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Golf

Sorenstam recognition is overdue

Forget the argument that men can't play on the LPGA Tour. The physiological differences between men and women should end that debate. But Annika Sorenstam getting a spot in a PGA Tour event surely will bring such talk to the surface, even if that is far from the point.

Sorenstam accepted a sponsor exemption to the Colonial in May, and the storied Fort Worth course will be teeming with excitement. For the first time since Babe Zaharias teed it up at the Los Angeles Open in 1945, a woman will play in a PGA event.

Good for Sorenstam. She won't say so, but the unquestioned No. 1 female golfer in the world had her interest peaked when teaching pro Suzy Whaley qualified for the Greater Hartford Open by winning a PGA sectional event, playing from the forward tees.

Sorenstam correctly figured if a woman got to tee it up with the men, why not her?

After all, last year she had the best season in women's golf in almost 40 years, winning 13 times in 25 starts, including 11 times on the LPGA Tour. She finished in the top five in 19 of her 23 LPGA tournaments, missing two cuts.

And what did she get for it? A backseat to Martha Burk.

It was sad, really. And typical for the LPGA Tour. An incredible season was overshadowed by Burk's mission to get Augusta National, home of the Masters, to admit its first female member.

Chances are, Burk didn't know who Sorenstam was before she penned her now-famous letter to Augusta chairman Hootie Johnson last summer.

In fact, many of Sorenstam's Hall of Fame exploits have been relegated to secondary status. If it wasn't Burk's tussle with Hootie, it was Tiger Woods, who has made his share of headlines, leaving Sorenstam in the wake.

Sorenstam finally has stepped out of the shadows, and it will be good for the game. Perhaps this will take some of the focus off the Augusta debate, which is so damaging to golf despite so little to gain.

When a woman is admitted to Augusta, the act will have little impact on the masses. But Sorenstam playing with the men could be inspiring to young female golfers, who truly have issues of access.

And the argument that a spot would be taken from a more deserving PGA Tour player? Undoubtedly some players will be fuming. But it happens every week when a sponsor's exemption is given to someone who doesn't have a spot in the field. That's what sponsor exemptions are all about.

They are there to give someone a chance who otherwise would not have the opportunity. They are there to sell tickets. This invitation fits both.

No one is suggesting this should be or will be a trendsetting occurrence. Simply, this is Sorenstam, the best female golfer of our time, testing her game against the best. It will be fun to watch.

PLAYING CATCHUP: Woods begins his season today at the Buick Invitational after the longest break of his professional career. He is $1.81-million behind leading money winner Ernie Els. Woods, who has won the past four money titles, is bidding to become the first to win five in a row. Only Tom Watson won four straight before Woods.

Though Woods has been well behind in the money race before, this is the biggest deficit he has faced. Not even in 1996, when he turned pro at the Greater Milwaukee Open, did he trail by so much. He was behind then-leader Phil Mickelson by more than $1.57-million after the Milwaukee event in late August.

VERIZON CLASSIC: In addition to Jack Nicklaus, next week's Champions Tour event has assembled an all-star cast of seniors. Other commitments include Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Hale Irwin, Fuzzy Zoeller, Ben Crenshaw, Gary Player, Larry Nelson, Lee Trevino and defending champion Doug Tewell. The week kicks off with a pro-am Monday. The tournament begins Feb. 21. Tickets are $20 per day through the end of this week and $25 at the gate. For information, call (813) 265-4653.

-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

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