ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — ANNIKA Media Day brought golf to Tropicana Field Thursday as former USF standout Melanie Green helped preview The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican ahead of its November return.

Green, the 2025 Epson Tour Player of the Year and Gaëlle Truet Rookie of the Year, spent the day meeting with media, connecting with fans and throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the Tampa Bay Rays game.

Green Reflects on USF Roots

Florida National News’ Todd Grasley asked Green what it means to now compete in an LPGA event essentially in her own backyard after spending four years at USF and making Florida home.

“Being a Florida resident now, I’m like, okay, this is awesome,” Green said. “So, you know, it’s exciting.”

The setting carries a different meaning for Green now. She has gone from competing collegiately at USF to the Epson Tour, where her breakout 2025 season earned her Player of the Year honors and a tour card.

Photo: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News / FNN Sports

From Epson Tour to the LPGA

Grasley asked Green about that climb — from USF to Epson Tour Player of the Year and now competing against some of the best players in the world while realizing a childhood dream.

Green reflected on the role her faith and support system played in that journey, saying much of what has happened was bigger than anything she could have created on her own.

When asked if there was an “aha” moment when being an LPGA player finally felt real, Green admitted the transition still requires reminders.

“I feel like I have to continually just keep reminding myself,”

She later put the adjustment into perspective.

“Once you get past the ‘whoa’ of the LPGA, then you can kind of feel like … your feet just aren’t getting wet, you’re actually in the water.”

Attendees gather during ANNIKA Media Day at Tropicana Field as preparations continue for The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican this November. Photo: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News / FNN Sports

USF Foundation Still Matters

Green also reflected on how her time at USF helped prepare her for life beyond college golf.

“I would say my coaches were phenomenal for me,” Green said.

Rather than focusing solely on the mechanics of her swing, Green said her coaches helped her navigate the larger demands surrounding competition, including tournament preparation and time management.

Green Looks Ahead to The ANNIKA

The conversation also turned to Annika Sörenstam, whose career Green followed before getting the opportunity to compete professionally in the tournament bearing her name.

Grasley asked what Sörenstam has meant to Green as a player she looked up to and what it means to now participate in her event as a professional.

“She holds just about, seems like, every record.”

Green describes Sörenstam as someone players continue to look up to and aspire toward.

The ANNIKA Returns in November

The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican returns to Pelican Golf Club in Belleair Nov. 11-15, with tournament play beginning Nov. 12.

Green is among the early commitments for the 2026 field. For Green, the week will bring another milestone in a season already filled with firsts — this time competing near the place where a major part of her golf journey began.

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Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – It is Opening Day weekend across Major League Baseball. For the defending AL East Champion Tampa Bay Rays, that means a home series against the division opponent Baltimore on Friday.

24-year-old Shane McClanah will get the start for the Rays who went 100-62 during the 2021 season, the first time the team reached 100 wins in franchise history. McClanahan played his college ball at nearby USF, and is no stranger to getting the ball in big games. He went 10-6 on the year with a 3.43 ERA and has six postseason appearances including the World Series in 2020.

Star pitcher Tyler Glasnow is likely out for the season while fellow pitchers Michael Wacha and Collin McHugh along with Nelson Cruz left the team in free agency. Fan Favorites Joey Wendle and Austin Meadows were traded to the Marlins and Padres respectively.

So where does that put the season outlook for Tampa Bay? Most baseball outlets have the Rays in the middle of the AL East standings with the Blue Jays and Yankees as the favorites, both having major offseason additions to bolster their lineups. Despite being one of the best teams in baseball the last several years, the Rays have a tough time getting respect.

Wander Franco signed a massive 11-year, $183 million deal that will keep him with the club through 2033 and an option for an additional year. Having a superstar in Franco coupled with star Randy Arozena, Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, and a team that can hit and play defense with the best teams in baseball is a positive sign.

The question for the Rays will be their starting pitching depth. Behind McClanahan is new addition Corey Kluber and youngsters Drew Rasmussen, Luis Patino, and Ryan Yarbrough. Behind them is one of a very reliable bullpen with set-up man Pete Fairbanks and closer Andrew Kittredge.

Fans have numerous opportunities to see an exciting brand of Rays baseball in April alone with home series against the Orioles, Athletics, Red Sox, Mariners, and Twins.

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Todd Grasley is a sports reporter for Florida National News Tampa. | sports@floridanationalnews.com

TAMPA BAY, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – After a 99-day lockout the players union and owners have finally struck a deal on America’s National Pastime, and the best news of all, a full 162-game season. It’s a decision that comes as a sigh of relief to baseball fans nationwide who feared the wait could lead to the cancellation of the season, much like it did in 1994-1995.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, who took a lot of flac from outsiders throughout the process, was relieved to hear from MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark that the two sides had come to an agreement.

“I have a great job, but one of the negative parts of it is when you have a situation like this, where you’re depriving the fans of the game…I felt a great weight from that,” Manfred said in an interview with ESPN.com. “When we learned that they ratified, that weight came off my shoulders.”

While the new Collective Bargaining Agreement improves conditions for MLB players, it also comes with several rule changes to the game, including the postseason being expanded to 12 teams, a universal DH, doubleheaders now consisting of nine innings, eliminating the rule of having baserunners to start extra innings.

The 2022 season will start on April 7th for most teams, with the initial missed games at the beginning being made up in doubleheaders throughout the year and at the end of the season.

Tropicana Field and the Tampa Bay Rays are ready for the 2022 season. Photo: Todd Grasley/Florida National News.

As for Spring Training baseball in Florida and Arizona, players can report to voluntary workouts starting March 11th with games starting the week of March 18th.

Check out the complete schedule of Grapefruit League (Florida) and Cactus League (Arizona) games and keep it locked on Florida National News for coverage of Major League Baseball throughout the season.

Let’s play ball!

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Todd Grasley is a sports reporter for Florida National News Tampa. | sports@floridanationalnews.com