Sorenstam Ready to Play with Guys

”I`ll be here until Sunday.”

LPGA champion `Annika Sorenstam` is about to find out what it is like playing golf with men. The 33-year-old Swedish player will become the first woman in 58 years to play on the PGA tour on May 22.

Stealing even more media spotlight than the current NBA playoffs, she, like many, wants to see how her game will be. Will this be a one-time publicity stunt or a memorable moment for women in the sport of golf?

Betting sites are luring people with generous odds for her winning the Colonial. The gambling web site `The Vegas,` is going to pay $300 for every $1 bet, if she beats out all other players.

This means, however, that the site sees her chances of winning as zero. It is in fact offering a 75-1 shot, only 25% of the odds set for Sorenstam`s win, is the same as that for a third-party candidate winning in the presidential election of 2004.

Given the various bets out there, however, experts seem somewhat optimistic about her making the cut. The Vegas forecasts Sorenstam will end with a two-round 148 and is offering odds of 4-1 for her making the cut.

The site seems to have taken into consideration the fact that Babe Zaharias, the last woman to play on the PGA Golf Tour, qualified for the Los Angeles Open in 1958.

The over-under on a two-round under par is 3.5, and better than an even par in the first round is 7. If Sorenstam beats out winner Phil Mikelson (U.S.), betters take home $11 for every $1 they bet on the site.

The over-under on her taking the lead for a day during the four-round tournament is 25, an advance to the `top 10` is 41, an advance to the `top 5` is 71 and a hole-in-one is 251. 7-1 odds have been set for her beating out either Dean Wilson or Aaron Barber whom she will play with in the first round.

As it has rained for two days in a row, the course is all wet. And Sorenstam both feels worried and relieved about the conditions of the green. Sorenstam, who was at least 1 over par through 10 holes when the rain stopped at the pro-am round, said, “It was like the course was 300 yards farther because of the rain, but I will be able to take more aggressive shots at the pin since the green is slick.”

Young-Sik Ahn ysahn@donga.com