| Defining Success |
26 May 2003
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Annika Sorenstam Misses Cut at Colonial
Female golf pro Annika Sorenstam took on the boys last week at the Bank of America Colonial and finished in a tie for 96th, missing the cut with a 5 over two-round total. Not a triumph to be sure, but she proved she merits respect as an excellent golfer. What troubles most, though, is the fact that her performance was news.
Exculsion in sport is one of the world's greatest social shames. Vijay Singh went so far as to say Ms. Sorenstam had no business playing with the men. The fellow still has a smattering of sexism in him, a pity given that a generation or two ago, a golfer of his nationality would have been relegated to caddy regardless of talent. Ms. Sorenstam bettered the scores of 11 men players in the first two rounds.
Golf is a shot-making game; much like bowling, darts, horseshoes and the like, strength is not vital to success. As a result, the human male's natural advantage in this area is less important. And as any golfer can tell you, a 300-yard drive is less critical than a 15-foot putt.
Consequently, it should surprise no one that the best female shot-makers can ably compete with the best make shot-makers, particularly on a course like the one in Texas that lacked great length. Yet here the sporting world was, amazed that a girl could play with the boys. Silly really, but prejudices die hard, even in the face of facts to the contrary.