Singh skips Annika date

BYRON NELSON tournament winner Vijay Singh has pulled out of this week’s Colonial event — but denied it has anything to do with his controversial criticism of Annika Sorenstam.

“It’s a good time to take off,” Singh said, after winning the PGA event by two strokes. He said the decision was not based on the blitz of publicity he generated with comments critical of Annika Sorenstam’s participation in the event, which starts Thursday at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.

“I have to be at (Mark) McCormack’s memorial (service) on Wednesday,” Singh said, referring to the International Management Group founder who died last Friday. “I also have something on Thursday.”

Singh was quoted as saying a woman didn’t belong in a men’s event, that he would pull out if he was paired with Sorenstam and he hoped she missed the cut. Singh claims he was misquoted and apologised if he offended Sorenstam.

Nick Price, Sunday’s runner-up and the defending Colonial champion, has also been critical of Sorenstam’s participation, and defended Singh on Sunday. “I don’t think he meant to say that he wants Annika to miss the cut, but I think he is frustrated with all the questions that have been going on,” he said. “He sure got criticised this week. It shows how strong the guy is that he can come back and play the way he did and win. I certainly have a lot of admiration for him.”

Price is also sick of being asked about Sorenstam. “I have answered more questions about Annika than how I am playing,” said Price, a former worldNo. 1 from Zimbabwe. “She had 41 other tournaments she could have chosen.”

Sorenstam, who captured 13 titles worldwide last year, will become the first woman in 58 years to play in a PGA Tour event at the Colonial.

“Obviously I am excited about Colonial, but it is just one week and I want to keep everything in perspective,” Sorenstam said. “I am going to try and prepare like it is any other tournament, but I know it is not.

“When I’m 60, I’m going to show grandkids that I played in a PGA event. It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Sorenstam has played with men, including Tiger Woods, and from men’s tees to prepare for a golf challenge that will come on and off the course.

“Mentally I don’t know what to expect when I get to Colonial,” she said. “I know it’s going to be like all four majors put together in one week so it’s going to be tough. But that’s why I’m doing it.”

Sorenstam is happy with her game, leading the LPGA in driving distance but only 45th in accuracy. “It’s so early in the season,” she said. “Tournaments have been so different that I don’t really pay attention to the stats yet.”

Woods and South African David Frost were supportive to Sorenstam in practice rounds, as was her Orlando neighbour, New Zealand PGA veteran Frank Nobilo. “He has said a lot of positive things to me,” Sorenstam said.

“This is a big challenge for sure, probably the biggest I’ll ever experience. I hope the experience I get at Colonial it will help me to perform better in the majors and our tour.”

Sorenstam has shrugged off the naysayers who think a poor showing at Colonial could diminish the LPGA.

“Who knows if this is the right way to get to the next level? I have to have a little bit of imagination and try different things and this is what this is.

“It’s wanting to learn from somebody who is really good. I love the way they play and I don’t think there is a secret that the guys hit it further or that they are stronger and I want to learn from that.”