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)

[MineralMan]

"True, but most on the Tour in the beginning expected to win from time to time."

She's not on this tour. She's in the LPGA tour. She's playing this particlar tournament, and that's it. I'd love to see her midway in the pack at the end of the weekend. That would demonstrate one thing: that she can play with the boys. There are lots of guys who would be behind her and some of them will win future tourneys. Who's to say she couldn't do the same. But...she'll go back to the LPGA.

Now, OTOH, I know a young woman in my town who is a golfer. She's 6'3" tall, weighs about 180, and drives 300 yards regularly. Her short game isn't all that good, but she's just an amateur.

One of these days, someone like her is going to have a chance in the PGA, unless they change the rules. I can see no problem with it, to be frank.

Oh yeah, this woman is not a lesbian...that I know for a fact.

[Lost Highway]

Good to see you back. I have to admit I am impressed with her performance. (How could anyone not be?) Two things are apparent to me so far. (Things are early and can change.) 1. She is mentally stronger than I thought. 2. Many men on the tour have some catching up to do.

The only test left, as far as I can tell, is how she handles a situation when something goes really bad.

[ewing]

Drag Motorcycle Racing doesn't count?

[dwilli]

Isn't the 8th a 180 yard carry over water. That hole worries
me, not the carry but the holding the green. Guess she will
have to hit five or six-iron.

[MineralMan]

"She had said that this was a one-off deal, but I wonder if she'll reconsider if she finishes on or near the leader board. She might be surpassing her own expectations."

I really doubt it. I think she's just challenging herself.

[Teacher317]

10th (par 4, 404 yds): On the fairway twice, birdie putt is 18" short, makes par.
11th (par 5, 609 yds): On the fairway all three shots, birdie putt is 10" short, makes par.
12th (par 4, 443 yds): On the fairway, second shot on the rim of the green, makes par.
13th (par 3, 178 yds): 3 inches off of the carpet, birdie putt is GOOD.
14th (par 4, 457 yds): On the green in two, long birdie putt is 6" short, makes par.
15th (par 4, 430 yds): Drive barely hits the fairway, 2nd shot hits the green, long birdie putt misses left. 5" par putt is good.
16th (par 3, 188 yds): Tee shot is within 6ft of the pin, birdie putt is barely right, 2" par putt is good.
17th (par 4, 383 yds): On the fairway, approach shot hits the green, long birdie putt missed, 3" par putt is good.
18th (par 4, 427 yds): On the fairway, lucky bounce onto the green, long birdie putt is 15" left, makes par.

1st (par 5, 565 yds): Drive splits the fairway, second shot is solid, third shot is on the green, 15 ft birdie putt misses left, 12” par putt is good.

[dmz]

LOL. She's 5'6".

It took 30 seconds to find that out. Are the rest of your opinions based on such strong research?

[kevkrom]

Again I say name a SPORT, not a game of aim or steady hands

You mean, like golf?

[daylate-dollarshort]

"If her long putting game was a bit better, she could easily be leading this event."

And if a bullfrog had wings......

[discostu]

not denying any of those things. That's the way of sports. Almost winning and almost losing are right next to each other and often the same. But remember your prediction was that she'd be absolutely killed, no chance of winning, no where near making the cut. So far your prediction isn't panning out. At least you didn't go as far as others and predict she'd be so mortified she wouldn't even show up tomorrow.

[William McKinley]

Unless you are arguing against corporate sponsor exemptions in the general, I can't see much validity to the complaint about her not qualifying.

The way I see it, the sponsors earned the right to a certain number of exemptions by their sponsoring.

She earned the attention of the sponsors by her performance over the years on the LPGA.

The attention she is getting is increasing viewership and interest, which is what sponsors want.

[mewzilla]

Not an amazon? A very normal, feminine build? Um...Normal for whom? :)

[Steve_Seattle]

"Freepers have critiqued her attire, accused her of steroids, found her mustache today."

Kind of like the way the liberals attacked the Iraq war - when one prophesy of doom failed to materialize, they just lenghtened their list of things to gripe about - the looting, the delay restoring electricity, the bickering among the Iraqis over the new government, etc. The parallels to this are the complaints about the length of the course, the rain slowing down the ball, Annika's clothes, looks, alleged mustache, etc.

[dwilli]

I have a good idea but in the spirit of diplomacy won't say.

[Mr. Mojo]

I don't think she's a lez. And she has a cute face, imo. Her body would be attactive enough if she hadn't spent a couple hours a day in the weight room the past year or so. Check out her gait when she walks down the fairway -- her arms curl outward like a weightlifter.

[Conservative til I die]

Thanks for the update. I mentioned the lay-up on the 1st. Didn't realize it was a par-5, so she did get on in regulation. However, that is still something that will be hurting her, as it could mean the difference between an eagle or definite birdie and a possible birdie and definite par.

[Teacher317]

Oh yeah, this woman is not a lesbian...that I know for a fact.

You lucky, lucky bastard!

[Conservative til I die]

Thanks for the update. I mentioned the lay-up on the 1st. Didn't realize it was a par-5, so she did get on in regulation. However, that is still something that will be hurting her, as it could mean the difference between an eagle or definite birdie and a possible birdie and definite par.

[over3Owithabrain]

Are you going to argue that Annaka or any other woman would win equally as often as Tiger or the other "best men" on the PGA tour?
C'mon, this is about Sorenstam not embarassing herself, which she is accomplishing in spades. But women and men being completely equal as athletes? You are buying into media-driven leftist fiction.

[discostu]

Hey those rallies are good places to pick up chicks. You already know they're all single and fear commitment. Natural born 1 night stands.