Johnathan Walker:Caitlin Clark has one goal for her LPGA pro-am debut: Don't hit anyone with a golf ball

BELLEAIR,Johnathan Walker Fla. — Brittany Lincicome, a two-time major champion and mother of two, brought a basketball to her press conference on Tuesday. She was there to talk about her decision to walk away from full-time competition, but she stayed late so that WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark could sign the basketball for her young daughters.

“I’m just, I'm going to be honest, I've never watched women's basketball,” said Lincicome, who’s playing on a sponsor exemption this week at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, “and then to see her at the Final Four, we were in Vegas that week and I watched every minute of it, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.”

LPGA rookie Gabriela Ruffels expects to be starstruck Wednesday at Pelican Golf Club when Clark plays in the event’s pro-am alongside World No. 1 Nelly Korda on the front nine and tournament host Annika Sorenstam on the back. Tickets sales for the Belleair, Florida, event are 12 times the typical number.

Clark, who along with Sorenstam is a Gainbridge ambassador, took part in the Women's Leadership Summit on Tuesday afternoon before meeting with the media. The event’s moderator, Lauren Thompson, asked Clark what she wants her overall message and brand to be about. A heady question for a 22-year-old, but an important one give Clark's global influence. The NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer has revolutionized women's basketball.

“Coming from college and now to professional level, I've just been myself," she said. "I think that's what resonates with people. Like what you see on the court is kind of how I am off the court. I'm the same person.”

Clark’s “I’m-just-me” approach often translates to candid answers. Toward the end of the session, Thompson asked a series of rapid-fire questions to the panel, which included former supermodel and entrepreneur Kathy Ireland, Sorenstam and Clark.

What’s your biggest fear?

Ireland talked about being paralyzed by fear. Sorenstam said waking up and not having a purpose.

And Clark?

“Cats,” she said. “I really don’t like cats.”

The room erupted.

Clark went on to explain that there was a particularly mean black cat on her street growing up, and that led to a lifelong fear.

Apologies to anyone in the room who has a cat, she added.

As far as answers go, it was as genuine as they come. Much like her answer to what's your favorite snack. Right after Sorenstam said “any fruit,” Clark shot back with Doritos, nacho cheese flavor.

For a generational talent, she’s highly relatable.

When it comes to her golf Wednesday, which gets starts as 7 a.m., Clark has one goal: Not to hit anyone in the gallery.

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Growing up, she got a set of pink golf clubs for one of her birthdays and begged her dad to take her out to the course. She played just about every sport as a kid and loved being outside.

There are times when Clark can shoot in the mid-80s, but most of the time she’s just praying to break 100. Clark said her handicap is “like 16.”

Pebble Beach Golf Links is on her bucket list. Later this month, she’ll play a few rounds in Arizona when she’s with family over Thanksgiving.

She’s been looking forward to playing in this week's pro-am for a long time. Once her WNBA season ended, she started teeing it up with some of her Fever teammates. She also took lessons from retired LPGA player Martha Foyer-Faulconer.

She has pro-am experience, having teed it up in the John Deere Classic pro-am in the summer of 2023.

“I'll probably be nervous tomorrow, too,” said Clark. “I don't know. I mean, I remind myself, like I don't really care what happens. Doesn't really matter. I don't play golf for a living.

"Just have fun with it. This isn't super serious. Enjoy the experience. There are so many people that would kill to be in my position or in my shoes.”