| Annika Sorenstam
With Laura Neal
Manager of Communications for the LPGA
Thursday, May 22, 2003; 11 a.m. ET What is it like for Annika Sorenstam to become the first woman since 1945 to play in the PGA? How has her presence affected the other players and the event? Can she be competitive against the best men in her sport? Laura Neal, the LPGA's manager of communications, was online live from the Colonial Country Club to discuss Sorenstam and the media frenzy surrounding her. The transcript follows. Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Laura Neal: Annika just made her first birdie. She is tied for 11th right now.
Arlington, Va.: What is the media frenzy like? When she played in LPGA tournaments, how different was the media interest? Laura Neal: This is unlike anything I have ever seen on the LPGA tour, but it is also unlike anything the PGA tour has seen before. We have more than 600 credentialed media compared to last year at this tournament when they had 200. It has probably elevated itself to the biggest story in sports, not just the biggest story in golf.
St. Augustine, Fla.: The announcers seem to be surprised people are rooting for her. Did anyone think that there was going to be any anti-Annika sentiment from the crowds? Laura Neal: I certainly never thought that. From the moment she stepped on the premises people have been shouting "Go girl" and "You're the man!" It has been pretty funny. If there was any lingering negative feelings from the media that was certainly put to rest on Tuesday when she did her press conference. Annika was engaging, witty and entertaining and I think everyone left the press conference rooting for her.
Mifflinburg, Pa.: Do you picture Annika's appearance on the PGA to be a one-time-thing no matter how well or poorly she does or do you see she and other LPGA pros making periodic forays into the PGA tournaments? Laura Neal: I can only speak from what Annika has said repeatedly and that is that this is a one time opportunity for her. Whether that will open the doors for other female golfers to do the same, we will just have to wait and see.
Dunnellon, Fla.: I feel that some times it is better if some male/female activities were left as just that, Male and Female. For instance, I would not want men in my Red Hat Society. All male clubs should remain so and all ladies clubs should remain so unless they decided on their own that they wanted to include the opposite gender. Laura Neal: It was decided by the tournament to invite Annika to play this week. It is not as if Annika took the PGA to court and forced them to have her play this week. She has been welcomed by the tournament and the fans for this one time opportunity.
Somewhere, USA: Do you expect this to boost the LPGA's profile? Is there a risk if she does poorly? Laura Neal: We have already won. Annika's decision to play in Colonial in February has brought more attention to the LPGA tour than we have received possibly ever. Regardless of how she plays I think people will be interested in her for the rest of her career and hopefully will become fans of the LPGA tour is they weren't before.
Arlington, Va.: What does Sorenstam feel she needs to consider this foray into the PGA successful? Laura Neal: Annika has said several times when asked that same question that if she plays her best under all the pressure and speculation then she will be happy with herself. As far as putting number on it I think her goal was to finish two rounds at even par and go from there -- and right now she is one under.
San Bruno, Calif.: How is she playing and does it appear that the media is affecting the guys she is playing with or do they seem to be having a good time with it? Laura Neal: Dean Wilson is one under and Aaron Barber is even, so it looks like those two are handling it just fine so far. I have to say that they have been spectacular about being pared with Annika from they moment they heard. Dean Wilson wore a "Go Annika" pin to his press conference on Tuesday. I think they both realize that this is a great opportunity for themselves as well as Annika.
Washington, D.C.: Why isn't the stated "mission" of the two tours more publicized during this process, the LPGA's mission is to find the best women golfers but the PGA's mission is simply to find "the best golfers." Annika isn't upsetting anything, she's simply helping fulfill the PGA's mission. Laura Neal: Sounds like you have it right on target. Annika's mission has always been to challenge herself, so she is fulfilling that mission as well.
Alexandria, Va.: Has Sorenstam responded to Singh's comments? Do you think there is any validity to his remarks? Laura Neal: Annika has kept her response short and sweet and said that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and she is right. If I were a PGA tour player I might feel the same as Singh, but there are just as many players out here that are supportive of her competing this week.
Arlington, Va.: Why Annika? Why now? Was this something she's been contemplating for a while and are there other women golfers anxious to follow her into the PGA? Laura Neal: Annika has said that she would never had tried this two years ago or five years ago or at any other point. She feels that her game has reached a certain level that allows her to compete and her physical strength ahs increased tremendously over the past two years. Michelle Wie, the 13-year old amateur from Hawaii, is playing on the nationwide tour this summer, and of course Suzy Whaley is playing on the PGA tour in July. As far as other LPGA players, no one has raised their hand and said I want to be next, so we will just have to see what happens.
