The corona virus has had consequences for an entire sports world and Annika Sörenstam is no exception.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Sweden's foremost golfer has never been able to devote himself to his role as ambassador in the sport.
In addition, the Annika Foundation has been forced to cancel six of this year's seven competitions.
Now she is instead involved in the project "Card for action", a kind of social network that, among other things, will make golf grow in infection-proof forms.
- Golf is a "corona sport", and now we can take advantage of this great interest, says Sörenstam and adds:
- It has been a good thing for golf, I look at Sweden and the USA and the rounds have increased by 20-30 percent per month due to people not being able to engage in other sports.
The ceremony postponed
Elsewhere, the coronavirus has caused Sörenstam to do the same.
50 years old today will be a pandemic celebration.
- It will be a surprise, I understand, so it will be exciting!
Then there will be some friends, my parents and sister at dinner on Saturday.
A little smaller than we had thought but we have to take it.
I get to celebrate more when I turn 51, she says and laughs.
However, it is not just the birthday plans that have been crushed.
In early March, Sörenstam was awarded the US President's Medal of Freedom by Donald Trump - the highest civilian award in the United States.
The ceremony in the White House would have taken place the same month, but due to the spread of infection in the country - Sörenstam - seven months later and with only weeks left until the upcoming presidential election - still has not received his medal.
Stop time: Annika Sörenstam - first win in her career:
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Stop time: Annika Sörenstam - first win in her career
Keep in touch
- No, I have not received it yet.
The timing is not the best.
They probably have other things on their schedule, but I should have been there on March 22 and that was when the corona started.
There is a lot at stake here in the US in the coming weeks.
We will see what the election result will be, but he (Donald Trump) will be president at least until January, so there is still a chance.
TT: If there is a change of president and you have not had time to receive the medal - what happens then?
- That is a good question.
Therefore, we will try to book a meeting in December.
Some things we can not control, but I suppose there are other things that are perhaps a little more important to them.
This is something we should work on, we keep in touch with them regularly.
I'm not the only one (who gets the award), they have some others who are in the same situation and this is something they will try to make sure gets rid of.
"A stressful time"
TT: Given that Trump is behind the award, would it be strange to get it from another president?
- Yes exactly.
But I do not think they promise anything and then just break it.
This is something they have covered in the media and something I have personally thought about a bit, so I hope it will still happen.