Now we gotta here about this for the next couple of weeks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...0030513/ap_on_sp_go_ne/glf_sorenstam_colonial <b>Singh to Sorenstam: Stay Home</b> <i>By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer </i> CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Vijay Singh (news) made it clear how he feels about Annika Sorenstam playing on the PGA Tour. He wants to her miss the cut next week in the Colonial. And on the odd chance that he is paired with her, Singh says he won't play. In the strongest comments yet about Sorenstam becoming the first woman in 58 years to compete on the PGA Tour, Singh said the 32-year-old Swede has no business playing at the Colonial and should stick to her own tour. "I hope she misses the cut," Singh said in an interview with The Associated Press after his runner-up finish at the Wachovia Championship. "Why? Because she doesn't belong out here." Singh knows he won't be playing in the same group as Sorenstam when she becomes the first woman in 58 years to compete on the PGA Tour. His name will be drawn from a pool of PGA Tour winners when the pairings are made. Still, his comments might have set the tone for what could be a curious, contentious week at the fabled course in Fort Worth, Texas. Sorenstam decided in February to accept a sponsor's exemption to the Colonial. The last woman to play on the PGA Tour was Babe Zaharias, who qualified for the 1945 Los Angeles Open. She made the 36-hole cut, but was eliminated in the third round with a 69. The line out of Las Vegas is Sorenstam posting a two-day score of 153. What she shoots isn't what bothers Singh. "What is she going to prove by playing? It's ridiculous," said Singh, a two-time major champion who ranks No. 7 in the world. "She's the best woman golfer in the world, and I want to emphasize 'woman.' We have our tour for men, and they have their tour. She's taking a spot from someone in the field." The Colonial is an invitational with a limited field. Sorenstam received one of eight sponsor's exemptions. Singh isn't alone in his criticism. Nick Price (news), the defending champion at Colonial, has said Sorenstam's presence "reeks of publicity." He thinks she ought to qualify if she wants to prove herself at the highest level. Scott Hoch (news), who once played with Sorenstam in a mixed-team tournament, said he wants to see her play well so people will realize "how much separation there is between us and the ladies' tour." Still, most players have been cautious with their comments, not willing to predict a score and hopeful she plays well so it doesn't reflect poorly on the LPGA Tour. Singh speaks from experience. In 1998, he played in an unofficial event called the "Super Tour" that matched the scorecards of nine professionals after playing 18 holes a day in four Asian cities. Laura Davies was invited to play, and finished 39 strokes behind Singh. "Laura Davies is a long-ball hitter, but she still had to hit good irons," Singh said. "It's just different for ladies to play on the men's tour. It's like getting the Williams sisters to play against a man, and they're far better athletes than she (Sorenstam) is." Sorenstam has become significantly stronger in the last two years as she has taken over women's golf. She won 13 times around the world last year, the most by a woman in nearly 40 years, and two years ago became the first woman to shoot 59. She was returning from Japan on Monday, where she won the Nichirei Cup by nine shots, and was not available for comment. Sorenstam has been playing from the back tees to gear up for the Colonial, including a round with Tiger Woods (news)">photos) in which she is said to have finished 10 strokes behind. "Some people don't believe she should be out here — golfers and men in general," Hoch said. "Most guys hope she plays well, and what comes out of this is that she realizes she can't compete against the men."
Vijay Singh is afraid of being beaten.....by a woman! It's ok buddy, we all know she can beat you, so it won't be as embarrasing when it happens.
First of all, I think he said it b/c he meant it. I think he has a valid point, and lastly, I think his opinion is shared by 75% or more of the men on tour, the difference is he has the balls to say something about it. Singh would kick her ass 8 days a week. If they played 1,000 times from the same tees he would beat her every time.
If Annika does well . . . . . If the PGA says .. KEWL WOMEN CAN COMPETE and ELIMINATE THE LPGA and no woman won another tourny in the next 10 yrs Would this be a victory from Womankind? I guess my point is. . .what is the point? Women are as good as men? given in golf? debatable all things considered [shorter field etc] Men and women are different Neither better nor worse than the other. . .just different Rocket River
The Thought Police are on the hunt again. I guess free speech is great...unless you hurt someone's feeeeelings. BTW, let the chick play. What's the big deal?
I completely agree with Singh. And I think in no way is Singh scared of being beaten by her. (I hope you were joking)
I don't really care whether he's right or wrong. I'm just pissed he felt he had to say it, because now I'm going to have to hear more about sexism in golf every time I watch Sportscenter. I've heard about enough of that subject to last a lifetime.
Good point! This will be the lead story along with everyone's response to what he said for the next week or so. When is the Colonial anyways. The sooner the better.
Singh can be Buckwheat from the Woman Hater's Club Mickleson can be Alpha and John Daly can be Spanky. We know Mickleson will be the traitor with his hot wife, just like Alpha used to sell out for Darla. "And how"
I agree with Singh too! Its all about publicity Annika got a SPONSORS EXEMPTION If she REALLY wanted to prove a point, she could have QUALIFIED in the qualifiying tournee like everyone else. Someone on the regular PGA tour that could probably whoop her ass from the same tees is losing a spot to compete in this tournee because of her. Men are stronger than women, WHO CARES?! THATS JUST HOW IT IS! GET OVER IT PEOPLE> BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! I think she'll miss the cut anyhow.
Who gives a crap about some fringe pro who probably will miss the first cut? I would rather see a woman get beat.
Because that fringe pro is trying to pay rent and feed his kids, and would have a chance to win enough to do so. This woman wins lots of money on her own tour and is only doing this for publicity.
She is the best woman golfer out there. I dont think she will do that well, but good luck to her anyways. Singh is just saying what many golfers are thinking, but are scared to say publicly.
Kudos to Vijay for having the guts to be politically incorrect (especially since the Martha Burk fiasco)... I said the same thing on here several months ago about how she is taking up a spot for a male player that is struggling to earn money on tour and that is one of the things that is pissing Vijay off. I think there is a decent chance that she will miss the cut. The courses for mens tourneys are set up MUCH harder than they are set up for womens tourneys.
I'm sure some white golfer has said about Singh or Woods that "he's taking a spot from a white golfer." I aagree with Price though. She should have to qualify.
Anyone getting that sponsor exemption would not have to qualify. Qualifying is a non-issue in this tournament.
