Sorenstam's Dominance on Display
Sunday March 27, 2005
With Annika Sorenstam completely dominating the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship - running away from the field from the start of the third round - the most exciting thing that happened during the television broadcast of the final round was when Annika, sister Charlotta and their mother together took the traditional plunge into the lake off the 18th green.
Which begs the question: Is there at point at which Sorenstam's domination becomes so great that it actually starts to hurt the LPGA Tour?
I'm not sure of the answer to that question. But a helpful corollary - an indication of what might be going with Sorenstam and the LPGA Tour - can be found in Tiger Woods.
Recall that when Woods burst onto the PGA Tour at the end of 1996, his play, his personality, his power and his charisma won him near universal approval from golf fans. He was a phenomenon. True, Tiger wasn't universally loved, but there were very few golf fans who weren't happy to see him on the television screen.
Then Tiger become truly dominant in 1999, winning 8 times, and 2000, winning 9 times, and into 2001, when his "Tiger Slam" was completed. And you started hearing many golf fans complaining about how much attention Woods received from the television cameras.
He was so dominant that many golf fans started cheering for that golfer who goes by the name of "anyone-but-Tiger." It was a curious development: many golfers claimed they didn't like Woods anymore, yet TV ratings continued to skyrocket when Woods was in contention, and drop when he wasn't.
The anti-Tiger sentiment in some quarters was a Woods backlash.
I don't think we've seen a Sorenstam backlash yet. But if there is ever going to be one, it might be coming soon. While it's certainly possible to admire and appreciate a phenomonal talent such as Sorenstam - the greatest female golfer of all time - it doesn't make for an exciting tournament when she's running away with majors, essentially sewing them up by Saturday.
Is there at point at which Sorenstam's domination becomes so great that it actually starts to hurt the LPGA Tour? I don't know the answer to that question. But I do know that Sorenstam's domination shows no sign of waning, and no sign of being challenged.
Waning? The Kraft Nabisco victory was her fifth consecutive win in an LPGA event, tying Nancy Lopez's record for consecutive wins (albeit Sorenstam did it over two seasons). It was Annika's 59th career win and 8th career major.
Challengers?
Juli Inkster is too old. Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer are too young. Grace Park is held back by her back; Christie Kerr is held back by her head. Karrie Webb and Se Ri Pak have fallen too far off their peaks. Loreno Ochoa might have been the best candidate ... until she blew a 4-shot lead to Sorenstam with three holes to play two weeks ago. Ochoa was never a factor at the Kraft Nabisco. We'll have to wait and see how the 23-year-old Ochoa recovers from her Sorenstam-caused collapse.
The LPGA is the position of having a star who outshines the tour's other players by so much she dims the public perception of the tour.
See Also:
• More on Annika Sorenstam
• LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship final scores
Which begs the question: Is there at point at which Sorenstam's domination becomes so great that it actually starts to hurt the LPGA Tour?
I'm not sure of the answer to that question. But a helpful corollary - an indication of what might be going with Sorenstam and the LPGA Tour - can be found in Tiger Woods.
Recall that when Woods burst onto the PGA Tour at the end of 1996, his play, his personality, his power and his charisma won him near universal approval from golf fans. He was a phenomenon. True, Tiger wasn't universally loved, but there were very few golf fans who weren't happy to see him on the television screen.
Then Tiger become truly dominant in 1999, winning 8 times, and 2000, winning 9 times, and into 2001, when his "Tiger Slam" was completed. And you started hearing many golf fans complaining about how much attention Woods received from the television cameras.
He was so dominant that many golf fans started cheering for that golfer who goes by the name of "anyone-but-Tiger." It was a curious development: many golfers claimed they didn't like Woods anymore, yet TV ratings continued to skyrocket when Woods was in contention, and drop when he wasn't.
The anti-Tiger sentiment in some quarters was a Woods backlash.
I don't think we've seen a Sorenstam backlash yet. But if there is ever going to be one, it might be coming soon. While it's certainly possible to admire and appreciate a phenomonal talent such as Sorenstam - the greatest female golfer of all time - it doesn't make for an exciting tournament when she's running away with majors, essentially sewing them up by Saturday.
Is there at point at which Sorenstam's domination becomes so great that it actually starts to hurt the LPGA Tour? I don't know the answer to that question. But I do know that Sorenstam's domination shows no sign of waning, and no sign of being challenged.
Waning? The Kraft Nabisco victory was her fifth consecutive win in an LPGA event, tying Nancy Lopez's record for consecutive wins (albeit Sorenstam did it over two seasons). It was Annika's 59th career win and 8th career major.
Challengers?
Juli Inkster is too old. Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer are too young. Grace Park is held back by her back; Christie Kerr is held back by her head. Karrie Webb and Se Ri Pak have fallen too far off their peaks. Loreno Ochoa might have been the best candidate ... until she blew a 4-shot lead to Sorenstam with three holes to play two weeks ago. Ochoa was never a factor at the Kraft Nabisco. We'll have to wait and see how the 23-year-old Ochoa recovers from her Sorenstam-caused collapse.
The LPGA is the position of having a star who outshines the tour's other players by so much she dims the public perception of the tour.
See Also:
• More on Annika Sorenstam
• LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship final scores
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