Name: Annika Sorenstam Age: 32 Nationality: Swedish Claim to fame: A woman golfer on the men’s circuit
NOT since Tiger Woods hit the limelight has the golf world been so abuzz. Annika Sorenstam’s brave venture into the unknown has not only put her diamond cut reputation at stake, but also rekindled the age old argument, can women compete at par with men?
Probably the greatest female golfer in history, the Swede had already made the headlines even before the tee-off. But even though she may have won more golfing titles than any other person in the last two years, including Tiger, this was the first time that she was playing with her male counterparts, and everybody wondered if her LPGA success could be translated into PGA success?
Even before her first swing, she had made history by being the first woman golfer in 58 years to enter in a professional men’s tournament. That in itself is as controversial as the whole facade of women being at par with men is concerned.
Other than the praise for her courage to do so, Sorenstam also had to weather the storm of protests against her. At the forefront was Vijay Singh, who along with Nick Price and Scott Hoch, was not happy at the prospect of competing with a woman. Singh even withdrew from the Colonial, citing exhaustion. But many think they know the actual reason.
Anyway, Annika teed off in front of what turned out to be the largest crowd the tournament has seen in years. An army of fans, media and those there just to see what the rumpus is all about, followed Annika all over the course, making every hole look like the 18th hole.
Nevertheless, her experiment was not that successful in the sense that she was found lacking desperately short. While the men were trying to make birdies, she was happy with par, and subsequently Annika missed the cut. She was out of the tournament on the second day, which left many tongues wagging again. Sorenstam can play, but can she compete?
In her league, she had won 13 times around the world last year, the most by a woman in nearly 40 years, and two years ago became the first woman to shoot 59. But in the PGA, her performance gave more wind to her critics like Singh.
Whatever the case, many gave Sorenstam credit for playing like a pro under the fan and the media spotlight. The fact that she missed the cut by four strokes didn’t matter.
NOT since Tiger Woods hit the limelight has the golf world been so abuzz. Annika Sorenstam’s brave venture into the unknown has not only put her diamond cut reputation at stake, but also rekindled the age old argument, can women compete at par with men?
