Sorenstam Turns Down Spot in Samsung Field

by Mulligan Stu on Oct 5, 2007 7:41 PM EDT

Just a couple days ago, the organizers of the Samsung World Championship amended their selection criteria, adding an exemption for an active Hall of Famer who had not qualified by other means to play in the 20-person-field event.

There was one reason the Samsung did this: to get Annika Sorenstam into the field. You see, earlier this year - before it was obvious that Michelle Wie's game had gone south, and before it was known that Sorenstam's own game would suffer from injury this year - the Samsung gave its one sponsor exemption to Wie.

And then, when Wie's game did go south, and when Sorenstam's season was impacted by injury, the organizers of the elite tournament found themselves in an awkward position. Wie in, Sorenstam out.

So they changed the criteria to get Sorenstam into the field.

But today, Sorenstam turned down that spot:

Mark Steinberg, head of the golf division at IMG and Sorenstam's agent, said the Swede became concerned last week upon hearing that some players were told the top 18 on the LPGA Tour money list would get in to the event at Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, Calif.

...

"She didn't want the perception that she was taking a spot," Steinberg said. "She decided to do what's best for the LPGA."

Have we mentioned lately how classy Sorenstam is? Because this is a tournament Annika has been planning on playing all year. Up until a couple weeks ago, before it became obvious Sorenstam wouldn't qualify through the money list, her Web site still listed this tournament on her schedule. She was expecting to be there. She wanted to be there.

Her agent is wrong, however. Sorenstam didn't do what's best for the LPGA, because, clearly, that would be for her to play. No, she just did what she felt was right.

(The player who gets in because Sorenstam pulled out is Sarah Lee. The bubble player - the one just outside the money list cutoff, is Natalie Gulbis.)

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100% class

That's Annika - she has never been a "me first" type of golfer or person.

Have to disagree, though. Turning down the invitation IS in the best interest of the LPGA - on a "higher plain" kind of level. By turning down the spot, she acknowledged that she has not had the kind of season that would earn a place in what is supposed to be an elite field. She has shamed Michelle Wie on several occassions - and is clearly above the flash of marketing.

By the time Wie had accepted the free paycheck, she was in the middle of her over par streak. If she had an LPGA card this past year, her performance would have sent her to Q school instead of the Samsung.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 5, 2007 7:56 PM EDT reply actions