Thursday, July 24, 2008

Why there's life after Annika

IN a week's time the leading lady golfers on the planet will converge on Sunningdale for the Women's British Open.
It will be the last Major in which Annika Sorenstam appears as the Swedish legend is retiring at the end of this season.
It is a significant blow to the ladies' game. Look at the fuss being made of Tiger Woods missing our Open Championship and the US PGA a month later. Imagine him being gone from the game forever?
Pretty scary stuff. No matter what we might like to think, Birkdale last week did miss a Tiger stalking the fairways (producing miracle recoveries out of the deep rough).
The ladies' game is however well equipped to deal with Annika's absence. There are many, many good candidates to fill the void.
For a start, she isn't even the best player in the world anymore. That honour belongs to Lorena Ochoa, who looks capable of dominating the game in a similar manner to that of Annika in the last 10 years.
But she will have plenty of challengers. Norway's Suzann Pettersen is a classy, consistent performer these days, Paula Creamer is showing her very best form again and Morgan Pressel definitely has more than one Major in her.
Then there is the Asian contingent. They have stars of past, present and future making their way at home and on the LPGA Tour. Expect the conveyor belt of talent to continue.
Stacy Lewis of America and Maria Uribe from Colombia are two stars of the amateur game set to take the paid ranks by storm.
Do Britain have anyone with a hope of making an impression on these stars? Yes, actually.
Melissa Reid and Kiran Matharu are the two most exciting talents to emerge since Laura Davies and Ali Nicholas. They are progressing in Europe with one eye on America.
And don't rule out Rebecca Hudson from making a slightly late charge to the top of the ladies' game. After a stellar amateur career she struggled initially on tour but is now excelling.
The future is bright all round, even without the departing Annika.
By Chris Bertram

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree with most of your predictions about the imminent departure of the best lady golfer about. Her retirement will surely see a flurry of fresh talent breaking the ranks and emerging onto the scene and competing in the big events, Melissa Reid for example is a phenomenal talent as you point out.

I would have loved to have seen Tiger grace Royal Birkdale with his prowess, however, if he was present would we have seen Normans herculean efforts? Or more to the point, would Norman have recieved the praise he so rightly merited? I don't think he would have done. When Tiger is in the field the world watches Tiger and the field are constantly looking over their shoulder's. I feel that this is the same with Annika. Although she is a great role model and sportswomen, her retirement will pave the way for the new generation and level the playing field.

Anonymous said...

I agree with most of the above comment but I'm not so sure that Annika's departure will make much difference.

At first she will, of course, be missed. I assume that there will be the feeling of emptiness perhaps with her not been around. She had, after all, dominated the ladies game for so long and I'm fairly sure there is an aura about her much in the same way that there is with Tiger. In recent times though I feel she has struggled a little to keep up with the pace of the likes of Ochoa, Pettersen et al so now is probably the right time to close the curtains on what has been a magnificent career. Perhaps she could go on to become a coach?? It would be great for her to still be involved in the game she loves so much.

Anonymous said...

Out with the old, in with the new. it's the circle of life.

Anonymous said...

As long as I can keep on looking at Michelle Wie's great legs - who cares !

Myrtle Beach Golf said...

I think this will not effecting much. so much players are there who all are better to eachother infact, they attract the attention towards themselves.