FORT WORTH, Texas, 21 May 2003 — Annika Sorenstam’s introduction to tournament golf on the PGA Tour was short and wet yesterday.
Sorenstam, the world’s leading female golfer, began her practice round at the par-70 Colonial Country Club in the rain with fellow Swede Jesper Parnevik and Spain’s Sergio Garcia, the 2001 champion.
Sorenstam, the first woman in 58 years to play against men in a PGA event, hit only three shots on the par-five first hole before calling it a morning as the rain became heavier and thunder postponed practice until the afternoon. She pushed her tee shot into the right rough and then played back to the fairway. From 190 yards, her approach was short and right of the green.
Since the inception of the Colonial event in 1946, the first hole has ranked as the easiest hole and is only one of two holes that has a stroke average under par for the tournament. Sorenstam will be paired with Dean Wilson and Aaron Barber in the first two rounds. Tomorrow, Sorenstam will go off the 10th tee at 9:58 EST (1358 GMT) on Friday she tees off at 14:43 p.m. off the first tee.
Navratilova Backs Sorenstam
Against the Men
In Monte Carlo, nine times Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova has thrown her support behind Swedish golfer Annika Sorenstam ahead of her debut on the PGA Tour next week.
The tennis great also branded twice major champion Vijay Singh a “wuss” for criticizing Sorenstam’s participation against the men at the Colonial tournament.
“I think it’s great for the sport and I hope she does very well this weekend,” Navratilova said yesterday.
“Anytime you do something for the first time, it draws a lot of attention. I just hope she does well, we’re all rooting for her.”
The first woman since Babe Zaharias 58 years ago to take on men in a PGA tournament, Sorenstam has triggered a heated debate among the sexes.
World number one Tiger Woods has thrown his full backing behind the Swede, saying she should play in four or five events.
But not every player on the PGA has been supportive. Nick Price said Sorenstam’s presence “reeked of publicity”, while Fijian Singh added to the controversy by stating Sorenstam should not be allowed to compete.
