Annika, What was the Point?

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Annika, What was the Point?
by Robert Yoho, Columnist and Senior Editor

June 6, 2003

"Eye on Conservatism"

Columnist Robert Yoho Recently, I watched several holes of the Colonial Golf Tournament on television. This is quite an admission for me to make, because I soundly despise golf. In my 44 years upon this earth, I have never watched more than a couple minutes. But I have an excuse: it was raining that day at home.

In my mind, watching golf on television ranks just ahead of watching paint dry, which puts it a couple of places higher than NASCAR. So it would certainly be a stretch to call me a fan of the game. But it was raining outside that day.

You must understand, of course, that I grew up on a farm. My father believed that great expanses of green pasture were strictly reserved for making hay bales. Moreover, as a child he instructed me to shoot any critter—four-legged or two-legged—that made holes like that in a beautiful hay pasture. However, he also would have appreciated the forethought it required to place a flag there to mark them. Marking them with a flag might keep you from turning over the tractor.

Like many other casual observers, I was tuned in to see LPGA golfer, Annika Sorenstam challenge the men. Unlike many men who I know, I had no problem with Sorenstam entering a men’s tournament. In fact, I admired the woman’s spunk and confidence in her abilities. If she was willing to play from the same tees and abide by the same rules, then I was rooting for her to succeed.

I make no claim to be an expert on the game, but it wasn’t difficult for a person like me to see why she failed to make the cut. Annika failed at the short game. It wasn’t her lack of a man’s strength and size that kept her from reaching the greens and fairways. She repeatedly made them! Her shots gave her every chance of qualifying. However, it was her putter that let her down. Perhaps the pressure did get to her.

When asked whether she would enter another men’s tournament, Sorenstam said, “No, I will not. I don’t know if I could handle it again. It was a dream scenario in every way. It was perfect for me. It wouldn’t be the same to do it again.”

It was perfect for her? It wouldn’t be the same again? What does that mean anyway? Is Annika fearful that she might actually qualify the next time? I don’t understand that line of thinking.

The woman proved to me that she had the skills to compete with the Tigers and the Michelsons of the golf world. So, she didn’t qualify. A lot of good male golfers didn’t make the field either. If anything, Sorenstam should find it easier the next time. The initial pressure would be gone and the spotlights would be a little dimmer next time.

Annika said wanted to play with the men. This is a free country and Annika has the right to only play with the girls. But I don’t understand why she would be simply satisfied with that. The only thing I despise worse than golf and NASCAR is someone who starts something and then quits! And that is true about politics, life, or sport.

What message is Sorenstam sending to those who follow her? If at first you don’t succeed, don’t try, try again!

I guess I just found another reason for hating golf. Or as my dad would say: “That’s an awful thing to do to a good hay pasture!” ***

Photo of Robert Yoho courtesy of staff files