Battle With Old Boys' Club Recalled As Annika Retires
December 14th, 2010 10:55 AM
Being a fan I can honestly say that my heart was broken when Annika Sorenstam announced her retirement.
It came as a shock to me and I am sure it shocked the LPGA Tour, which has ridden her popularity since the early 1990s. To many, me included, during the years from 2003 through 2005, Annika was the best golfer in the world, gender not withstanding.
Annika is a classy, talented and pretty lady who seems to have made fans all over the world and who was a welcome sight at every event she played in.
Well, every event except one perhaps. When Annika Sorenstam played the Men’s PGA Colonial in 2003 she ruffled the feathers of the old buzzards who thought her appearance there would kill off some starving male pro.
Vijay Singh said he’d openly root against her making the cut. As it turned out, Mr. Class pulled out just days before the event saying he forgot he was supposed to be taking a family vacation that week.
Nick Price claimed that Ben Hogan would be rolling over in his grave over the thought of Annika teeing it up in his event. Sorry Nick, but you were not even old enough to have a paper route when Ben Hogan was last winning on the tour so you’ re not really speaking from first-hand knowledge, are you?
Fulton Allen said “It’s not normal for ladies to be playing with men.” Forgetting the sexual overtones… actually you can’t so let’s leave quirky Fulton out of this.
What was so wrong with Annika taking up one spot in one men’s event on a tour that runs every week through November? Simple, Annika wears panties not jockeys. You see, the PGA was and still is an old boys’ club and the Nick Prices of the world would like to keep it that way.
Why did the sponsors offer Annika a chance to play? At that time she was the number one LPGA player in the world and she deserved a chance to take her game to the next level. Beyond that, she sells tickets and that makes money for the sponsors.
The major networks booked extra airtime so the viewing fans could watch her play. Fans lined up to buy souvenirs and programs. Most importantly fans lined up to buy tickets to get on to the course to watch Annika compete. Would they have done that if the sponsor had asked Andrew Maggie to play instead? Would having Scott Gump in the field cause the BBC to cover the build up like they did?
Leaving the ill-managed Michelle Wie for another day, what’s wrong with having a star LPGA player stepping to the back tees once in a while? Is there really a chance they will take over and make the PGA a Jack and Jill affair? Not likely.
Just as silly is the idea that grade two math flunk-out Jean Van Der Velde should make good on his vow to play in the Ladies U.S. Open in a show of equality.
Perhaps it was the greatest golfer of all time, Jack Nicklaus, who best summed Annika’s stay on the men’s tour: “I say if you have the sticks, let’s go play.”
Even in the middle of this turmoil Annika's class shone through as did the quality of her friends. Phil Mickelson spoke openly of her abilities and Tiger text messaged encouragement and called her after her rounds. Funny how class attracts class isn’t?
Good luck Annika, we’re going to miss you.
Tom Cattermole is North Shore freelance golf writer. Cattermole@telus.net
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Oct - Nov 08
It came as a shock to me and I am sure it shocked the LPGA Tour, which has ridden her popularity since the early 1990s. To many, me included, during the years from 2003 through 2005, Annika was the best golfer in the world, gender not withstanding.
Annika is a classy, talented and pretty lady who seems to have made fans all over the world and who was a welcome sight at every event she played in.
Well, every event except one perhaps. When Annika Sorenstam played the Men’s PGA Colonial in 2003 she ruffled the feathers of the old buzzards who thought her appearance there would kill off some starving male pro.
Vijay Singh said he’d openly root against her making the cut. As it turned out, Mr. Class pulled out just days before the event saying he forgot he was supposed to be taking a family vacation that week.
Nick Price claimed that Ben Hogan would be rolling over in his grave over the thought of Annika teeing it up in his event. Sorry Nick, but you were not even old enough to have a paper route when Ben Hogan was last winning on the tour so you’ re not really speaking from first-hand knowledge, are you?
Fulton Allen said “It’s not normal for ladies to be playing with men.” Forgetting the sexual overtones… actually you can’t so let’s leave quirky Fulton out of this.
What was so wrong with Annika taking up one spot in one men’s event on a tour that runs every week through November? Simple, Annika wears panties not jockeys. You see, the PGA was and still is an old boys’ club and the Nick Prices of the world would like to keep it that way.
Why did the sponsors offer Annika a chance to play? At that time she was the number one LPGA player in the world and she deserved a chance to take her game to the next level. Beyond that, she sells tickets and that makes money for the sponsors.
The major networks booked extra airtime so the viewing fans could watch her play. Fans lined up to buy souvenirs and programs. Most importantly fans lined up to buy tickets to get on to the course to watch Annika compete. Would they have done that if the sponsor had asked Andrew Maggie to play instead? Would having Scott Gump in the field cause the BBC to cover the build up like they did?
Leaving the ill-managed Michelle Wie for another day, what’s wrong with having a star LPGA player stepping to the back tees once in a while? Is there really a chance they will take over and make the PGA a Jack and Jill affair? Not likely.
Just as silly is the idea that grade two math flunk-out Jean Van Der Velde should make good on his vow to play in the Ladies U.S. Open in a show of equality.
Perhaps it was the greatest golfer of all time, Jack Nicklaus, who best summed Annika’s stay on the men’s tour: “I say if you have the sticks, let’s go play.”
Even in the middle of this turmoil Annika's class shone through as did the quality of her friends. Phil Mickelson spoke openly of her abilities and Tiger text messaged encouragement and called her after her rounds. Funny how class attracts class isn’t?
Good luck Annika, we’re going to miss you.
Tom Cattermole is North Shore freelance golf writer. Cattermole@telus.net
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Oct - Nov 08
