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That Golfer Has Ovaries—Love Her! (Annika has no business playing in the all-male PGA)
Cornell Review ^ | 5/25/2003 | Joseph J. Sabia

Posted on 05/25/2003 11:41:45 PM PDT by TLBSHOW

That Golfer Has Ovaries—Love Her!

By Joseph J. Sabia

In the face of overwhelming public support, Annika Sorenstam bravely broke the PGA sex barrier at the Colonial and…choked. Early reports indicate that the main reason for her poor performance was that she putted like a girl. After finishing 5-over par at the end of two rounds, Annika was forced to take a powder (literally), leaving the green in tears. (Sadly, she had a hard time finding her way off the green due to her inability to read a map.) Annika has been receiving accolades from all corners of the political (and sports) world for becoming the first woman in 58 years to play a PGA Tour event. Conservatives and liberals alike have praised this woman for her “inspirational” performance at the Colonial. The headlines were hard to ignore.

On May 23, the Boston Herald ran the front-page headline “Annika proving she’s on par with the boys.” On the back-page of the same newspaper on the same day the Herald ran the headlines “You the woman” and “Classy Sorenstam wows ‘em on PGA Tour.” Just in case Herald readers weren’t sure who to root for, the following headlines were included inside the May 23 issue: “Annika shows PGA how it’s done” and “Fans hope Annika putts duffers in their place.” Get it? LOVE HER!

After Annika failed to make the cut, the Herald was undaunted, carrying the following headlines in their May 24 edition: “Trailblazing Sorenstam misses Colonial cut,” “Annika out, but climb to history cut-and-dried,” and “Socially speaking, Sorenstam on a role.” On May 25, the Herald reversed itself, blaring a headline that could have been penned by Jayson Blair: “Annika can cut it.”

On May 23, The San Jose Mercury News declared “Sorenstam shows ‘em.” Shows who? The chauvinists? The naysayers? The lesbians? Who? On the same day, USA Today blared “Sorenstam hangs with guys.” The Denver Rocky Mountain News proclaimed “For girls, Annika in ‘fore’ front.”

The Chicago Tribune gave Annika a branch of the armed forces, asking “Annika’s army has momentum, but for how long?” (I think she's in a quagmire.) The New York Times’ Dave Anderson demanded to know “Can Sorenstam, at Center Stage, Inspire a Mixed U.S. Open?” The Associated Press lamented Annika’s defeat, running the Bop-style headline “Sorenstam doesn’t make cut, but still hot.”

On the political talk shows, almost all pundits have supported Annika’s appearance at the Colonial—from Fred Barnes and Rush Limbaugh on the right to Bill Press and Alan Colmes on the left. Even President George W. Bush weighed in, saying, “I'm impressed by Annika Sorenstam. I hope she makes the cut. I'm pulling for her.” Reporters and politicians have been positively orgasmic, crowning Annika the new Susan B. Anthony. In political circles, only Pat Buchanan and nationally syndicated radio talk show host Mike Gallagher have been vocal in their opposition to Annika’s stunt.

Annika has no business playing in the all-male PGA. Women are physically different from men and as such do not have the same aptitudes in sports. Golf is no exception. To pretend otherwise is delusional. Annika did not qualify to play the Colonial in the same way that men did—the PGA gave her preferential treatment because she was a circus act.

“But Sabia,” you say, “even though Annika didn’t make the cut, she did finish better than eleven other guys out there. So women can compete with men. Come on—stop being a sexist pig.”

No, I will do no such thing. First, the eleven guys that were beaten by a chick should turn in their manhood cards immediately and start new careers befitting their statures; maybe organizing Sex in the City fan clubs or something. Second, just because a woman scores a fluke and beats a few men does not mean that she is qualified to golf in the PGA. An unqualified black kid who is admitted to an elite college based on a racial preference scheme may manage to avoid finishing last in his class, but that doesn’t mean that he ought to be there. The same holds for Annika.

