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CNN Live At Daybreak
Vijay Singh Softens Initial Criticism
Aired May 14, 2003 - 05:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR:. In the world of golf, Vijay Singh has softened his initial criticism of Annika Sorenstam playing in next week's PGA tournament.
But as CNN's Josie Karp reports, the controversy is far from over.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSIE KARP, CNN CORRESPONDENT:. (voice-over):. The battle of the sexes has turned into a war of words. On Tuesday, golfer Vijay Singh said it was nothing personal, but he reiterated that he doesn't believe female gofer Annika Sorenstam should play in the PGA's Colonial Golf Tournament next week.
VIJAY SINGH, GOLFER:. This is a man's tour and there are guys out there who are trying to make a living so if she wants to play then she's supposed to, you know, she should -- or any woman, for that matter, if they want to play the man's tournament, they should qualify and play like everybody else.
There's no attack on Annika at all. I mean if, like I said, if I did and she, you know, I'd like to apologize to her. It was not put that way and it just came out the wrong way.
KARP:. Singh's comments are the boldest so far by a member of the men's tour. Singh doesn't want Sorenstam to play without qualifying. And, perhaps most telling, he doesn't want her to play better than him.
SINGH:. If I miss the cut, I'd rather she miss the cut, as well, you know, or hope she misses the cut because I don't want to go back and know that a woman beat me.
KARP:. Sorenstam has been unavailable for comment since winning a tournament in Japan on Sunday. But in the weeks leading up to the Colonial, she said some of the men on the tour have been more generous.
ANNIKA SORENSTAM, GOLFER:. You know, I had a chance to play with David Frost at the Colonial and he was very supportive. I was there and I played with Tiger. He was very positive, as well, and wished me good luck.
LEE JANSE, GOLFER:. I don't think it's a knock on the LPJ tour if she doesn't do well and I don't think it's a knock on us if she makes the cut. You know, it's a one time deal. It'll be forgotten about six months from now.
KARP:. But for now it's a big story that will only grow over the next eight days, until Sorenstam tees off with the men next Thursday. Already, CBS is planning an extra hour of its tournament coverage next weekend to document the Sorenstam saga, whether she makes the cut or not.
Josie Karp, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 14, 2003 - 05:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR:. In the world of golf, Vijay Singh has softened his initial criticism of Annika Sorenstam playing in next week's PGA tournament.
But as CNN's Josie Karp reports, the controversy is far from over.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSIE KARP, CNN CORRESPONDENT:. (voice-over):. The battle of the sexes has turned into a war of words. On Tuesday, golfer Vijay Singh said it was nothing personal, but he reiterated that he doesn't believe female gofer Annika Sorenstam should play in the PGA's Colonial Golf Tournament next week.
VIJAY SINGH, GOLFER:. This is a man's tour and there are guys out there who are trying to make a living so if she wants to play then she's supposed to, you know, she should -- or any woman, for that matter, if they want to play the man's tournament, they should qualify and play like everybody else.
There's no attack on Annika at all. I mean if, like I said, if I did and she, you know, I'd like to apologize to her. It was not put that way and it just came out the wrong way.
KARP:. Singh's comments are the boldest so far by a member of the men's tour. Singh doesn't want Sorenstam to play without qualifying. And, perhaps most telling, he doesn't want her to play better than him.
SINGH:. If I miss the cut, I'd rather she miss the cut, as well, you know, or hope she misses the cut because I don't want to go back and know that a woman beat me.
KARP:. Sorenstam has been unavailable for comment since winning a tournament in Japan on Sunday. But in the weeks leading up to the Colonial, she said some of the men on the tour have been more generous.
ANNIKA SORENSTAM, GOLFER:. You know, I had a chance to play with David Frost at the Colonial and he was very supportive. I was there and I played with Tiger. He was very positive, as well, and wished me good luck.
LEE JANSE, GOLFER:. I don't think it's a knock on the LPJ tour if she doesn't do well and I don't think it's a knock on us if she makes the cut. You know, it's a one time deal. It'll be forgotten about six months from now.
KARP:. But for now it's a big story that will only grow over the next eight days, until Sorenstam tees off with the men next Thursday. Already, CBS is planning an extra hour of its tournament coverage next weekend to document the Sorenstam saga, whether she makes the cut or not.
Josie Karp, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
