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)

[ewing]

It's just a fact of life on the PGA tour, you won't make cuts putting from 30 feet all day long..even if you are Ben Crenshaw

[RightWhale]

she was playing not to lose

She apparently knows her game and played it. A professional performance.

[NittanyLion]

If your son had played his first PGA event today and shot a one-over, You'd be down to see your lending officer with him as collateral.

Not quite. Certainly not if he'd had extensive experience on the Nationwide Tour and was playing at the best of his ability already. The 80th percentile on the PGA Tour isn't going to pay for a nice house.

[ewing]

I agree I give her credit for 'playing her game' and achieving what she set out to do. (putting her in a position to make the cut)

But I'm not fooled into thinking that she will be winning the PGA Championship anytime soon..

[ArneFufkin]

Annika may finish in the bottom 5 of this tournament missing the cut. She played virtually perfect golf today, and she was one over par in optimal conditions (for her). If the wind starts a blowin' and the greens and fairways dry out ... every one of her 5 thru 7 irons are going to careen through and off the green like her shot did on Hole 9. If you notice the difference between the men and Annika ... she has no forceful reverse or side spin on her approach shots. That's an imperative at Colonial when the conditions turn nasty.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

This argument that if Tiger were to play on the LPGA he would dominate so therefore Annika should go back to her own little lesser challenging world is ludicrous.

Is the same thing said when Lee Trevino moves from the Senior Tour to a PGA event? Do people say, "Well then PGA players should be able to play in Senior Tour events"? No.

There is a dramatic difference in ability between the tours, no one questions that. Yes men overall are better at physical sports than women. That doesn't mean, however, that women should not be allowed to compete with men at any time.

The PGA approved of Annika playing in this event. Was it a monetary motive? You bet it was!

Does it give Annika some attention in the press she hadn't had before? Yep!

Will a dozen or so men, maybe more if she has a better day tomorrow, have their egos hurt by her outplaying them using the same rules? You bet!

How does any of this "hurt" either the PGA or the LPGA?

People already know that the PGA is a tougher league than the LPGA. People also know that having a top woman player in a tournament makes for a more entertaining tournament.

Since she is hitting from the same tees, and has no advantage during play, I don't see how this is a problem from the rabidly-anti-PC folks here. She shot a 71 on a tough course today. Even counting the great men players that aren't there, she did something that maybe 120 people living today could do. If there are 119 men and 1 woman that can do it, then kudos for that 1 woman as much as for the 119 men. That sets her apart, that makes her the best woman in the world in golf.

I personally would think it would be a great tradition for the sponser of the Colonial to give the best LPGA player an exemption every year. Would be kind of a quirky gimmick that would set the tournament apart and would bring in a larger audience.

[ewing]

[presidio9]

If he played in an LPGA tourney and won, which he almost certainly would,

Tiger would shoot 4 rounds in the 50's on most LPGA Courses. He would be driving the greens with irons on a lot of par fours!!!

[Bob J]

If Annika's husband took her down to the bank today, they'd be shown the door. Unless your a legacy with endorsements, missing cuts and shooting bogey golf on the PGA barely pays the cost of being on the Tour.

[ewing]

But doesn't US Amateur Champ Hank Keuhne deserve her slot when he has a chance to win and Annika is a 750 million to one shot? (according to USA Today)

[Bob J]

"A man (err..woman) has got to know his (err...her) limitations".

Clint Eastwood

[kjam22]

Tiger would shoot 4 rounds in the 50's on most LPGA Courses. He would be driving the greens with irons on a lot of par fours!!!

That is accurate.

[RichInOC]

I'll be glad when this weekend is over so we can stop discussing Stam, Stam, Baked Beans and Stam and get back to talking about more important things...like the Mighty Ducks in the Stanley Cup finals.

[kjam22]

I'd say the odds are that we'll be able to quit discussing Stam after tomorrow.

[dwilli]

I feel she could probably eke out a living on the tour.
She is consistent enough to maybe make it. She would
hover close to par and pick up a check. She'll never try it
because she will make millions of easy pickens on the LPGA.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

No, no one deserves her spot, not even Annika. The spot was given, as were 7 others mind you, because Bank of America decided that she would be the best choice for their interest.

Very capitalistic and all, would think more on this site would appreciate the advertise coup they pulled off with inviting her.

[kjam22]

We should have paid her to wear a shirt that says "Freerepublic.com" on the back. :)

[ewing]

[RichInOC]

Looking forward to the British Open...that's not got much Stam in it.

[ewing]

Touche, I doubt Hank Keuhne would attract 600 media to the Colonial..