Sorry, this is now old news. But remember how everywhere you turned, you heard about Annika playing in the PGA event? There was heated debate about whether or not she should play, her skill level, the promotional aspects, would this be good for the LPGA, and, once the tournament began, the details and statistics about Annika’s game.

And when the tournament was over, we heard words like "dignity," "grace," "skill," "humor," "class," and "integrity." And who spoke these words? I heard them from the typical media outlets, and also from the man at the grocery store, the gal who cuts my hair, my neighbor, my banker, the fellow on the treadmill at the gym, some folks who know of and share in my passion for the game, and others who do not.

 Debbie Waitkus
So let’s go back to the question about whether or not Annika’s participation in the Colonial was good for the LPGA. Not only was it good for the LPGA, it was good for women and golf, and golf overall. With the world’s eye upon her, Annika created an opportunity for all of us to learn. She shed light on detailed aspects of the game that previously would have been over the heads of many golfers and non-golfers.

On Thursday, her first day of competition, Annika stood on the 10th tee (she started on the back nine) and they announced her name. Cameras rolling, we all watched. Imagine. Go stand on the tee with her. Feel the eyes? Relax. Try again… relax. After Annika drove the ball down the middle of the fairway, she let out a huge sigh, dropped her shoulders, and feigned that she was going to collapse as she walked off the tee. Haven’t we all felt that pressure on the first tee, praying to the golf gods for a decent shot? Why can’t we just hit the same great shot we just made on the driving range? We all feel the eyes. We’re all human.

We watched Annika walk up the 10th fairway to her ball wearing a pair of slacks, not the typical capri pants or shorts that we’ve seen her wear on the LPGA tour. Yes, golf is a sport rich in traditions and ethics. Dress code is part of the tradition. Respecting the protocol of the men’s tour, Annika dressed accordingly.

With all the rain in the Fort Worth area, the golf course was damp. So, we heard about the amount of roll Annika could expect on her tee shots in the fairways. Not much. Yes, she was hitting the fairways at a very high percentage, yet her approaches to the greens would be hit with long irons or even woods. Her male counterparts, with greater strength, would be hitting into the greens with shorter irons. Shorter irons, higher loft, less roll. The benefit to Thursday’s play was that the greens were relatively damp. Typically, it’s harder to stop a ball struck by a long iron or a wood on the green than one hit by a shorter iron. But with damp greens, this would be advantageous for Annika. On Friday, the course was drier. Annika’s drives would be longer, but her approaches into the green, still longer than the majority of her competitors, would again be more difficult to stop on a dime. The fact that a newer golfer could follow this logic and terminology without eyes glazing over is amazing and tremendous!

As Annika finished her round on Friday, the crowd, the golf community and others were all behind her. No, she did not make the cut. The cut? A non-golfing friend called me to tell me she had watched Annika play. "There’s a cut? What do you mean she doesn’t play on Saturday and Sunday?" More knowledge shared and interest sparked in someone who has never held a club but is now anxious to do so.

Annika set out to challenge herself, to test her skill, and to live a dream. In the process, look what she did for so many of us. She took us to school and brought the classroom to life. She inspired us to stretch, to learn, to open our minds to new things. Yes, Annika’s experience at the Colonial was very good for the LPGA. It was very good for all of us, around the game of golf and beyond.

Debbie Waitkus is a business golf consultant and speaker. She works with organizations and individuals, especially women, to demystify the game and "turn golf into gold."™ Debbie can be reached at 602/840-0607 or dwaitkus@golfforcause.com or click the Golf for Cause logo.

from Ladies Golf Journey - Sept/Oct 2003