Sorenstam defies her critics
With sunshine beginning to burn through the clouds, Sorenstam became the first woman since Babe Zaharias in 1945 to play in a PGA Tour event.
Sorenstam carded one birdie and just two bogeys, the second on her final hole, which gives the women’s world number one every chance of making the halfway cut today.
Her arrival at the 10th tee had been greeted with cheers by the fans packing the area around the tee-box. As her tee time approached spectators who had been casually watching the nearby practice green turned and craned their necks to try to catch a glimpse of her.
Massive galleries followed her, and her birdie from the back fringe at the 178-yard par-three 13th was greeted with a roar of approval.
Sorenstam completed the first nine holes in one under par, thanks to that birdie on the 13th.
That actually moved the Swede within two strokes of leader and 1999 champion Olin Browne, who was three under through 10 holes at the time.
She dropped back to level with a bogey five on the fifth after three-putting, and also bogeyed the last in a disappointing finish.
However, she recorded the same score as one of her playing partners Dean Wilson, who spent ÂŁ2 on a Go Annika badge earlier this week, and one better than the third member of the group, Aaron Barber.
Sorenstam got her round off to a light-hearted start when she feigned a collapse after finding the fairway with her first tee shot.
Despite winning 43 times on the LPGA Tour, she has drawn harsh criticism from some PGA Tour members, who said she should have had to qualify for the event.
The 32-year-old is playing on a sponsor’s exemption, which was granted to her in February.
Asked if the day had been all she expected, Sorenstam said: “Much more.
“I’ve been nervous all day, I thought it would go after a few holes, but I was tense all day.
“I’m very happy with the way I played.
“The guys I played with were so nice, I don’t know if I would have made it without them.
“I’ve been hitting the ball well but I didn’t know if I was going to do it today, the course was playing so long.
“I’m just glad the day is over, I enjoyed it but it’s a relief now.”
The course was playing longer than usual after a lot of rain in Texas, adding to the difficulties for Sorenstam.
“I could be more aggressive but I was hitting longer clubs in and the pin placements were the toughest I’ve seen,” she added.
“I’ve learned so much one, that’s the reason why I’m here. I’m absorbing so many things, I’m so thankful to be here.”
“I love pressure,” Sorenstam said. “I love being in contention on Sundays and having to hit that perfect shot at the right moment.” Certainly the disadvantages Sorenstam faces at Colonial are daunting.
The course is some 600 yards longer than the typical LPGA tour layout, and rain this week has it playing even longer.
Sorenstam reiterated all week that she believed par was an attainable goal for her.
“If I do that, I’ll feel like a winner inside,” she said.
Last year at Colonial, the halfway cut came at three-over, and despite the uncertainties facing her, Sorenstam spoke confidently this week of playing on Saturday and Sunday.
Not everyone is so sure.
“We’ll find out on Saturday, Sunday,” said defending champion Nick Price of Zimbabwe. “We’ll find out.”
Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik, who played a practice round with Sorenstam on Tuesday, said he thought the obstacles would be too much for Sorenstam to overcome. “Making the cut, I think she’s got to play her very, very best, and then some,” Parnevik said.
“I think some of the expectations might be a little bit too high on her behalf.
“Like in any sport, there is a difference between women and men.”
Sorenstam, who averages 274.5 yards off the tee on the LPGA Tour and has a scoring average of 69.22, said one key will be remembering that although so much is different this week, much is still the same. “I have thought about this a lot,” she said. “There is not going to be a single shot here this week that I haven’t hit before.
“I’ve got the same clubs in my bag as I’ve had for years, and I’ve still got to putt, I’ve still got to drive.
“The circumstances are different, but I have hit every shot many times. So I am just going to trust myself, trust my instinct and believe in myself.”
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