Caitlin Clark Skips 2026 ANNIKA Pro-Am After Reported Rift

Sources confirm Caitlin Clark will not return to the ANNIKA Pro-Am in 2026.

The Indiana Fever guard has played the event for two straight years.

Her absence is due to a scheduling conflict, according to an Instagram post by Scott Agness.

The Pro-Am is set for November 11 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.

The main ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge tournament begins the following day.

Clark first appeared at the Pro-Am in 2024 after her rookie WNBA season.

Her participation came through her partnership with Gainbridge, an Indianapolis-based company.

Her presence turned into a massive draw for the LPGA event.

Ticket sales for the Pro-Am day jumped more than 1,200% from the previous year.

More than 1,000 spectators followed her group during her first appearance.

Fans crowded around her for autographs after the round, forcing security to step in.

Clark returned in 2025 for a second straight year.

She teamed up with 2024 tournament winner Nelly Korda and sponsor invite Lauryn Nguyen.

This time, she brought along Fever teammates Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull.

They served as her celebrity caddies during the Pro-Am.

Korda played alongside Clark for the second consecutive year.

She saw firsthand what Clark’s presence meant for women’s golf.

Korda praised Clark’s ability to bring new fans to the sport.

That crossover appeal will not be on display this November.

Clark had a handicap of around 16 when she first showed up in 2024.

She admitted she was usually just hoping to break 100.

Her golf skills were not the point — her star power was.

Her association with the event went beyond just playing.

In 2025, Clark and Gainbridge helped select Lauryn Nguyen for a sponsor invitation.

Nguyen had won the NCAA individual championship earlier that year.

Clark and the organizers also presented $5,000 to Nguyen’s Duc Foundation.

This added a charitable element to her involvement.

Clark’s interest in golf predates her WNBA career.

In July 2023, while still playing at Iowa, she participated in the John Deere Classic Pro-Am.

She played nine holes with Swedish golfer Ludvig Åberg.

She played another nine with fellow Iowan Zach Johnson.

Johnson is a two-time major champion and the 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup captain.

Now, the 24-year-old will sit out the 2026 ANNIKA Pro-Am.

Tournament management has made it clear the door remains open.

“She is not going to be playing this year,” Mike Nichols told Golfweek on October 1.

Nichols is the chief of sponsorship strategy and activation for Group 1001.

“We have enjoyed the energy she has brought to the tournament the last two years and look forward to having her back in the future,” he added.

The 2026 edition is still shaping up to be a major event for women’s golf.

Seven of the world’s top-ranked golfers are expected to headline a 108-player field.

They will compete for a $3.25 million purse.

The tournament is named after LPGA legend Annika Sörenstam.

Sörenstam became the first player in LPGA history to win five straight tournaments.

That achievement is part of the tournament’s legacy.

The event has also announced several sponsor exemptions.

Annabelle Pancake-Webb, a Zionsville native, received one.

Scarlett Schremmer, a University of Miami sophomore, received another.

Macy Pate, a Wake Forest senior set to become an LPGA Tour rookie in 2027, also got an exemption.

Clark’s absence will remove one of the event’s biggest celebrity draws.

But her previous appearances have already left a significant mark on the tournament.

Her 2024 appearance turned the Pro-Am into a must-see event.

The 1,200% attendance spike was unprecedented for the tournament.

Her 2025 return proved it was not a one-time phenomenon.

Fans were once again eager to follow her round alongside Korda.

The scheduling conflict that kept her out this year remains unspecified.

No further details about the conflict have been made public.

The reported rift mentioned in the headline has not been confirmed by Clark or her representatives.

No official statement from Clark or the Fever has been issued.

The tournament organizers have not commented on any rift.

The phrase “reported conflict” comes from the sourcing around the story.

It is not clear whether the conflict involves the tournament, Gainbridge, or other parties.

Clark’s relationship with Gainbridge remains intact for now.

Gainbridge is also a sponsor of the Indiana Fever.

The company has been a key partner for Clark since her rookie season.

Her future participation in the event remains uncertain.

Nichols’ statement suggests the organizers expect her back eventually.

But no timeline has been given for her return.

The tournament will go ahead without her this year.

The 108-player field will still feature top talent.

The $3.25 million purse is one of the largest on the LPGA Tour.

The event draws significant attention to women’s golf each year.

Clark’s absence is a notable loss for the Pro-Am’s celebrity appeal.

But the tournament has built momentum over the past two years.

Her appearances helped introduce new audiences to the LPGA.

Whether those audiences will stay without her is an open question.

The Pro-Am is scheduled for November 11, 2026.

The main tournament runs from November 12 through November 15.

Both events take place at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.