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.
The top four players in the world are not playing in this event. The number four player dropped out specifically because of Sorenstam (even if he's now saying his wife needs him to clean out the garage this weekend). Woods only plays about 18 times a year, so he's excuse. He hasn't played here in a few years. As for Els and Love, they're not talking, but you know they were AWARE of the fact that the circus was in town. So Sorenstam's presence was a FACTOR in their decision not to play. So by Sorenstam playing not only is an unqualified player participating with the help of affirmative action, but also, the overall field and quality of play has been diminished by a lack of talent. I'd say that hurts the PGA plenty. When she misses the cut tomorrow, don't look for more invitations to come swarming in.
Great idea. Only die hard golf fans give a hoot about this tournament anyway. With Annika, or any other top LPGA player in the field, it becomes a media event. I think its good for the game. After all, the PGA wouldn’t have these inflated purses if it wasn’t for TV and Corporate Sponsors. So if you can’t get Tiger in your tournament, you need to come up with a gimmick.