After lots of speculation, Sorenstam announced she would accept a sponsor's exemption to play in the Colonial, which takes place May 22-25 at the club Ben Hogan made famous.
Sorenstam will be the first female participant in a PGA Tour event since Babe Didrickson Zaharias played (and made the 36-hole cut) in the 1945 Los Angeles Open.
What does this mean for Sorenstam and the LPGA Tour? In an earlier article, I opined that it would not be good for the LPGA Tour for Sorenstam (or any other top female player) to start skipping LPGA Tour events in order to play in PGA Tour events.
And indeed, that's what Sorenstam will be doing to play in the Colonial. The LPGA Corning Classic takes place the same weekend.
But the question everyone wants to see answered is this: How will she do playing against the best men in the world?
While it's highly unlikely Sorenstam will be a threat to win, don't completely discount the idea of her placing highly. Yes, she will have a huge disadvantage in power and distance. But two of the shortest hitters on the PGA Tour - Loren Roberts and Brad Faxon - have done quite a bit of winning in their careers.
The Colonial will set up well for Sorenstam's strength - accuracy. It will also, however, be much longer, with higher rough and much firmer and faster greens that she is accustomed to playing on the LPGA.
Can she win? Very unlikely. Can she make the cut? Of course she can - if she has a good week. The pressure will be tremendous, however.
And if Sorenstam performs well and wants to continue playing PGA Tour events, then like every other golfer who dreams of making it to the "show," she should go through PGA Tour Qualifying School next year.
An Annika Sorenstam who skips LPGA events to play in PGA events and then struggles is a very bad thing for the LPGA Tour.
And while it will be bad for the LPGA Tour either way if Sorenstam does this too often, it would be a huge boost in interest and attention for women's golf if she can do well in the Colonial.
Sorenstam, keep in mind, has won more golf tournaments than anyone in the world - yes, even more than Tiger Woods - over the past two years.
Can she scare the leaders? Don't count on it. But don't bet against her either.
