Sorenstam has Whaley to thank for paving the way
If she hasn't done so already, Annika Sorenstam has a great chance this week to extend a handshake of thanks.
She is playing an LPGA Tour event in Virginia, the Michelob Light Open at Kingsmill, but of course all of the talk is about Forth Worth, Texas, the Colonial, and her historic foray onto the PGA Tour and men's professional golf.
But if it weren't for Suzy Whaley, would any of this be happening?
Whaley, who also is playing this week on the LPGA Tour, is the Connecticut teaching pro who last year won a PGA of America section event. With that victory came a spot in this July's Greater Hartford Open -- even though Whaley did not play from the men's tees.
Presumably, nobody ever gave thought to the fact that a woman might win from the forward tees and earn the exemption onto the PGA Tour. The rule has since been changed, but Whaley's spot remains.
Whaley, who is not an accomplished tour pro, weighed the decision to compete for months before finally deciding it would be good to go ahead and try.
| Where they're playing | |
 This week: HP Classic of New Orleans Site: New Orleans Course: English Turn Golf & Country Club (7,116 yards, par 72) Television: Thursday: 4-6 pm ET (USA) Friday: 4-6 pm ET (USA) Saturday: 3-6 pm ET (CBS) Sunday: 3-6 pm ET (CBS) Defending champ: K.J. Choi
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And all of that got Sorenstam thinking: If Suzy can do it, why can't I? And why wait?
You know the rest.
Sorenstam, asked innocently about the prospect at a January outing, said she'd jump at the chance "in a heartbeat" if asked. Soon, there was a buzz around golf, and within a few weeks, an invitation came from the Colonial, which is now just three weeks away.
It has gotten her more attention than winning 11 times on the LPGA Tour did a year ago.
It has gotten her more attention than winning 43 times in what is already a Hall of Fame career at age 32.
And it has made Whaley's appearance at Hartford something of an afterthought (before Sorenstam's venture, Whaley was the one getting all the attention), although she shows no animosity. In fact, she still relishes her opportunity while cheering for Sorenstam.
"I am having fun with this, tremendous fun, but I have to give it everything I have,'' Whaley said. "I want to inspire people with this. But if I inspire just one, that would be enough.''
As for Sorenstam, Whaley said: "My hope is that people won't judge her on four days of golf, no matter what the result is. Bottom line is that she's a great player.''
Meanwhile, Sorenstam gets more questions about Colonial than she does about adding to her records on the LPGA Tour.
"I have no idea how I'm going to finish, which is why I'm doing it,'' Sorenstam said this week at a golf clinic she conducted. "I'm going to play my game, and this (Colonial) course fits my game. On 95 percent of the courses where they play, I'd have no chance, where strength and power is so important. This course is more about placing the shot, a course-management type golf course.
"The previous winners at Colonial aren't known for power. They're known for managing the golf ball. I believe that's my strength. My plan is to stay in the short grass all day long.''
It is interesting to hear a player discuss an event three weeks in advance on the eve of another one.
But that's what Colonial has produced. More than 400 media members are expected, and if Sorenstam makes the cut, it will likely be the biggest golf story of the year.
And it's something she has prepared for diligently. Sorenstam, who has one victory this year on the LPGA Tour, has improved her driving distance to an average of 280 yards off the tee. She has frequently played practice rounds from the back tees with men. She has sought advice from other players.
"Everybody has their own opinion and everybody has their thoughts on how to play,'' she said. "But I've got to play my game and that's what got me there is to play my game. It's always helpful to listen, but at the end of the day, I'm the one who's got to hit the shot.''
Sorenstam will hit her share this week, trying to join Se Ri Pak as two-time winners on the LPGA Tour in 2003. Then she's off to a tournament in Japan before final preparations for Colonial.
First, she might want to say a few words to Whaley, the one whohelped make it all possible.
The Question
Can David Duval get back on track?
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| Duval |
Five Things to Watch
1. There is typically a lull this time of year on the PGA Tour, with a Masters hangover setting in and a slew of big tournaments coming up in May and June. But the HP Classic of New Orleans has 10 of the top 25 in the World Ranking, including Davis Love III, Phil Mickelson and David Toms.
2. New Orleans has seen its share of first-time winners and veterans. Last year's champ, K.J. Choi, made it his first victory, but players such as Love, Toms and Brad Faxon also have won here.
3. Sorenstam tries for her second LPGA Tour title of the year at the Michelob Light Championship at Kingsmill, with her eye on Colonial in three weeks. Se Ri Pak, who leads the money list, is also in the field.
4. Jack Nicklaus is giving a boost to the Nationwide Tour by playing in the BMW Charity Pro-Am with all four of his sons -- Jack II, Steve, Gary and Michael. Nicklaus will be the sixth major championship winner to play in a Nationwide event, and it will mark the first time all five Nicklauses have played together in a PGA Tour-sanctioned tournament.
5. One of the Champions Tour's most popular events, the Bruno's Memorial Classic, is in Birmingham, Ala., looking for the first two-time winner of the year.
| THE COURSE: ENGLISH TURN G&CC (HP CLASSIC) | |||||||
| English Turn Golf and Country Club has been home to the HP Classic of New Orleans since 1989. It is a Jack Nicklaus design that is tougher than most PGA Tour venues. Water comes into play on every hole. And the par-4, 471-yard 18th is one of the toughest finishing holes on tour. It played as the toughest hole of the tournament last year and was the second most difficult for the year on the PGA Tour. Throw in the nearly-as-tough 17th, and it's quite a finish. The 17th is a par-3 that measures nearly 210 yards with water in front and to the left.
Despite it's apparent difficulty, English Turn, which measures 7,116 yards and is a par-72, has yielded relatively low scores. Choi won at 271, 17 under par a year ago -- and that was the highest winning score in four seasons. |
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Bob Harig covers golf for the St. Petersburg Times and is a frequent contributor to ESPN.com. He can be reached at harig@sptimes.com
