
When Annika Sorenstam said she wanted to play golf with the men at next week8217;s PGA Championship, there was bound to be an uproar. There was. The golfing community got their plus-fours in a twist and there is still a threat of blood on the greens, foul play on the fairways. Vijay Singh8217;s conscientious objection, echoed by some of his peers, was countered by Tiger Woods8217;s backing of Sorenstam and followed by the Fijian8217;s own apology. The story, from Holes 1 to 18:
Sorenstam: It8217;s funny how everyone has an opinion. I8217;m not doing it to put the men down. I hope they think I8217;m doing it because I8217;m trying to be better, and I8217;m not afraid to try it.
Nick Price: I admire Sorenstam8217;s courage but I wonder if this is simply for publicity.
Singh: Sorenstam shouldn8217;t play8230;If I am paired with her, I8217;ll withdraw from play because she doesn8217;t belong out here. I hope she doesn8217;t make the cut.
Woods: I think it8217;s great she8217;s playing, but only if she plays well. If she puts up two high scores, it8217;s going to be more detrimental than good.
Singh: We have our tour for men and they have theirs. It8217;s like getting the Williams sisters to play against a man, and they8217;re far better athletes than she is.
Sorenstam: This is my career, and I can8217;t worry about what anyone thinks.
Fuzzy Zoeller: Vijay said the right thing. Do I think she can play? Of course, she8217;s a really good golfer. But can she play at a course of 7,100 or 7,200 yards? No.
Singh: I actually said if I miss the cut, I8217;d rather she miss the cut as well. I hope she missed the cut because I don8217;t want to have a woman beat me.