Melbourne, Australia: Ten-time LPGA Major champion Annika Sorenstam has become the latest woman to accept membership of Augusta National Golf Club.

The 53-year-old Swede is the first former LPGA Tour player to be welcomed into the club which did not allow any female members until 2012.

Since then, the Masters venue, which was founded in 1932, has granted membership to a number of high-profile women, including former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, financier Darla Moore, former USGA President Diana Murphy, former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty and Ana Botin, Executive Chairman of the Santander Group.

Speaking during the Founding Partners’ press conference at last week’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley said: “I’ve known Annika for quite some time, and I think she is going to be a great addition to the club.

“I played golf with her at an opening member event last week, and I can tell you, she can still play, and she was just a delight to be with.”

He added: “We have a number of women members and we have for quite a few years. I think it made us a better club, and they are an integral part of our culture.”

Sorenstam retired from regular tournament golf in 2008, having won 90 professional events worldwide, but came back to win the US Senior Women’s Open in 2021.

She became the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event since 1945 when she competed in the Bank of America Colonial in 2003.

Among her various current roles, Sorenstam is President of the International Golf Federation.