Caitlin Clark To Miss ANNIKA Pro-Am After Bringing Historic 1,200% Attendance Surge To LPGA

Caitlin Clark's debut at the ANNIKA Pro-Am in 2024 sparked a reported attendance spike of more than 1,200% as a direct result of her involvement.

That historic surge brought unprecedented energy to the LPGA Tour.

Now, the Indiana Fever superstar will not be returning to Belleair, Florida for the 2026 edition.

Her two-year run at the premier golf showcase has officially come to a halt.

A scheduling conflict will sideline the 24-year-old basketball star this November.

Sources confirmed the news to Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files ahead of the event.

The Pro-Am takes place on November 11 at Pelican Golf Club.

Her absence had been anticipated for some time, but it is now officially confirmed.

A SHIFT IN THE SCHEDULE

The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge stands as one of the most prominent stops on the LPGA calendar.

The annual tournament is held each November at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.

Traditionally, the tournament week begins with a high-profile Pro-Am tournament.

The Pro-Am is scheduled exactly one day before the official competitive tournament tees off.

Amateur golfers and invited celebrities play alongside top touring professionals across 18 holes.

For the past two seasons, Clark was the undisputed headliner on that Tuesday schedule.

Her withdrawal removes one of the most visible crossover athletes in modern sports from the field.

According to an Instagram post by Scott Agness, a scheduling conflict prevented her return this year.

Tournament management had already prepared for her potential absence several weeks ago.

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

Nichols serves as 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," Nichols added.

Tournament organizers made it clear that the door remains completely open for her return down the road.

THE HISTORIC 1,200 PERCENT ATTENDANCE SURGE

Clark first arrived at Pelican Golf Club in November 2024.

She had just completed her record-breaking rookie season in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever.

Her inclusion came together through her corporate partnership with Gainbridge.

Gainbridge is an Indianapolis-based financial services company that serves as the title sponsor of the LPGA event.

When Clark agreed to participate in 2024, the reaction from sports fans was instantaneous.

Galleries swelled to dimensions rarely seen during standard LPGA Pro-Am rounds.

Fans packed the tee boxes and lined the fairways just to watch the young guard take practice swings.

Tournament officials reported an attendance increase of more than 1,200% directly linked to Clark's appearance.

Spectators traveled from across the country to Belleair to see her trade basketball sneakers for golf shoes.

Her debut proved that her drawing power transcended the basketball court.

It became one of the most talked-about golf stories of the autumn sports calendar.

THE MEMORABLE 2025 ENCORE

Following the massive success of her 2024 appearance, Clark returned to the ANNIKA Pro-Am in 2025.

Her second appearance created an even larger spectacle on the course.

Clark was paired with world-class golf talent for her round.

She played alongside 2024 ANNIKA tournament champion Nelly Korda.

Sponsor invite Lauryn Nguyen rounded out the star-studded group.

Beyond her playing partners, Clark brought along familiar faces from the basketball world.

Indiana Fever teammates Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull joined her at Pelican Golf Club.

Both WNBA players served as Clark's celebrity caddies for the day.

Their interactions along the fairways produced viral moments across social media platforms.

Fans crowded every hole to witness the chemistry between the Indiana teammates.

The event demonstrated how women's basketball and women's golf could successfully cross-promote.

Over those two years, Clark turned an ordinary Pro-Am round into a must-watch sporting event.

WHAT THE 2026 TOURNAMENT HOLDS

While Clark will be absent on November 11, the 2026 ANNIKA remains a premier professional contest.

The event bears the name of LPGA icon Annika Sörenstam, one of the greatest players in golf history.

Sörenstam's legacy continues to draw elite international competitors to Pelican Golf Club every season.