Sports: Proposed TV deal has men vs. women

Proposed TV deal has men vs. women

By BOB HARIG

Tiger Woods and David Duval might not have much to gain -- other than money -- by agreeing to team up with LPGA stars Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb in a mixed-team exhibition. But they sure would give their sport, and the women's game in particular, a boost.

Word leaked, and Sorenstam confirmed that International Management Group, which represents all four players, is working on a made-for-TV match televised in prime time, much like previous endeavors that involved Woods playing against Duval and Sergio Garcia. The most likely date is July 30.

There had been talk about pitting Woods against Sorenstam, a ridiculous notion given that Woods averages 40 yards more off the tee and likely hits three to four clubs less from a given distance than Sorenstam. How would you make it equitable?

But a Woods-Sorenstam vs. Duval-Webb match would not only be entertaining, it would put the two best women players on stage with the men, something the LPGA could dearly use.

"To have two of the LPGA's best players on TV in prime time would boost our tour," LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw said.

One problem: The Women's British Open is Aug. 2-5, which would cause logistical concerns for Sorenstam and Webb. They wouldn't arrive in Europe until Tuesday, two days before the tournament.

"That's not the ideal way to prepare for a major," Webb said. "But this would give women's golf the recognition it deserves. If we turned it down, we might not get another opportunity."

Sorenstam joked last week that if the match comes off, she won't be shy about picking a partner. "I want to play with Tiger," she said. "It would be a great opportunity for me to see him play in person, in the same group. To have him as a partner, on top of that, would be a dream scenario for me."

Although a Woods vs. Sorenstam or Webb match would probably create even more interest, the team concept can achieve the same goal of drawing non-fans to the telecast.

"I think it will be really exciting, because it's not man against woman," Webb said. "Annika and I don't have to deal with a Billie Jean King scenario, with all of womankind on the backs of our shoulders, like she had (in a 1973 exhibition against Bobby Riggs)."

DRIVE FOR SHOW: Garcia's victory at the Colonial came despite finishing last in driving distance for the week. The field averaged 295.5 yards, Garcia 257.3. There's a catch: Garcia hit a lot of irons off tees to keep his drives in play and was rewarded by finising third in driving accuracy at 72.3 percent and first in greens in regulation at 76.4 percent. He won by two strokes.

LOCALLY: The Verizon Classic, won by Bob Gilder in February at the TPC of Tampa Bay, raised $369,305 for its benefiting charity, Tampa Bay Reads. Since 1988, Tampa's Senior PGA Tour event has contributed more than $4.5-million to local charities. ... Tickets are on sale for the Tampa Bay Classic, Sept. 13-16 at the Westin Innisbrook Resort. They are $20 for daily admission and $50 weekly, $10 off the price at the gate. Tickets can be purchased through the American Lung Association, Junior Achievement, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Rotary Club Charities and Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. Call 727-942-5566 for information. ... Jim Linkin of Belleview Biltmore Golf Club and Rick Waltman of Mangrove Bay were named teachers of the year for the West Central Chapter North Florida Section of the PGA. ... Paula Marti, a graduate of the Saddlebrook Prep School in Wesley Chapel, won the Italian Open on Sunday on the women's European tour. Marti, of Spain, defeated Raquel Carriedo on the first playoff hole.

AROUND GOLF: Unless he is granted a last-minute special exemption by the United States Golf Association, Greg Norman will miss next month's U.S. Open. ... Corey Pavin earned $116,000 for his eighth-place tie at the Colonial, his biggest check since $270,000 for winning the 1996 Colonial. ... Tom Kite, 51, played the regular tour the past two weeks and made the cut at the Byron Nelson and Colonial. He has made eight straight cuts on the regular tour.

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