Sorenstam Stays Calm As Men Turn Ugly

The US PGA tour may boast the best players in the world but when it comes to chivalry its fairways appeared populated by 24-handicap hackers yesterday as the already churlish welcome extended towards Annika Sorenstam by some of world's top male golfers took a distinctly ugly turn.

With Sorenstam out practising prior to teeing off today at the Colonial tournament here, it emerged that the tour might change its rules to ensure the Swede's historic first appearance in a men's professional event will also be her last. The US PGA tour policy board, a hitherto obscure body but one with sweeping powers, will be asked to consider a ban on women playing alongside the men when it meets next month.

Under the current rules, the US men's tour is open to both sexes. By contrast, the US Golf Association and the LPGA tour have a specific rule which bans any player from women's events "who was not female at birth" - a regulation thought to have been introduced to stop transsexuals playing in women's events. Sorenstam's appearance at the Colonial via a sponsor's invitation has prompted some of the male pros to push for the two tours to be brought into line.

Sorenstam, the first female to play in a men's PGA tour event for 53 years, will be followed this summer by the club professional Suzy Whalley, who has qualified to tee it up against the men at the Greater Hartford Open. The 13-year-old Michelle Wie has also been invited to play in an event on the PGA's satellite tour later this year.

"It's a major issue on our tour, no question. Players just don't think it's right. Our regulations were written at a time when people thought this would never happen - whereas the women's tour by-laws are specific," the American pro Tom Pernice, a member of the policy board, said yesterday. "She hasn't done anything wrong. She has a right to be here but a lot of players disagree with it."

Pernice, a journeyman with two career victories in 16 years on the US tour, might not have the reputation of Vijay Singh, who described Sorenstam's appearance at the Colonial as "ridiculous", but his position as one of the four player representatives on the policy board gives him an influence far beyond his standing as a player.

Ironically, the 43-year-old Pernice was singled out by Sorenstam this week as "being very, very friendly", apparently hugging the Swede on the practice range and telling her: "Good to see you, have a great week and don't hesitate to ask for help." With help like that, who needs hindrance.

In Pernice's defence, there were others on the practice range who were not only less helpful towards Sorenstam - who steadfastly refused to respond in kind to her critics - but were downright insulting. First prize for chauvinism went to the tour rookie Arron Oberholser (career wins: 0), who said of the inclusion of Sorenstam (career wins: 43): "If she makes the cut, maybe they'll give her more invitations. Let's say she has God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost on her side and if she wins - because it would take an act of divine intervention for her to win - then she's a member of the PGA tour. All hell will break loose."

Hell - or otherwise - will start to break loose at 8.58am local time (1.58pm BST) today, when Sorenstam tees off on the 10th hole alongside Dean Wilson and Aaron Barber. She can take comfort from the fact that the fans - if not perhaps some of the players - will be rooting for her to perform well.