Anna Rawson
An Australian who shattered stereotypes by excelling simultaneously on the LPGA tour and in the high-fashion pages of Sports Illustrated.
Born 1981 (age 45)·Australian model and golfer·Birthday: August 5·Millennials
Biography
Anna Rawson never fit into a single box. The Adelaide native turned heads first with her golf swing, winning the South Australian Amateur title before taking her game to the University of Southern California. Upon turning professional, she navigated the unique pressure of a dual-career path, competing on the LPGA and Ladies European Tours while maintaining a successful modeling portfolio that included the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. This duality made her a prominent, if sometimes polarizing, figure in a sport grappling with its image. While her golf results were mixed, her presence challenged the traditional archetype of a female professional athlete. After stepping away from competitive golf, Rawson has focused on the business side of the sport and fashion, leveraging her unique experience to comment on and influence the intersection of athletics, branding, and style.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Anna was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anna Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Anna's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Featured as a model in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue multiple times, starting in 2004.
- Played professionally on both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour.
- Won the South Australian Amateur golf championship as a teenager.
- Secured a top-10 finish at the 2009 Women's Australian Open on the LPGA Tour.
Did You Know?
She graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in psychology.
Rawson worked as an on-course reporter for Fox Sports' golf coverage after her playing career.
She is a licensed real estate agent in California.
Her mother, Barbara, was a nationally ranked high jumper in Australia.
“I play golf because I love the challenge, not just the photoshoots.”
