LPGA tour players, celebrities to tee it up in Orlando at Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions

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ORLANDO, FLORIDA – JANUARY 23: Annika Sorenstam of Sweden jabs her putt on the 18th green during a playoff against Derek Lowe in the finals of the 2022 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club

ORLANDO, Fla. – One of the more interesting and unique aspects of the LPGA Hilton Garden Vacations Tournament of Champions being held at Lake Nona Country Club this January is that these champions will play against other champions.

Guys like two-time World Series winner Tim Wakefield can walk the fairways with Annika Sorenstam, considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. And they definitely take the time to rack each other’s brains.

IRVING, TX – APRIL 23: Tim Wakefield plays his shot from the 15th hole tee during the second round of the ClubCorp Classic at Las Colinas Country Club on April 23, 2022 in Irving, Texas. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)

“I think we can learn from each other,” Sorenstam said. “In the end it’s the same. You want to perform at the highest level. I mean, I love to learn, so it was really interesting for me to hear the stories.”

The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club on January 23, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. [Credit: Hilton Grand Vacations]

The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club on January 23, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. [Credit: Hilton Grand Vacations]

The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club on January 23, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. [Credit: Hilton Grand Vacations]

“What I learned the most about their game is the pace. Everything is so smooth,” Wakefield said. “You know, as an athlete who plays baseball, everything was fast and as hard as it could be. But that’s not how golf should be played. Talking to them about my sport was, I think it’s the grind, I think I can compare to them. We played 162 games in 180 days. They do the same. But they have pro-ams between tournaments. So it’s a little bit different. They know they have a day or two off. Like a Monday, and then they do Tuesday, Wednesday, Pro-Ams, and then they line up for the weekend. So it’s a drudgery for these girls too.

WEST DES MOINES, IA – AUGUST 17: (RL) Team Europe’s Captain Annika Sorenstam talks to Suzann Pettersen and Jodi Ewart Shadoff during practice for the Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf and Country Club on August 17, 2017 in West Des Moines , Iow

“There’s going to be a lot of questions that I ask during the round and you know about their career and how they’ve dealt with adversity and how they’ve dealt with big moments of pressure,” said LPGA Tour winner Jodi Ewart Shadoff. “I think it will definitely be a good growth experience for me as an athlete.”

WEST DES MOINES, IA – AUGUST 17: Jodi Ewart Shadoff of Team Europe smiles at Annika Sorenstam of Team Europe as she answers a question during a press conference for the Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf and Country Club on August 17, 2017 in West Des Moin

The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions began in 2013. As the first stop on the LPGA Tour this year, the LPGA winners from the previous two seasons will compete for an official prize purse of $1.5 million.

The 2023 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions will be held January 19-22 at Orlando’s Lake Nona Golf & Country Club. The tournament allows spectators. Here you will find more information about the tournament and how to buy tickets here.

Editor’s note

• Full Disclosure: Jodi Ewart Shadoff is a professional golfer, LPGA Tour winner and wife of FOX 35 Sports anchor Adam Shadoff.