Annika Meets the Boys at Colonial [Finishes Day +1]

CBS Sports/USA Network and PGA.com ^ | May 22, 2003 | Jim Nantz

[ewing]

LPGA player Annika Sorenstam will be teeing off shortly in a men's PGA event at the Colonial Country Club [the first time in 60 years this has happened]

Live shot for shot coverage as long as she is in contention to make the cut on USA Networks, PGA Radio is free today for those cubicle bound and wanting live update (link included)

[Bob J]

I've always liked Annika and thought and have no problem with her playing in this tournament. One thing I do take exception to is people claiming she "earned" the right to be her. She did not. She got in on an exemption because BofA needed a promotional boost for what is generally considered the weakest ratings tournament on the tour. There is only one way to earn your way into a PGA event and that is qualifying for a spot via tournament rules. The exemptions are there to allow tournament sponsors and organizers the ability to beef up the field with fan favorites (or controversys) to boost ratings, and, occasionally throw a bone to a promising young kid, a local favorite or someones rich uncle.

[Cincinatus]

I believe that I know that. Look at my post again.

[KellyAdmirer]

It has still been 50+ years since a woman made a par round on the PGA, but yes, for a member of the LPGA, I think she did a fabulous job today!

[1Old Pro]

 

To: 1Old Pro

I will give you a 71 + 70 =141

posted on 05/21/2003 3:03 PM EDT by timydnuc (FR)

[GallopingGhost]

She handled the course pretty well today, why would tomorrow be any different?

The course could play entirely different tomorrow. There will be different tee boxes, different pin positions, different wind direction, dryer course, better/worse starting time, etc. Shooting a 71 on one day does not predict anything about what your score will be on Friday. One of my best friends shot 71 on day one of the U.S. open and shot 83 the next day to miss the cut by plenty.

[Mr. Mojo]

She handled the course pretty well today

That's an understatement. She handled the course very well today, missing only one fairway and only one or two greens. Brilliant play, actually. She obviously has given this course a lot of thought over the past few months, because her strategic play was perfect. If she repeats this performance tomorrow, I think she has a decent chance of making the cut. It'll be difficult, though.

[NittanyLion]

She's in 60th place at the moment. Of course there are probably lots of players at even par who are still in the early going.

[jpl]

Just in case anyone here actually cares, Patrick Sheehan's best ever finish on the PGA Tour is a tie for 11th place at the 2003 HP Classic of New Orleans. I think I'm going to root for this guy to continue playing well.

[Mr. Mojo]

Annika will be praying for rain tonight.

[Your Nightmare]

It has still been 50+ years since a woman made a par round on the PGA

It's been 50 years since a woman shot 1 over. What's your point? Oh, I forgot, you elevate yourself by demoting others.

[Teacher317]

I will, too. I wonder if Annika getting all the attention robs him of the spotlight or helps him tremendously... probably both.

[William McKinley]

If the same argument was made against all exemptions, ever, then I would probably be swayed by that argument. But exemptions have been around forever, and no one says boo about them.

The sponsor earned the right to those spots, by their financial support for the event. And part of their rights in this regard is the right to decide by what criteria someone would earn an invitation from them.

Bank of America decided she had earned an invitation from them. Based on the publicity she brought the event, and her class in handling the media circus, and her long record of achievement on the LPGA tour, I find it difficult to argue with their judgement that she earned the invitation.

I can see how others can say that in their opinion she hadn't earned the invitation.

But frankly, my opinion, yours, and theirs don't matter. The opinion of the sponsor, who earned the exemption, is the only one that mattered.

[proud_2_B_texasgal]

><> The course could play entirely different tomorrow. <><

then that course will play entirely differently tomorrow for EVERYBODY. The greens were slow for EVERYBODY today. The wind may blow for EVERYBODY tomorrow. you dont' become a pro without learning to adjust. EVERYBODY will have to adjust.

She's held her own .. and I'm proud of her.

[dwilli]

I have no tv access, thought She was in with a 70. Anyhow
She was middle of the pack today, certainly didn't get back to the clubhouse with the score a lot were hoping and praying she would,.

[Your Nightmare]

This is not a US Open course. US Open courses are beyond hard and can vary drastically from day to day. I wouldn't expect this course to be extremely more difficult tomorrow. And if it is, the men are playing the same course and their score will increase also.

[cschroe]

And part of their rights in this regard is the right to decide by what criteria someone would earn an invitation from them.

Only partly true. The PGA sets some very exacting standards for those exemptions. No way in hell BofA could have given me and my 14 handicap an exemption, even if I was a favorite former local club pro and current CFO of BofA.

[GallopingGhost]

><> The course could play entirely different tomorrow. <>< then that course will play entirely differently tomorrow for EVERYBODY. The greens were slow for EVERYBODY today. The wind may blow for EVERYBODY tomorrow. you dont' become a pro without learning to adjust. EVERYBODY will have to adjust. She's held her own .. and I'm proud of her.

I'm sorry did my original post suggest that the course would ONLY play different for Annika? You seem to be suggesting that I think she shot poorly or that I want her to shoot poorly. I am fairly certain that my post suggested nothing of the sort.

[CMClay]

This is history in the making.
The only 'loser' is people like you who can't get over their prejudices.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Gotta give her credit. She did better than I anticipated for day 1. I figured 150 for two days.