Lady golfers have their own little golfing group, the LPGA. There, they can pretend that they are real golfers and stay out of men’s way. It’s like the WNBA for basketball players or the WTA for tennis players.

The Annika Sorenstam saga is a dream come true for shrill feminists who want no societal distinctions between men and women. These feminists have had their agenda aided by politically correct politicians and prissy sports reporters who have found another front to fight the Augusta National war. Politically correct feminists have secured a major victory with Annika Sorenstam. Their goal of integrated sports teams has been advanced. And once again, conservatives have failed to speak out on an important aspect of the culture war.

Is my view on this matter extreme? Am I out of touch? Well, at least one babe agrees with me: Annika Sorenstam. In a television interview following her lackluster performance, she wailed:

“I’m not as tough as I thought I was. I was way over my head…No, I won’t reconsider (and try it again). I’m very thankful and honored to have been here, but I know where I belong and I’m going to go back [to the LGPA].”

Good for Annika. She knows her place. Why won’t feminists learn theirs?


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: afraidofwomen; annika; golfer; latenthomosexuals
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1 posted on 05/25/2003 11:41:45 PM PDT by TLBSHOW
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To: TLBSHOW
What a whiner!
2 posted on 05/25/2003 11:43:12 PM PDT by Qwerty
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To: TLBSHOW
Did she tee from the Blue or Red Tees?
3 posted on 05/25/2003 11:44:49 PM PDT by america-rules (I'm one proud American right now !)
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To: TLBSHOW
I agree, she was a circus act. The President of the women's tour said they would not let a professional man play on their tour.

This chick can play the mens tour for ten years and never win.
Put Tiger on the women's tour and he can win at will for the next 20-30 years perhaps straight.

Silly publicity stunt.
4 posted on 05/25/2003 11:50:02 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: TLBSHOW
AIEEEEEEEEEEE!!! Enough already.
5 posted on 05/25/2003 11:51:04 PM PDT by RichInOC (If the Stanley Cup could talk, it'd say: "I'm Going To Disneyland!")
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To: A CA Guy
This chick can play the mens tour for ten years and never win

Same for most of the men on the tour.

6 posted on 05/25/2003 11:52:40 PM PDT by Pure Country
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To: america-rules
That's what I want to know.
7 posted on 05/26/2003 12:02:15 AM PDT by skr
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To: Pure Country
"This chick can play the mens tour for ten years and never win"

Same for most of the men on the tour.

Ssssh! Don't confuse 'em with the facts.

8 posted on 05/26/2003 12:04:32 AM PDT by jlogajan
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To: Pure Country
She's the #1 woman and not just some lover level male pro.
9 posted on 05/26/2003 12:11:39 AM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: TLBSHOW
"Lady golfers have their own little golfing group, the LPGA. There, they can pretend that they are real golfers and stay out of men’s way."

Women can't be "real golfers"? It's a "fluke" that she beat some of the men? No, I don't think forcing a group to accept someone who doesn't qualify is a good idea, but why insult women golfers, who probably work just as hard on their own level to play golf? It's not as though all male golfers are unbeatable by virtue of their gender. Sheer strength isn't the sum total of this particular game, although it's an important factor. Perhaps both groups ought to have some mixed tournaments, all playing with the same rules, and see what happens. It was ridiculous to use such an important event to try to change the rules of the PGA.
10 posted on 05/26/2003 12:29:15 AM PDT by skr
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To: TLBSHOW
This guy has it all wrong. The men’s tour will not have a lady qualified to compete on the PGA. But not because it is wrong for one to.

Annika beat 11 guys who played the worst golf that they can play. While Annika was focused beyond any LPGA major event she could have entered. She is in another class on the LPGA and knows how to handle tournament golf better than most of the 11 guys she beat.

On a good day for those 11 men, compared to her best day, they could beat her by 10 shots.

Baring a woman of extremely freakish strength and determination, there will be no women qualified to play on the PGA. If one that can qualify comes along, let her play. Don't let her take a golf cart though.

