Tiger determined to remain on top

WHILE the “European” Tour has been traipsing around South Africa and Australia and will shortly be off to places like Malaysia, Dubai and Qatar, it’s all been happening in the United States where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with events.

Between Annika Sorenstam accepting an invitation to play in a US Tour event, Phil Mickelson sparking off about Tiger Woods and Woods himself coming back from injury to show Ernie Els, in spite of all his unbelievable early form, that he isn't prepared to hand over his mantle of world number one for a long time to come, it certainly is a fascinating scene.

Annika Sorenstam is cleary an awesome golfer, arguably one of the finest ever produced by the women's game, but you wonder if she was wise to accept an invitation to compete in the PGA Colonial in Texas in May. She will play off the same tees as the men on fearsomely fast greens and equally treacherous pin positions. Probably watching his words extra carefully after earlier much publicised gaffes, Phil Mickelson predicted that she could make a top twenty finish. If she does, it will be a staggering performance and surely lead to several other similar invitations to lady golfers.