Annika Sorenstam averages 275 yards off of the tee on the LPGA tour. The average drive out of the 180 guys who play on the PGA tour is 286 yards. Statistically, she is only 11 yards shorter than average, which is not much of a difference. But the long approach shots will kill her.

it is what it is, a personal challenge for herself. the competition is no longer there for her on the ladies tour, so she wants to measure herself against better golfers, plain and simple. If she gets smoked, she'll probably be the first to say that she doesn't belong out there.

Let me start by saying this is no insult to greg, because it isn't meant as on in any way. Annika averages 11 yards shorter than then the average on the PGA tour. The PGA tour averages include every drive by every player. That means that guys who dont make the cut every week still contribute to the average. And even still, 11 yards IS a big deal, it's about a whole club difference in length on approach shots. Also, length with the driver does not mean length with the irons. Annika most likely uses a shaft in her clubs with more flex, giving her more distance, but it also greatly detriments one's ability to spin the ball. On the driver it doesn't matter, but on irons it does. PGA men hit the ball with much greater force, that's why the ball lands and stops on the green or kicks back. They would literally break those clubs swinging them. Annika also does not have the shot shaping ability that the men have, which is essential on a men's tournament course. She is going to be faced with a course that is longer with smaller landing areas, thicker rough, and more sandtraps and trees to guard the green. She will have to cut and fade shots around trees, attack pins over water and bunkers, and land on greens the size of a small bedroom. I admire Annika's reasons for trying, but I think it would be more of a feat to qualify for the PGA like everyone else on the tour instead of knocking out someone who has on a sponser's exemption. It would surprise me if she shot lower than a 79, and it would be a miracle if she made the cut.

Men and Women's sports remain separate due to the different levels of there athletic abilities. I understand that and respect that. Though I am a woman (and a scratch golfer who plays off of the men's tee, and I would like to add that I am neither butch or a dike), I do not feel that she should play in a traditionally male tournament. She does not belong there-period.

There is nothing stopping Tiger Woods from playing in a LPGA tourney and we all know if he did that he would smoke all of their asses. He wouldn't do that because he does not belong there, and Anika should have the same respect for the men. I know Anika is saying that this is a personal challenge for her, yet I can't see any self respecting woman setting herself up for failure (and major amounts of humiliation) in a public forum. She is an incredible golfer who is successful in her own element. Why can't she just accept that and relish in it?!?!

If she wants to see if she can play better than Tiger, Vijay or Ted Couples then she should just invite them out for a casual round of golf. Not make a public spectacle of herself at a major tournament.

I wish her the best of luck. Though I think she is hurting herself by participating.

You guys know too much about golf

1) Believe it or not, Golf is an incredible workout.

2) You get a killer tan doing it.

3) You meet tons of men.

Three of my top 5 favorite things to do, and I can accomplish them all at the same time.

Need I say more?

Cass, I'd agree with 2 out of those 3 things... #1 doesnt appeal to me, but I was more talking to the guys who know the average stroke. I guess its like knowing baseball or any other sport stat... but its GOLF! A game where you have to be quiet and where they dont serve beer shouldnt be a sport.

If you enjoy golf, then you know all the top players stats because there are so few top players. Unlike baseball, football and hockey where there are teams of players, and a millon stats to remember.

I never do any activity that doesn't permit alcohol consumption, and you can drink on golf courses (not always legally). They make coolers that attach to golf bags. I don't have one of those coolers, but I always play with someone who does. I always carry my fully loaded Tiffany's flask, though :)

As far as being quiet, you just have to be respectful of the person taking the shot, as to not distract them. Other than that, talk away. Though cell phones shoudl be banned on a course--they are fucking distracting. I do a lot of business deals on a golf course, and we drink and we are productive. Maybe it is because I wear a short skirt when I play...

Great work out though, Livia. Gives you great arms and a tight ass from all of the walking.

Women, beer, shots, balls, holes, strokes. Need I say more? The real question is does she nip up when she gets sweaty like Anna Kourna? There's nothing like a good set of headlight nipples on broadcast TV.

Uh...have you ever seen a pic of Annika? The most incredible nips in the world would be wasted on her.

Like most pro female golfers-- she is a little butch. She is no Anna K, thats for sure.