I wonder how the Royal and Ancient weighs in on this.
11 posted on 05/26/2003 12:39:29 AM PDT by bondserv
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To: TLBSHOW; All
The decision as to whether there should be women playing again on the PGA Tour should be up to the SPONSOR and the COUNTRY CLUB's MEMBERS.

If the PGA and LPGA don't want to allow mixed genders in the future, then they shouldn't allow Sponsor's wildcard invitations (or whatever the invitations were called that allowed Annika).

There is NO need for a PGA and an LPGA! There should be a Professional Golfing Assn and a Semi-Professional Golfing Assn, depending on ABILITY not gender.

12 posted on 05/26/2003 12:40:11 AM PDT by Concerned
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To: TLBSHOW
First, the eleven guys that were beaten by a chick should turn in their manhood cards immediately and start new careers befitting their statures; maybe organizing Sex in the City fan clubs or something.

* * *** ** * * ***

Proof Golf is too easy.

This means make PGA golf harder.
13 posted on 05/26/2003 1:15:55 AM PDT by longtermmemmory
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To: bondserv; All
which is why the LPGA rules require you be BORN a woman and not surgically altered to apear like one.

Intersting point about the best woman was able to compete with the lowest men.

I see this as good pr stunt. It secured her name recognition and endorsements for her as the most recognized woman golfer. It was a good business decision. I look to see more "sponsor exceptions" in future PGA games. That is unless the rule is eliminated to ensure ability only play. (she did tee off the mens tee right?)
14 posted on 05/26/2003 1:28:04 AM PDT by longtermmemmory
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To: A CA Guy
While not as exercised about it as Sabia and a few others, I did originally oppose it because of the usual suspects who are behind these stunts. Of course it was a big sales and publicity stunt. And it worked great. The PGA rules do not specify same-sex members and also could have invited the Pope to play... although I've heard he has a bad slice.

The problem is that these same Annika boosters would cry foul if certain male golfers, who were not good enough to make the PGA, wanted to "test themselves" on the LPGA. In short there was an agenda behind the Annika scam. It was the same people who were outraged about The Masters's exclusionary (and thoroughly constitutional) policy. Let's hope that this is the last stunt of its kind. It proved nothing.

15 posted on 05/26/2003 1:28:32 AM PDT by driftless ( For life-long happiness, learn how to play the accordion.)
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To: driftless
is that these same Annika boosters would cry foul if certain male golfers, who were not good enough to make the PGA...

This will certainly happen. If there can be no legal (read, legal precident, just established by the courts) reason a woman cannot play in a mens tournament, what possible reason could there be not to apply the same legal reasoning to a man's request to play in a LPGA tournament.

Remember, there's MONEY to be made for the first man ranked 20,016 in the PGA to play and win on the LPGA.

FReegards, SFS

16 posted on 05/26/2003 2:13:03 AM PDT by Steel and Fire and Stone
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To: TLBSHOW
At first I was opposed to her being granted an exemption. Then I found out there was a qualifying round. Hey, if she can make the cut, then best wishes. She finished something like 96'th. I am not picking on women, or jews, or blacks. I am only saying there are sometimes things which a certain group are inherently better at. Mankind cannot survive if it takes on an unnatural view of the world.
17 posted on 05/26/2003 2:31:02 AM PDT by djf
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To: Steel and Fire and Stone
the Lpga specifically says you have to be BORN a female. The PGA just says golfer.
18 posted on 05/26/2003 2:34:25 AM PDT by longtermmemmory
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To: Steel and Fire and Stone
oops forgot to mention: This problem can be avoided in the future by eliminating sponsor exemptions. No more publicity stunts. ALL will have to qualify.
19 posted on 05/26/2003 2:36:19 AM PDT by longtermmemmory
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To: TLBSHOW
the PGA gave her preferential treatment because she was a circus act.

What was the preferential treatment they gave her?

20 posted on 05/26/2003 2:47:35 AM PDT by ShadowDancer
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