Annika Sorenstam Accepts PGA Golf Invitation
Women's World number one Annika Sorenstam from Sweden has confirmed that she has accepted an invitation to play an event on the PGA Tour this season and when in doing so will become the first woman to play in a Men's event since Babe Zaharias 58 years ago when she made the cut in the 1945 Los Angeles Open.
Sorenstam will tee it up against the men in The Colonial tournament at Forth Worth in Texas from 22-25 May and her decision to play there lies in the course suiting the strong parts of her game.
The course at Fort Worth is a par 70, measuring 7080 yards from the back tees and has a premium on accuracy rather than length which should throw up a mouthwatering battle between Sorenstam against the best men in the world.
'There were many invitations, but the golf course and schedule of the Colonial were ideal,' said the 32-year-old Swede who has won 21 times in the last two seasons in women's golf.
'All the attention and speculation are flattering, and I appreciate that the Bank of America Colonial golf tournament is giving me the opportunity to compete in a PGA Tour event. There were many invitations, but this golf course and the schedule of the Colonial were ideal.
'For all the well-wishers who want to know why I would accept such a challenge the answer is simple, I am curious to see if I can compete in a PGA Tour event.'
Tiger Woods, the men's world number one thinks the course will suit the Swede, but it would depend on the course set up and he warned that it could go either way for the profile of women's golf.
'I think it's great she's playing,' said Woods. 'But it will only be great for women's golf if she plays well. If she puts up two high scores, it will be more detrimental than good.'
'I think it all depends on the golf course and how they set it up. If they set up the pins in the corners where they are hard to get to, then you have to have a lot of spin and hit the ball high.
'She might have more of a conservative game plan and just dump the ball in the middle of the green.'
Phil Mickelson, world number three was more upbeat about Sorenstam's chances of success.
'I think it is great,' said Mickelson. 'I'm as curious as anybody to see how the best player on the LPGA, and possibly of all-time, will play against the men.
'It is not like she is a slouch. She is one of the best ball-strikers and putters in the game.'
England's Laura Davies was also upbeat about her Solheim team mates' ability to mix it with the world's top male players.
'She'll make the cut comfortably,' said Davies. 'But knowing her, she wouldn't be satisfied with making the cut, she would want to win it too!'
LPGA Commissioner Ty Votaw wished his star player the best of luck, despite her invitation clashing with the LPGA Corning Classic.
'As I have always said, Annika is one of the greatest players the game of golf has ever seen,' said Votaw.
'She has given fans around the world reason to stand up and take notice, as she has shattered record after record and collected more trophies in the past 10 years than anyone ever imagined possible.
'Regardless of what may be written in the weeks and months to come, this is Annika vs. Annika. It's about Annika challenging herself and breaking down barriers - never stopping in her quest to improve and test her abilities.
'This sends an empowering and inspiring message to young women and girls everywhere, to set new goals, to have no boundaries or limitations and to be the very best they can be.'
But by playing in May, Sorenstam will take the stage first in the battle of the sexes as Suzy Whaley, who qualified for the Greater Hartford Open playing off a shortened course in the pre-qualifying event, will have to wait until July for her chance against to play in a PGA Tour event.
For further information please contact:
Martin Park
Tour Communications Manager
M: +44 (0)7736 369268
Sorenstam will tee it up against the men in The Colonial tournament at Forth Worth in Texas from 22-25 May and her decision to play there lies in the course suiting the strong parts of her game.
The course at Fort Worth is a par 70, measuring 7080 yards from the back tees and has a premium on accuracy rather than length which should throw up a mouthwatering battle between Sorenstam against the best men in the world.
'There were many invitations, but the golf course and schedule of the Colonial were ideal,' said the 32-year-old Swede who has won 21 times in the last two seasons in women's golf.
'All the attention and speculation are flattering, and I appreciate that the Bank of America Colonial golf tournament is giving me the opportunity to compete in a PGA Tour event. There were many invitations, but this golf course and the schedule of the Colonial were ideal.
'For all the well-wishers who want to know why I would accept such a challenge the answer is simple, I am curious to see if I can compete in a PGA Tour event.'
Tiger Woods, the men's world number one thinks the course will suit the Swede, but it would depend on the course set up and he warned that it could go either way for the profile of women's golf.
'I think it's great she's playing,' said Woods. 'But it will only be great for women's golf if she plays well. If she puts up two high scores, it will be more detrimental than good.'
'I think it all depends on the golf course and how they set it up. If they set up the pins in the corners where they are hard to get to, then you have to have a lot of spin and hit the ball high.
'She might have more of a conservative game plan and just dump the ball in the middle of the green.'
Phil Mickelson, world number three was more upbeat about Sorenstam's chances of success.
'I think it is great,' said Mickelson. 'I'm as curious as anybody to see how the best player on the LPGA, and possibly of all-time, will play against the men.
'It is not like she is a slouch. She is one of the best ball-strikers and putters in the game.'
England's Laura Davies was also upbeat about her Solheim team mates' ability to mix it with the world's top male players.
'She'll make the cut comfortably,' said Davies. 'But knowing her, she wouldn't be satisfied with making the cut, she would want to win it too!'
LPGA Commissioner Ty Votaw wished his star player the best of luck, despite her invitation clashing with the LPGA Corning Classic.
'As I have always said, Annika is one of the greatest players the game of golf has ever seen,' said Votaw.
'She has given fans around the world reason to stand up and take notice, as she has shattered record after record and collected more trophies in the past 10 years than anyone ever imagined possible.
'Regardless of what may be written in the weeks and months to come, this is Annika vs. Annika. It's about Annika challenging herself and breaking down barriers - never stopping in her quest to improve and test her abilities.
'This sends an empowering and inspiring message to young women and girls everywhere, to set new goals, to have no boundaries or limitations and to be the very best they can be.'
But by playing in May, Sorenstam will take the stage first in the battle of the sexes as Suzy Whaley, who qualified for the Greater Hartford Open playing off a shortened course in the pre-qualifying event, will have to wait until July for her chance against to play in a PGA Tour event.
For further information please contact:
Martin Park
Tour Communications Manager
M: +44 (0)7736 369268