Venue: Pelican Golf Club, Belleair, Florida
Purse: $3.25 million ($487,500 to the winner)
Field: 108 players
Par 70
Approx. 6,349 yards
The ANNIKA is a key late-season LPGA Tour event and the penultimate stop before the CME Group Tour Championship. It offers 500 Race to the CME Globe points to the winner, with the top 60 in the standings after this week advancing to the season finale (which features an $11 million purse). The tournament is named after and hosted in association with LPGA and World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam, with proceeds supporting the ANNIKA Foundation.
Schedule and Start Times
Competition runs Thursday through Sunday (November 12–15). Morning tee times typically begin around 7:00 a.m. local (Eastern Time), with dual tees (1 and 10) used in early rounds. Coverage is available on Golf Channel (early rounds) and CNBC (weekend), along with LPGA digital platforms. Exact pairings and times are released daily based on scores.
Course Overview and Conditions
Pelican Golf Club is a classic Donald Ross design (originally 1925) that underwent a significant renovation under Beau Welling. It plays as a par-70 layout of roughly 6,349 yards. The course features precision demands with strategic bunkering (around 52 bunkers), water in play on multiple holes, firm Bermuda surfaces (TifEagle greens, Latitude fairways/rough), and relatively modest length that rewards accuracy, iron play, and short-game skill over pure power. Greens average about 8,000 square feet and are maintained at tight heights. Conditions are typically excellent for a late-season Florida event, with good drainage and firm, fast playing surfaces when dry.
Weather Conditions
Belleair/Tampa Bay in mid-November is mild and generally favorable. Forecasts call for partly sunny skies, daytime highs in the low-to-mid 70s°F (around 21–26°C early, warming slightly later), overnight lows in the 50s–60s°F, and low precipitation chances. Winds are light to moderate (often from the northwest or north, 5–15 mph with higher gusts possible on some days). Overall, conditions support low scoring when the course is receptive.
Tournament History
Originally launched as the Pelican Women’s Championship in 2020, the event has been held exclusively at Pelican Golf Club. It evolved into The ANNIKA (driven by Gainbridge) and has become a prestigious late-season stop. Notable past winners include Nelly Korda (multiple victories, including 2021, 2022, and 2024), Lilia Vu, Sei Young Kim, and defending champion Linn Grant (2025). The event consistently attracts a strong international field due to its timing, purse, and course quality.
Field, Key Player Matchups, and Recent Forms
The 108-player field includes a deep mix of top Rankings players, major champions, Solheim Cup participants, and rising talent (including sponsor exemptions for amateurs/college players such as Scarlett Schremmer). Headliners include World No. 1 Nelly Korda (returning from an extended break and one point shy of LPGA Hall of Fame eligibility with a win), defending champion Linn Grant, Haeran Ryu, Charley Hull, Brooke Henderson, Gaby Lopez, Ina Yoon, Hye-Jin Choi, Mao Saigo, Minami Katsu, Lottie Woad, and many others. Approximately 14 of the top 25 in the Rolex Rankings and numerous major winners are present.
Key storylines and matchups:
- Korda’s history chase: A three-time winner at Pelican seeking a fourth title (and Hall of Fame point). She opened strongly with a bogey-free 63 in Round 1.
- Hot early form: Hye-Jin Choi and Minami Katsu posted record-tying 61s in Round 1. Lindy Duncan (hole-in-one in a 62) and others have also surged.
- Mid-tournament leaders (as of late Round 2 reports) included Carlota Ciganda and Lindy Duncan at 12-under, with Mao Saigo, Minami Katsu, Gaby Lopez, Ina Yoon, Julia López Ramirez, and Hye-Jin Choi closely grouped. Scoring has been low on the gettable layout. lpga.com +1
Recent form varies, with many players peaking late in the season or returning from breaks. Precision players who handle Bermuda greens and strategic layouts tend to thrive here.
Betting Trends
Pre-tournament odds typically listed Nelly Korda as the favorite (often in the +300 to +500 range), reflecting her course history and ranking. Other short prices included Haeran Ryu, Charley Hull, Hye-Jin Choi, and similar contenders, with longer shots offering value in a deep field. As play progressed, early leaders such as Carlota Ciganda, Lindy Duncan, and the opening 61-shooters shortened significantly.
Trends favor accurate drivers and strong iron/short-game players on this relatively short, precise course. The 36-hole cut (top 65 and ties) and CME implications add layers. Popular markets include outright winner, top-5/10, and head-to-heads. Live odds move quickly with low scores.Outlook: The ANNIKA delivers high-quality late-season golf on a classic Florida layout with excellent conditioning and mild weather. Nelly Korda’s pursuit of history provides the main narrative, but low early scoring and a deep field mean multiple contenders remain. Strong iron play and putting on the Bermuda greens should decide the title. Coverage is readily available on Golf Channel/CNBC and LPGA platforms.
