Billie Jean King shares her prayer for fellow women’s sport trailblazer

James Richardson 02 Nov 2023 6:32 PM

Billie Jean King at a press conference.

Billie Jean King has expressed her hope that the induction of LPGA icon Annika Sorenstam into the Augusta National Golf Club will be a step on the path to the US Masters venue playing host to a professional women’s event.

King made the revelation as she appeared in a three-way conference call with Sorenstam and former Indy Car racer Lyn St James.

Sorenstam spoke to her fellow trailblazers as she promoted her LPGA at Pelican Golf Club in Florida which starts next week.

The Swede was inducted into the exclusive golf club at the outset the latest season on 1 October.

Her appearance alongside King and St James was the first time that she has spoken publicly about joining the Famous Georgia club.

“I’m extremely honoured,” Sorenstam said. “It was a surprise. I must say that. I was just so excited. One of the happiest days in my golf life.

“As you know, it’s super new so I am a total rookie. I’m just learning the ropes, so I’m not really sure where this will lead. I’m thrilled and excited about the opportunity to not just play the course, but just to get to know the members.”

It is unlikely that Sorenstam will have a lot of leverage to make an LPGA event at Augusta happen and King acknowledged that it might take some time for her prayer to be answered.

“My prayer for Augusta is to have a women’s LPGA event,” King said. “That’s been my prayer. I know they have the amateur girls [Augusta National Women’s Amateur], but I want to see a pro tournament.

“I hope that happens. I think you will make a big difference. You stand for so much and people listen to you and appreciate you. No pressure.”

King realised that she had really put Sorenstam on the spot with her declaration and deflected a question put to the Swede about getting the LPGA and Augusta together.

“Don’t put her on the hot spot yet,” King said. “Got to give her a couple years, man. She’s got get to know the members first. Get to know how it works. It’s a lot of hard work.”

Former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was perhaps the most notable woman to be a member of Augusta National Golf Club, whose ranks are dominated by wealthy and powerful men.

Rice and Darla Moore were the first women to be handed club memberships in August 2012.

In 2019 the first Augusta National Women’s Amateur was held signalling a new era for the organisation.