“If He Doesn’t Behave:” Annika Sorenstam Has an Interesting Caddie on Her Bag for the LPGA Start
December 17, 2023, Orlando, Florida, USA: Annika Sorenstam walks the 13th hole during the final round of the 2023 PNC Championship at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. Orlando USA - ZUMAw109 20231217_fap_w109_107 Copyright: xDebbyxWongx
December 17, 2023, Orlando, Florida, USA: Annika Sorenstam walks the 13th hole during the final round of the 2023 PNC Championship at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. Orlando USA - ZUMAw109 20231217_fap_w109_107 Copyright: xDebbyxWongx
Annika Sorenstam is about to tee it up at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
But coming into the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, the Hall of Famer will have a young face as her caddie – her 14-year-old son, Will McGee.
Has the teenager caddied for Sorenstam before? And what kind of a caddie is he? The media fired these questions at Sorenstam during the pre-tournament press conference.
Sorenstam said, “Yeah, he needs to know when to say what, right? That's kind of the thing here. Hopefully, he can inspire me and not be too critical on the golf course. He knows I'm doing my best, but I'll be caddying for him sometime, so maybe then I can get back at him if he doesn't behave. I think he knows the rules.”
The mother-son duo has played a lot together. And over the past six months, McGee has been helping his mother around the greens. “He reads the putts very well,” the proud mother claimed. But she’s yet to find out what kind of caddie her son is during a competitive tournament.
December 21, 2024, Orlando, Florida, USA: Annika Sorenstam L and son Will McGee approach the 18th green during the first round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. Orlando USA - ZUMAw109 20241221_fap_w109_032 Copyright: xDebbyxWongx
December 21, 2024, Orlando, Florida, USA: Annika Sorenstam L and son Will McGee approach the 18th green during the first round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. Orlando USA - ZUMAw109 20241221_fap_w109_032 Copyright: xDebbyxWongx
One major reason why Sorenstam has her teenage son caddie for her is her eyes. McGee has young eyes, while Sorenstam’s vision has begun to deteriorate because of age. That’s where the young one has proved his value as a caddie.
But what about payment? Will McGee receive the standard payment?
Will Annika Sorenstam Pay Her Son for Caddying?
Sorenstam revealed that the first question McGee asked regarding the job was whether he’d get paid for carrying her bag.
“I really want to say, 'Buddy, I pay you every day something,'” the Hall of Famer said. “I mean, I've been paying for you for 14 years. But I don't think he would've accepted the bag then. Yeah, no, I mean, whatever the little piece will be, he will get.”
But it’s not like the 14-year-old will caddie throughout the tournament. His role is limited to the first two rounds. Following that, his father, Mike McGee, would take up the role, so that their son could spend some time with his friends.
Sorenstam blends competition with family trust in a rare setup. The experiment prioritizes perspective and balance over convention as she eases into another LPGA start. But can Will McGee stand up to his mother’s expectations?
Written by
Krushna Pattnaik
Edited by
Oajaswini Prabhu