AROUND THE GREENS
Sorenstam's entry may be stunt, but who cares?

By Bill Kwon

Everybody's talking and even Las Vegas is laying odds on Annika Sorenstam. Isn't that the reason why the sponsors gave her an exemption to play in the PGA Tour's Bank of America Colonial beginning today in Fort Worth, Texas?

Any ink is good ink. Defending champion Nick Price says it "reeks of publicity." If it does, so what?

Why do you think six LPGA Tour sponsors fell all over themselves rushing to invite 13-year-old phenom Michelle Wie months in advance of their events. It wasn't surprising that her dance card was quickly filled. There are already feelers out for next year.

Even the Nationwide Tour got in the act, joining the Canadian Tour in offering Wie an exemption to men's events because she's already booked solid with the ladies. Albertson's, the sponsor of the Boise Open, knew it would be a shrewd marketing move.

So it isn't surprising that the Colonial is getting all the attention this week because Sorenstam is teeing it up with the guys. Requests for media credentials have quadrupled from last year.

A remarkable interest for a tournament without Tiger Woods. Thanks to Annika, it has become a media circus. But whether the media types will stick around for the weekend if Sorenstam fails to make the cut remains to be seen.

Personally, I don't think she will. I promise to say 50 Hail Marthas, if she does. The Vegas odds are against her. It's 4-to-1 that she makes the cut and the over-and-under for her 36-hole score is 147.5.

It's not a knock against Sorenstam or the caliber of women's golf if she doesn't succeed.

After all, some 50 other guys won't be making the cut either. She's going to beat a lot of them. Even Hawai'i's own Dean Wilson, who's playing with her in the first two rounds, isn't a sure thing to survive the weekend.

"Anybody can beat me if I play bad," he said. "All golfers know that bogeys don't care if you're male or female."

Of course, Wilson might be asking himself, why me? But somebody's got to do it and it's interesting that it turned out to be Wilson, who will find himself in Annika's reflected limelight as a playing partner with another tour rookie and fellow Q-School qualifier, Aaron Barber. Like Sorenstam, Barber got in on a sponsor's exemption, his very first.

Wilson is being a good sport about it. He feels Sorenstam has every right to be in the tournament and hopes she plays well, saying it's exciting to be part of a "unique experience" in golf.

If you think about it, there might be more pressure on Wilson than Sorenstam today and tomorrow.

Playing with a wahine isn't anything new with Wilson, who played a lot of rounds with Christel Tomori, who's on the Futures Tour.

"I've always played with a lot of women and it's just as much fun," he said.

Asked who won, Wilson replied, "They didn't beat me."

No Vijay Singh there.

So, like Wilson, let's enjoy what happens in the Colonial and Annika's adventures. There might not be a sequel, at least in her case.

Sorenstam has said all along that she just wants to see how her game compares with the men from their tees, that's all. She's not trying to prove a thing but just to satisfy her own curiosity.

The guys should give her that much and not get on her case.

It's a one-time thing, although maybe not for long. Even Sorenstam thinks Wie might be "The One" in the future.

"She could be the one. I mean, first of all, she's only 13, but she's (nearly) six feet tall. And she already hits the ball a mile," Sorenstam said. "She's motivated to play in the PGA Tour when she grows up. So she might be the one that could do it regularly."

Besides, Sorenstam is not really depriving a pro from making his living by taking one of the spots in the Colonial.

To begin with, exemptions are extended to those who wouldn't have been qualified to play in the first place.

Also, it's a tournament by invitation only, so the event can invite whoever it wants. Scott Simpson, a golfer with close Hawai'i ties, also got an exemption.

If anything, Annika's appearance can only help the PGA Tour by giving it more national attention than it would get, especially since Tiger is a no-show this week.

So, it will be an intriguing moment in golf, one worth watching. It almost makes me wish that it will continue through Sunday. I'd be more than willing to do my Hail Marthas.

Bill Kwon can be reached at bkwon@aloha.net.

BY THE NUMBERS

Aaron Barber

• Age: 30
• Ht.: 6-0; Wt.: 165
• Maple Grove, Minn.
• Driving average: 280.6 yards
• Driving accuracy: 66.9%
• Greens in regulation: 66.8%
• Putting average (per hole): 1.746
• Scoring average: 72.17
• Money: $238,750

Dean Wilson

• Age: 33
• Ht.: 6-0; Wt.: 175
• Las Vegas. (raised in Kane'ohe)
• Driving average: 275.9 yards
• Driving accuracy: 69.5%
• Greens in regulation: 65.9%
• Putting average (per hole): 1.749
• Scoring average: 70.92
• Money: $441,440

Annika Sorenstam

• Age: 32
• Ht.: 5-6; Wt.: 130
• Incline Village, Nev.
• Driving average: 275.4 yards
• Driving accuracy: 73.8%
• Greens in regulation: 76.5%
• Putting average: 1.66
• Scoring average: 69.22
• Money: $554,501