Annika Sorenstam. The name has been in the news for the past three months. For people who have not yet heard the name, she is a Golf player. Why has she been in the news? She was only the second woman in the history of the game to compete in the men’s PGA tour. Also, this was 58 years after history was first written. Over the period of the last three months under intense media scrutiny she had to prepare for the game with the big boys of golf. And to top it all there were players like Vijay Singh who were outspoken in their criticism of her decision to play on the men’s tour.
What makes her special is that she held her own amidst all this. It is not so much a women’s issue that her decision has to be upheld. I am sure every woman is proud of her achievment, though she did not achieve much practically, except for challenging her competence and her game against the better players of the world. It is however important to understand that every man cheers for her too. It has always been the same in any field. When a convention is challenged, a convention that is traditional and unsheakable, when an impossible task lies ahead, and when the challenge is as emotional as it is, there are always cheers for the effort irrespective of the outcome and irrespective of the sex, culture, nationality and whatever else.
So when Annika Sorenstam went to play with the men, I was up despite working all night, just to watch her tee off. She deserved every bit of the appreciation she got from the crowd. Not since Stefi Graff have I seen a women player in any sport hold her grace and her smile as well as she did. And not since Babe Zaharias did a woman challenge the men in this sport. So this was history in the making and I am glad I cheered for her.
I wanted her to win, defy convention, and be a pathbreaking inspiration to many people, again irrespective of whatever sex, culture, religion or nationality. I wanted her to win so that tomorrow I could think, if a woman could go that distance and win, I can do it too. That is what every one amongst us cheered for. I It was a tremondous test to the spirit of MAN (not as in man and woman). I am glad she took the test. I know she did not get through, but that is beside the fact. Nobody expected her to win. That is where Vijay Singh was right in his criticism of her. She had nothing to lose and everything to gain. But he and the men had everything to lose and nothing to win. At least that was how it was made out to be. And that was unfair to everyone.
But well, it was a test of character and integrity and determination. I am glad Ms.Sorenstam took it, and I am glad she fought well. Hats of to her. It is not easy being under such intense media attention and yet, to hold your own, smile and play with such grace is no mean achievment.