You just need one word to describe Annika Sorenstam when it comes to women’s golf. Untouchable.
While Tiger Woods putted away his chance to capture his third US Open championship in the last five years this weekend, Annika Sorenstam watched from her picturesque home in Lake Tahoe. Did she know that she was now at the center of the golfing universe? As Tiger fell by two strokes to New Zealand native Michael Campbell, golf’s only hope to see a grand slam fell on the shoulders of the 34-year-old Swede.
Having just beaten the much maligned amateur Michelle Wie by three strokes to capture the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, Annika need only win the final two LPGA majors to be the first golfer since Bobby Jones in 1930, to hold all four major championships in the same calendar year.
I know, I know, some of you are saying, “Who cares about women’s golf?” And some of you have come to despise the fact that ESPN2 takes time out of its busy schedule to broadcasting the World Series of Poker to show girls with sticks. (no pun intended). Obviously you haven’t seen Annika Sorenstam.
Since 1993, Annika has 62 career victories to go along with over $17 million in winnings. This complements the fact that in her past 37 tournaments Annika has won 18 times, including four major titles, while raking in $5,267,950. If this doesn’t impress you enough, the closest person to Annika over those very 37 tournaments in terms of money is Christie Kerr at $2,721,592.
Now don’t start dreaming, “Well, I could win majors’ championships hitting from the women’s tees…” First off, the ladies play from the tips, and secondly Annika’s scoring average throughout her last 37 tournaments is 68.73 or 399 strokes under par in 134 rounds.
And for those of you keeping score, her 1.72 putts per green this season is better than 184 golfers who are ranked for putting average on the PGA website, including such notables as Phil Mickelson, David Toms, and Ernie Els. Multiple major winner and LPGA icon Laura Davies sums it up best when it comes to Annika’s torrid winning streak, “I don’t think it’s all that good if Annika is winning every week,” she says, ” It makes the rest of us look like we can’t play, and that’s just not true.”
So, fine… spend your weekend preparing for the NBA Draft or watching Roger Federer make easy work of the Wimbeldon field, all I ask is that you don’t go around bad mouthing women’s golf and especially not Miss Annika Sorenstam.
4 replies on “Tiger Schmiger- Give Me Annika”
Nicely done, just a few pointers I must say I am very impressed with this piece, you really pegged ESPN with the World Series of Poker crack. However, I have a few pieces of constructive critiques. First of all, the title must go, anything with “Schmiger” will not be taken seriously. Secondly, and it seems I say this to everybody, break up your paragraphs, the blocky paragraphs may make an english teacher happy or get you a five on an a.p. test, but for all intensive purposes, in journalism shorter is better. Finally, perhaps give a little bit more of your opinion, or less of it, at this point it is unclear whether you are reporting about Annika or giving your opinion on why to watch. That is all I have, keep up the good work, and I look forward to continuing to read your work.
agreed basically the guy that already posted said it pretty well. the open this weekend is only at 6800 yards, hardly the tips.
alright I know your trying to defend women’s golf and all but c’mon, it’s not that great. Yea i’m gonna spend my weekend watching women’s golf which is basically 2 golfers Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie. Let’s face it’s not as great as men’s golf and there is less competition. No wonder she is so “untouchable.” I’m not saying Annika is not a good golfer, but I’m not going to spend my weekend watching her or the women’ US Open.
Good Tough to watch Annika finish so far behind but quite a finish for miss Birdie Kim. Overall, for a first time watch of women’s golf I was suprisingly satisified. they have some real hottie in Natalie Gulbis.