Sorenstam grouped with a pair of rookies

Forth Worth Star Telegram ^ | May. 20, 2003

[TomB]

PGA Tour rookies Dean Wilson and Aaron Barber are about to enter the spotlight without getting into contention. They're playing with Annika Sorenstam the first two rounds at Colonial.

Sorenstam, the first woman to compete on the PGA Tour in 58 years, was drawn out of the third category of players reserved for those who haven't won or finished in the top 125 on the money list.

Names were selected randomly by a computer.

Her group will start on the 10th tee at 8:58 a.m. Thursday, and from the first tee at 1:43 p.m. Friday. Starting early in the first round is considered the more favorable time.

Sorenstam played a practice round Tuesday morning with Sergio Garcia and Jesper Parnevik, although they didn't get far. Rain and the threat of storms stopped them before they finished the first hole.

Sorenstam hit her drive into the right rough, advanced it up the fairway and still had 190 yards to the middle of the green on the 565-yard par 5. Her approach went short and right of the green, hopping into a bunker.

Wilson has spent most of his career on the Japanese tour, winning three times in 2001 to finish third on its money list. He finally earned his PGA Tour card last year through qualifying school, and two weeks ago tied for seventh in the Wachovia Championship, his best finish ever on tour.

Barber, no relation to former PGA champion Jerry Barber, tied for eighth at Q-school. His only top-10 this year was a tie for fourth in Tucson, which was played opposite a World Golf Championship event.

[TomB]

From another article:

"The tournament has issued 583 media credentials. Not only is that up -- way up -- from 178 last year, it computes to nearly five media representatives for every player in the field."

This is looking like the move of a lifetime for the sponsor, Bank of America.

[fuquadukie]

If the tee times were reversed, she could book a good flight out and be home in time for Dinner on Friday night. Now, she'll probably have to stay over and take the 1st flight on Saturday morning.

[Arkie2]

Poor guys. They'll have to put up with the media firestorm. I've seen Barber's name on the tour and he's not doing too bad. He makes the cut most of the time. I've wondered if he was related to Miller Barber. Heaven help them if Anika outplays them!

[flicker]

"Names were selected randomly by a computer"

GIVE ME A BREAK!!

[KellyAdmirer]

I can't imagine that two grinders from Q-school think that much of the little invited princess, but it must be fun to escape total anonymity for a couple of days. They will return to obscurity soon enough. I sure hope for their sakes they outplay her, and I think they will, unless the crowds un-nerve them. Might be good for them, one fewer real competitor to worry about.

[rrr51]

Check out this article, if true her chances might not be that bad

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12743-2003May19.html?nav=hptoc_s

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Annika gets her tee times

[1Old Pro]

Related thread here:

Annika gets her tee times. See who she will play with here !

[Lost Highway]

It will be interesting to see how the two people with her handle the attention. At first I felt sorry for them figuring it could really screw up a big opportunity for them. Upon reflection, I guess it could also go the other way. If they play well it could really get them noticed.

[Blue Screen of Death]

Anybody posting odds? Reno? Las Vegas? Bill Bennett?

[Lost Highway]

Seems to me like a silly article. Fundamentally says that she is comparable to the other people that can't make it on the PGA tour.

[SAJ]

Current odds on Annika to make the cut are 39/11 (this translates to 355 if quoted as a moneyline bet, or 4.55-to-1 quoted as a proposition bet).

(Source: tradesports.com, 1:15pm CDT)

Do you know how big the field is? I take it that the cut is top 64 plus ties, yes?

[MoralSense]

Top 70 and ties, usually, I think.

[whinecountry]

Vegas odds last Thursday had the over-under for Sorenstam's first round at 76.5. Double that, and it's 153, 10 shots over last year's cut.

[SAJ]

Thanks, mate. (Don't know where I got 64 into m'head...shrug)

[Your Nightmare]

2003 driving averages

Barber: 280.6 yards
Wilson: 275.9
Sorenstam: 275.4

[Momma Lou]

I keep seeing that she is the first women to try to compete in the PGA for 58 years.
So,was the female the great "Babe"?