Hmmm... blogged about this exact topic last night. The men don't need to worry about Annika. They need to worry about Michelle Wie. I believe golf could be a sport in which the right woman could compete with men. Not women in general... just a select few (and perhaps only one or two). Wie is just 13 years old... but she sure can swing the driver!

Just for informational purposes, the current odds have Annika at 1/4 odds to miss the cut and 11/4 to make it, with the over/under on her ranking after the first round at 72.5.

Like Paul, I am rooting for her. And why not?

Oh yeah, Annika is from Tucson! Homegirl! I watched her play two years ago...she is awesome!

Don't get me wrong...I wish Annika the best of luck, too. She is an incredible player who is enjoyable to watch.

Annika is the best female golfer on the tour now-hands down. So why would she want to set herself up for major rejection, humilitaion and possibly a career setback by attempting to play a tournament that she may not even make the cut for (hello- did you see the odds)?

Golf is still a Good Old Boys Club. She could make the cut and possibly beat a male player or two, but the PGA and the media will not embrace that (except for the liberal women's movement types of media). Though, if she doesn't make the cut or places last in the tournament- they will slaughter her like a veal. Why would anyone set themselves up for a lose-lose situation like that?

I think there is more to this than Annika's "personal challenge". Her ego is apparently incredibly huge (no one in her inner circle has the balls to tell her don't do this?) and her pockets are fat with endorsement cash.

Here are a couple of issues I have with Annika playing in the PGA: If the women want to compete with the men, that's fine, make the PGA Tour completely co-ed. But in doing that, you'd have to disband the LPGA. I bet there are too many women on the LPGA (and men at the bottom echelon of the PGA) who wouldn't want to see that happen.

Second, if she really wants to test herself against the best, why choose the Colonial? Here's why: It's a course tailor-made for her kind of game. It doesn't require the distance that a lot of the other courses on the PGA Tour do. It's the course thats going to give her the best odds at putting up a decent score. If she REALLY wanted to challenge the big boys, let's see her take on one of the longer courses on the Tour. This is almost the equivilant of me taking Roger Clemens deep on a high school ballfield.

Hmmm... one over after round one. Excellant round for her. At this rate she'll make the cut. However, she acheived her score under ideal conditions for her. The soft greens made it a lot easier for her to stop her ball despite hitting 4, 5, and 6 irons into the green. Tomorrow, she plays in the afternoon group when the greens will be firmer. Could be much more difficult to get that score. We'll see...

tell us how you really feel cass (5 posts?)

from what i saw, it was her putting that kept her from getting a better score (13-14 fairways hit). if she can make a few one putts tomorrow, she'll definately make the cut.

p.s. some people don't fear the major letdown, they just fear what might've been if they didn't try, which is what usually makes them better than the rest.

Anybody that knows anything about golf, knows that you can never predict if someone is going to make the cut or even win a tournament based on one performance. Annika shot a great round today, but she may totally tank tomorrow (it has happened to Tiger, Phil & the best in the game). More power to her if she can keep playing her A game. I give her credit for having the balls to go out there, but I don't feel she should be out there.

As far as the last post bullshit comment about facing one's fear making them a better person...ridiculous. Professional athletes are natural born competitors and they play to win. They don't allow the negative factor of losing enter their world, therefore they don't take losing or performing bad very well. Look at Tiger, he is a HUGE hot head when he doesn't play well.

Hey Madmathias~ Leave Cass alone. She knows what she is talking about when it comes to golf.

Hey Cass,

You listed three of your top five things to do. What are the other two?

Thanks BZH for sticking up for me :)

My 5 favorite things are (in no specific order):
sports/working out
getting tan
meeting men
drinking
sex

This message board is not about me, though. It's about Annika. And I have a complex now because of Madmathias, so I am done posting.

I guess I should chime in after Thursday's first round...

Wow. I was impressed. Is anyone not rooting for her? Aside from Vijay.

I really wanted her to make that final putt and beat her two male pairing partners. If it was an easy course for her, shouldn't it have been even easier for them?

I also think she's kinda hot.

I must say that I am impressed. As you all know i said it would be a miracle for her to make the cut, and to shoot lower than 79. I guess this is proof that God really does give golfers "those rounds". Or maybe she is just that good. We'll see. Proved me wrong though.

while my post may sound like bullshit, i do apologize to cass for the complex. i was just being sarcastic. keep on posting, and i'll just mind my business.