Female PGA golfer walks off

cnn.com ^ | May 24, 2003 | Staff

[fightinJAG]

Sorenstam wipes away the tears after missing the cut.

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Anika Sorenstam walked off the 18th green with tears in her eyes as she missed the cut at the PGA Colonial on Friday.

"I'm living a dream that I want to live and I'm doing what I want to do." Sorenstam said, as she wiped her eyes. "Why the tears come is because, I don't know, I didn't want it to end."

[dennisw]

"I'm living a dream........."

What is this hackneyed expression supposed to mean? You are better than those who are not "living a dream"? Whatever that means. You talk to Michael Jackson and he'll also come up with such nonsense and say he's living a dream.

[doosee]

This was a brilliant publicity move even if it was not a brilliant competitive golf move. Her PR awareness ratio just went off the charts. How many people really knew her before this. I think what she did was great. It wont be long before a 6 foot 2 inch, 210 pound woman comes along who WILL be as good as most of the men. Then the fun will start..

[dennisw]

"I'm living a dream........."

What is this hackneyed expression supposed to mean? You are better than those who are not "living a dream"? Whatever that means. You talk to Michael Jackson and he'll also come up with such nonsense and say he's living a dream.

[Fzob]

Before she ever took her first shot from the tee at the Colonial, Sorenstam compared the challenge of navigating the course's 7,080 yards to climbing Mt. Everest.

Climbing Mt Everest? Jeez, what a drama queen. Get a clue at the 19th hole after you just couldn't cut it like many others. Your playing golf for crying out loud.

[fightinJAG]

---

Posted (by AP) on Fri, May. 23, 2003

Bush Is Rooting for Annika Sorenstam
Associated Press

CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush said he was pulling for the first female golfer to compete in the men's PGA Tour event in 58 years.

"I'm impressed by Annika Sorenstam," Bush said as he ended a joint appearance with the Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

"I hope she makes the cut. I'm pulling for her, and I hope I'll be watching her on Saturday and Sunday."

Bush and the Japanese leader were giving a press briefing after a summit at the president's Texas ranch.

Sorenstam has tried to prove that her game stacked up against the players on the men's golf tour in Fort Worth, Texas.

[libertylover]

You're spot-on here - a great PR move and the LPGA as a whole will probably get some benefit as well.
I didn't see any of the play and I'm curious to know how she finished near the bottom. I'd guess she was 25-35 yards shorter than the men off the tee and thus longer approach shots. Anyone see much of the play?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

"I have a dream! Where the men will be men, and the women will, too!"

[fightinJAG]

"I've climbed as high as I can and it was worth every step of it. But like I said, I won't do this again but I will always remember it."

"I know where I belong and I'm going to back with all the experience I learned this week," she added

I dunno, this just sounds wierd.

[gunnedah]

This was nothing more than a ploy by the sponsors for money and publicity and I for one dont know if she was used or not. She may even have been part of it, I certainly hope not.
To start with I was wishing her well until I saw what really was going on. This event had more coverage than any event on the tour and it covered her from beginning to end so that shows it was about her and money playing to coverage.
Yes she beat 11 men, so what? She is arguably the best women player in the world and she beats a man who is not in the top 50 so what does this prove.
I think it was demeaning to golf and nothing more than one would expect from World Wide Wrestling!Part of the hype was the press even using V.J.Singh and his statement, hell do men not still have freedom of speech? I am glad it was V.J. had the golfer been white the damn press would have really castigated him.
I also take exception to the so called pressure on Anika, she had nothing to lose which she did not lose anything and everything to gain.As for as Callaway and "Big Bertha" they used and abused her as far as I am concerned and will I will never use any of their equipment.
There was a blowhard commentator on FOXs Linda Vester Show yesterday acting as though he knew so much about golf and saying she, Anika, beat Sergio Garcia,well he sure was informed and knowledgeable wasnt he.
In closing I would like to say I wish Anika the best and I hope this does not adversely affect her or her career.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

So, when do you start in the LPGA?

[Drango]

Separate out the PC stuff here and look at the story from another angle...

Long odds. She went out, did her best, fought the good fight. A good conservative image IMHO.

[raybbr]

Before she ever took her first shot from the tee at the Colonial, Sorenstam compared the challenge of navigating the course's 7,080 yards to climbing Mt. Everest.

Can't even do math. That's only about 22,000 feet. Everest is at about 28,000.

I made me snicker when I heard some female commentator say how worn out Sorenstam was. From what? A walk around the park?

[Iscool]

Sure, this was great...And there won't be any complaints when Vijay Singh signs up for the LPGA, right??? Let's eliminate men's and women's tournaments...Uni-tournaments are the wave of the future...

But you wouldn't see many ladies playing...

[FreedomPoster]

>>This was a brilliant publicity move

Bingo! I predict a line of clothing, and attendant nice fees from promoting/endorsing same, by Fall.

[goldstategop]

Awwww.... you ask to play with the guys and can't take it on the chin like them? We guys like women who like to play by the rules. What we can't stand are women who join the guys and then demand special treatment cause they're female. You know who you are.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I don't know who it was, but someone on another thread said that what is wrong is when women have to act like a man to compete with them.

I don't think the women are excluded from the PGA, they are included in the LPGA. Boundaries are a fine thing. Make a co-ed tour, but leave the girls to girls, and boys to boys.

[KeyWest]

Her two round score of 145 beat 11 men

Out of how many participating? Were some of those the non-PGA who were also sponsored, like Sorenstam?

Babe Didriksen did much more than Sorenstam to further woman's golf. She did compete with the men.

This was for publicity, and it will be interesting to see what happens to the LPGA. It already is a stepchild of the PGA but in better shape than the WNBA. In essence, Sorenstam has just confirmed that it is "not as good" as the PGA, where before, there was always that bit of mystery.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

BUMP for feminists to hit this thread!

[fightinJAG]

I'm not a golf person. What "wore her out"---having to hit from the men's tee on every ball?