Bowie, Md.: Since anything better than stinking out will be a moral victory of sorts, Sorenstam can meet expectations just by playing conservatively, avoiding risks and posting a decent score. Some males in the tournament who might otherwise try to win, don't want the stigma of losing to a woman; so they'll also play conservatively just to beat her, at the expense of trying for victory. Won't her presence make the play of the men less exciting than it otherwise would be? Laura Neal: I think these players are professionals despite the media frenzy surrounding Annika, they are here to win a gold tournament and I think everyone's goal, including Annika's, is to play their own game and post the absolute lowest score possible.
Somewhere, USA: What sort of endorsement deals can we expect to see come out of this? I can only imagine that she will rake it in if she does well. Laura Neal: Annika was asked that question in her press conference and she laughed because there is not much more room left on her shirt. That is a question for her agent to figure out. I am sure the offers will come in but we will just have to see how it all shakes out given her already existing blue chip authorship deals with other companies.
Dunnellon, Fla.: How do you think she will do in this tournament? Laura Neal: I have no idea and neither does Annika, but I have been with the LPGA for five years and Annka's talent and ability never ceases to amaze me. I watched her put out two years ago for a 59 and I watched in amazement has she came back from 10 strokes down to win a tournament. She is pretty much capable to do anything she puts her mind to.
Baltimore, Md.: Don't people realize that sponsor's exemptions can be used by the sponsor in any way they like to generate publicity? After Mark Rypien was Super Bowl MVP, the Kemper Open gave him an exemption and everyone thought it was great. Whoever thought of using this exemption on Annika deserves a raise -- when's the last time anyone tracked Thursday front-nine scores at the Colonial? Laura Neal: And nobody complained when Tiger Woods was given an exemption at age 16 to play a tournament. That is what sponsor exemptions are for.
15 Handicap, Southern California: First Casey Martin and now this!? Why do you think golf -- as opposed to basketball or football -- opens itself to these kinds of controversial happenings lately? Is it an attempt to attract the viewership that accompanies scandal and debate? Laura Neal: I think golf differs from other sports because, although anyone who plays golf is an athlete, you can be 7 years old or 70, you can be a man or a woman, you can have a physical handicap or be in perfect health. Golf is a sport that has had a past of being exclusionary but continues to be more inclusive every day.
Texas Transplant in Washington, D.C.: Nick Price said that "Ben Hogan would be rolling in his grave" over Annika playing the Colonial. The Ben Hogan I always knew about was one of the most intense, competitive players around -- especially when it came to pushing and challenging himself as a golfer. I tend to think Ben would relate to why Annika wants to play... he might even whisper a quiet "Go Girl." Your thoughts? Laura Neal: I have also heard people who are members here at the club say that Mr. Hogan would have tipped his hat to Annika. I think that whether you agree or disagree with a woman playing a PGA tour event you have to give Annika credit for accepting the challenge and placing a mountain of expectations on her shoulders.
Washington, D.C.: I have seen frequently that this is the first woman in a PGA tournament in 58 years; but what happened 58 years ago? Was that Babe Zaharis? What tournament did she play in and how did she do? Laura Neal: Babe Zaharis competed in three men's events in 1945. She made the cut in all three.
Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: I'm a woman who barely pays attention to golf. I watch a few of the majors here and there, never watch the LPGA. I can't tell you how excited I am right now! I've been turning the TV to the Colonial every chance I've had this morning. I'm rooting for Annika, and I plan to start tuning into the LPGA tourneys now, too. This is definitely a win-win for golf, and sports in general. Laura Neal: You are a perfect example of why Annika's decision to play is good for the LPGA tour and the game of golf in general. It is a story that has transcended golf and, from the sound of your comments, transcended sports.
Fort Worth, Tex.: Do you feel that great athletes (Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods) have a fifth gear that they can turn to in pressure situations? While it is still early, Annika appears to have this fifth gear in a pressure-packed situation. What's your take? Laura Neal: Annika definitely has a fifth gear, and perhaps a sixth and a seventh. I have seen her do remarkable things under tremendous amounts of pressure -- including splitting the fairway this morning with her first tee shot. You don't win 43 times without a fifth gear.
Duncan, Okla.: I think this is Great. I think this is a boost for golf in colleges as well as professionally. What is her strongest part of the game? Laura Neal: Consistency -- and this is coming from someone who has only broken 90 one time in her life. Annika hits more fairways and more greens than anyone on tour, giving herself chances at birdie on nearly every hole. She is so consistent she rarely gets herself in trouble on the golf course.
Laura Neal: Thanks for all of your support. I know Annika appreciates the well-wishes she has gotten since February and I hope to see you at future LPGA events.
washingtonpost.com: That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the discussion. Automatically Update Page | Get New Responses | Submit Question
© Copyright 2003 The Washington Post Company | 
