Annika at the Colonial: What do you think?

Great Debates
141

Some last-minute comments leading up to the big Thursday (it’s about 8:10 Wednesday right now where I live, BTW).

I’m completely in favor of this, not only because she’s more than worthy and it’ll be really fun to watch, but because, for one brief, shining moment, all the talk won’t be about TigerTigerTigerTiger, and more Tiger. I know the guy’s great and all, but ENOUGH is ENOUGH! (Note that the fawning commentators still call him the unbeatable #1 supreme master even after falling hopelesly out of contention in the Masters and the Deutsch Bank Open. E-freaking-nough already.)

I think that anyone who’s VEHEMENTLY opposed to her doing this and bring up lots of loaded arglebargle about tradition and merits and whatsisname being denied should just chill the hell out already. No, no, don’t argue me, I’m not interested. This is a one-shot deal, and it may lead to other one-shot deals in the future, but we’re a long way from any real concerns about forced integration or whatever. Modern sports have spectacles. And sometimes those in charge seek to create a spectacle. It happens. Get used to it.

Maybe it’s just me (although I certainly hope it isn’t), but I’m SICK of sports where brute force is the overwhelming factor (like, say, most men’s tennis in the 90’s). Sports should be a test of skills, not just muscle.

As for the snooker example, I dunno. Maybe men do have better hand-eye coordination. I won’t make any sweeping statements, however, unless I have comprehensive stats on both sides to compare, not just what this or that player did.

Finally, my biggest fear is that she’ll have one off day and finish near the bottom, prompting every out of shape, cement footed, shaky kneed, butterfingered, 2"-leaping, stumbling, bumbling blowhard who couldn’t beat his damn mother in the country to bellow about how the women’s game is worthless and they could beat anyone on the LPGA tour drunk and blindfolded. (Don’t laugh; this is exactly the kind of junk I heard almost the instant the WNBA was formed.)

Anyway, I’m really, really pulling for her to make the cut. However, even if she missed it by 1-4 strokes, it’d still be a victory in my book. I do feel a little sorry for whoever eventually wins this thing, though (although not as much as for whoever wins an Event That Tiger Is In).

[TO REITERATE: I don’t hate Tiger Woods, I just think he’s grossly overrated and overexposed. Just in case anyone missed it the first time. I know I can never be too careful.]

142

Before reading this thread I’d have to admit I thought having women play at a MENS’ tournament was unfair because men cannot play at the womens’ but Zoff said it best and succinctly

The only quibble I have with that is I’d say Annika is not just anybody she is currently the best womens golfer right now

Any fan of the game wants to see the best possible Golf they can…this is why they are watching PGA golf in the first place and if she can play at that level then good for her

I think SHE is taking the biggest risk not whatever men she happens to beat…there are alot of people just waiting to tell her go back to the womens’ tournaments little lady and don’t bother the big boys anymore

143

She’s one under through four holes. Go Annika! The coverage is shot-by-shot on USA. I’ve seen Annika from every angle.

She’s really playing well. Fairways, greens. She finally missed the green, but made the little fringe putt. OTOH, she’s got a bit of golf left.

144

Geez Beagle, ya beat me to it. But that’s 'cuz I was going to use a spoiler tag. (1 under through 5 now)

145

She has a tap in for par on 18 (her 9th). Very solid beginning, IMO. The pressure seems to be bothering her playing partners (young inexperienced journeymen) more than her.

146

Yeah, I feel sorry for those dudes. Well, at least they’ll get this experience under their belt and use it when paired with Tiger.

147

Just turned it on.

Wow!!! She’s doing great. Hope she holds up. I think some of the holes on the front nine will be a big challenge.

148

She’s even-par after 16 holes. You go, girl!

149

Make that 17.

Woo.

Julie

150

In the clubhouse at +1. Not bad. Well on her way to beat my 144 prediction.

Man, if she could just learn how to putt, it’d be all over.

151

Oh, yeah, the course is going to play tougher tomorrow. She’ll need to beat that +1 to secure a spot on the weekend, is my guess. But she beat her two playing partners!

152

Oh, yeah, the course is going to play tougher tomorrow. She’ll need to beat that +1 to secure a spot on the weekend, is my guess. But she beat her two playing partners!

153

Not too shabby at all. I guess the question of how the media coverage/pressure will effect her game has been asked and answered. I really hoped she would finish up even par, but the 9th hole looked pretty tough.

So, how does the cut work? Do they just cut the field in half or what? If there are say 10 players sharing +1 on the cut, do they all get cut? I never found myself caring about a player that might be cut, so have no idea how it works.

154

It’s half, plus anyone tied. Sometimes there’s also a rule about anyone within “x” strokes of the leader makes the cut.

155

Basically, and some tourney’s differ, they’ll take the lowest score, add ten, and take everyone plus ties. IOW, the current leader is minus 6, add ten, and the cut line could be anyone +4 or better. Usually they’d like to 60-70 players on the weekend. Last years cut IIRC, was +2.

156

Maybe someone can clarify. Is it top half plus ties, or top “x” number of players plus ties. I forget.

157

I’ve seen both John. The Master’s usually only has around 50 players on the weekend, and they only allow about 110 to play. Some fields, I think the US Open is one, has 156 players with about 60 playing on the weekend.

158

Amusing thing I heard on the local radio(I live in D/FW) from a DJ supposedly quoting Annika.

I’ve always been a sucker for innuendo I guess.

Well played Annika!

Enjoy,
Steven

159

Mtgman:

That’s hilarious!

The crowds were phenomenally supportive. I think this exceeded everyone’s expectations.

I hate to add any negative thoughts, but she is really an attrocious putter. Not bad, attrocious. I had that inkling from the few LPGA tournaments I’ve watched, but Annika putted like a weekend hacker today. And the greens were not very fast.

160

I’d read that putting was one of her weaknesses. Since I didn’t get to see any of today’s action, I have no sense of how she did on the greens, so I’ll take your word for it, John.

But if she’s that bad with the putter, it strikes me that (a) at her age, that’s a part of the game she could still improve on significantly, and (b) if she played regularly on the men’s tour, she’d more or less be forced to get a good putting coach, and retool that part of her game. It sounds like if she did that, she’d play well enough to really belong on the PGA.