HEARTS OF CHAMPIONS

Annika Sorenstam and Eli Manning A Super Bowl hero and one of the best golfers ever team up to show how much a caring athlete can do.

By Brian Truitt and Dennis McCafferty
Courtesy of USA today

Settling in at a Manhattan photo studio, New York Giants quarterback and 2008 Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning is making his debut as a fashion photographer. The pressure is on: His subject today is Annika Sorenstam, one of the best women golfers ever, dressed in a purple sheath.

"Work it! Arch your back!" Manning playfully barks to Sorenstam, as the golfer gamely flexes her biceps and twists her body into numerous poses. "If it's not uncomfortable," Manning jokes, "then you're in the wrong position!" Before long, Manning yields the camera to the real pros, and the annual USA WEEKEND Magazine Most Caring Athletes cover shoot proceeds.

Both athletes enjoy a lofty perch in the world of sports. With an amazing 72 LPGA victories, including 10 major tournament championships, Sorenstam has announced that she's stepping away from pro golf, effective at the year's end. Manning, of course, won the NFL's ultimate prize for one of the league's most storied and high-profile franchises.

And both athletes represent the best when it comes to giving back to their communities. They reach out to young people with scholarships, children's hospital projects and friendly visits -- or a round of golf -- to help brighten the lives of seriously ill kids. Somehow, it's not surprising that Sorenstam and Manning can be a bit competitive when it comes to helping others. "I don't want to be a little player in this foundation game," Sorenstam says. "You either go for it, or you don't bother showing up."

To learn more about the many ways Manning and Sorenstam show they care, read on or download the full article.