EveryJoe » annika-sorenstam

Legends Helping With Golf’s Olympic Pitch

Jeff Greenwell — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:36:12 +0000

Golfing legends Annika Sorenstam and Colin Montgomerie, along with tour leaders from around the world, are preparing their case for golf’s inclusion in the Olympics starting in 2016. The group, known as the International Golf Federation (IGF) will present their pitch to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board this coming Monday, in the hopes that golf will make its return to the Olympic games for the first time since 1904.

Colin Montgomerie (Image: Zuma Press)

Golf is competing with baseball, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash for one of two available program spots in the 2016 Olympics and beyond.

The IGF has proposed that the top 15 players in the world rankings will gain automatic entry to the games, with the remaining spots filled by the highest-ranked players whose countries don’t have two players participating in the field. Under the IGF proposal, both men and women golfers will play a 72-hole stroke play tournament, with 60 players in the field. Three-hole playoffs will be used to determine medal placement.

The IGF group has the backing of 19 major tours and amateur federations in 121 countries. The IOC will make their decision at their annual session in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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Legends Helping With Golf’s Olympic Pitch

LPGA Championship Faces Uncertain Future

Jeff Greenwell — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:37:52 +0000

The ladies of the LPGA are getting ready to tee off in the season’s second major, the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, set to be played at Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre De Grace, Maryland. But the optimism the golfers may have as they prepare to tackle Bulle Rock is being offset by the anxiety and uncertainty many of them are feeling as the future of the tournament remains up in the air. As was announced last year by LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens, the championship is being taken over by the LPGA starting next year, a move that effectively ends a 29 year sponsorship run by McDonald’s. It also signals this year’s tournament as the final one to be played at Bulle Rock. At this time the LPGA has yet to determine the site of next year’s tourney, or whether any sponsors have come forward.

Paula Creamer (Image: Zuma Press)

Count world number three player Paula Creamer as one of those worried about the tournament’s future. “I am concerned,” Creamer told reporters this past Tuesday. “I’m 22 years old, this is my fifth year on Tour, and we don’t know where one of our majors is going to be. It’s a scary thought.”

This year’s LPGA Championship, however, is gearing up to be a dandy. Thanks to the absence of a clear cut favorite, a la Annika Sorenstam, the tournament is up for grabs. World number one Lorena Ochoa, fresh off a three week break, is looking to capture her third win of the year in only her ninth tournament. Other contenders include last year’s winner Yani Tseng from Taiwan, the aforementioned Creamer, and Maria Hjorth of Sweden.

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LPGA Championship Faces Uncertain Future

Sorenstam Expecting First Child

Sandy Mitchell — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 21:55:54 +0000

One of the reasons Swedish LPGA champ, Annika Sorenstam gave for retiring from golf last year was that she wanted to start a family. It appears that they wasted little time. The 38-year old Sorenstam announced today on her blog that she and husband, Mike Mcgee are expecting their first child in the fall.

“We have had a lot of exciting changes in the past few months, and adding a new addition to our family later this fall will certainly be at the top of that list,” Sorenstam said on her blog. “We are absolutely thrilled and look forward to this new chapter of our lives.”

Sorenstam was one of the most successful woman golfers in history. Before retiring in 2008, she had 70 career LPGA wins, including ten majors. She and McGee were married in January of 2009.

(photo credit: Newscom)

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Sorenstam Expecting First Child