanied by a tournament official, arrived at the driving range at the Pelican Golf Club. As she interacted with her caddy and took her first swings, Clark was clearly the center of attention, with thousands of spectators looking on. Her participation in the tournament was part of her normal routine, yet it was something extraordinary for the event, as she is considered one of the world’s biggest women’s basketball stars.
On analyzing Clark’s golf swing, Dana Dahlquist, a golf coach who has worked with professionals like Bryson DeChambeau, noticed some common issues. He observed that she does not load adequately into her left side and fails to square the club face early enough. Due to this, at the point of impact, Clark ends up standing up to strike the ball with a square face, significantly reducing her power and speed. Dahlquist highlighted how such struggles are common amongst non-professional golfers. He also mentioned how coaching can help golfers in learning to straighten the golf ball and make good contact. Despite these issues, Clark, with her athletic prowess, manages to recover and generate considerable clubhead speed.
Clark developed an interest in golf watching Rory McIlroy compete on television and eventually started playing with her father using a pink set of junior clubs. She gradually began taking the game more seriously and began practicing with a professional-grade Callaway set. Prior to the competition, Clark had been receiving lessons from former LPGA pro Martha Foyer-Faulconer in Indianapolis. She now aspires to participate in more competitive golf games, mainly with her friends.
Clark’s participation in pro golf tournaments has sparked discussion about the sport’s interest in engaging celebrities and professional athletes to draw younger audiences. While this could sometimes lead to awkward and inauthentic partnerships, Clark’s involvement in golf seems sincere as she effortlessly speaks the golf jargon and shoes genuine interest in the sport. However, her popularity does bring unique challenges. She often gets interrupted for selfies and comments from pros lining the fairways or during interviews with the Golf Channel.
Clark’s golf game mirrors her calm and collective persona off the field. Even as the WNBA Rookie of the Year, she takes problematic shots in stride, questioning them with a laugh and ready to try again. Her strength and competitiveness as a basketball player haven’t morphed her into an overzealous golfer. Instead, her game is about finding the right rhythm and staying focused on her shots.
Throughout the tournament, Clark played with Nelly Korda on the front nine and Annika Sorenstam on the back nine. Sorenstam offered Clark advice on improving her tempo, since she tends to hit the ball too quickly. She also explained how playing with someone like Korda, known for her power, can lead to the desire to swing harder and faster. Despite that, Sorenstam emphasized the importance of calmness and control in achieving a square target clubface.
