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CNN Live At Daybreak

More Than 24 Hours Until Sorenstam Tees Off

Aired May 21, 2003 - 05:54   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: Still more than 24 hours until Annika Sorenstam tees off at the Bank of America Colonial. So you think we'll wait before we do any more Annika and the boys stories? No way.
Here's CNN's Josie Karp on the media frenzy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSIE KARP, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Annika Sorenstam faced her first major challenge at the Colonial on Tuesday away from the golf course. At a pre-tournament press conference, she sat for almost an hour in the glare of the spotlight and still had trouble comprehending that a decision she made three months ago led to this.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM, 43 CAREER PGA VICTORIES: I'm still overwhelmed and I can't believe how many of you guys are here. I mean, it's great. But I think when I accepted the invitation I must have been very naive. You know, I'm doing this to test myself and I didn't think everybody else wanted to test me at the same time.

CARP: Sorenstam said her goal when the tournament starts on Thursday is to shoot even par. If she does that, she'll likely make the cut, the measuring stick most experts are using to determine if her calculated risk is a success. Along the way, the world's best female golfer will have to prove she can withstand demands that are more than physical.

SORENSTAM: You know, mentally, I mean I've, you know, this is, you know, I like to compare myself maybe with a mountain climber. This will be Mount Everest for me and I believe I have practiced for this for years. And now I'm here and, you know, I've, you know, I personally feel like I've got nothing to lose. You know, nobody expects anything from me. You know, I expect to play well.

CARP: With her blonde ponytail and exclusive access to Colonial's ladies' locker room, playing well is the only way Sorenstam will fit in on this golf course.

SORENSTAM: This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I want to enjoy the week. And, you know, everything around it is so different than I'm used to. Obviously, playing with the guys, you guys, the golf course, that, you know, I'm in an environment that I'm not really used to. So, you know, those are factors that I have in the back of my mind.

CARP (on camera): To try to put Sorenstam's mind at ease, one high profile PGA tour player has been providing moral support. According to Sorenstam, Tiger Woods has called three times in the last week offering advice and letting her know that even though he's not here, he will be watching.

Josie Karp, CNN, Fort Worth.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: A good friend.

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 21, 2003 - 05:54   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Still more than 24 hours until Annika Sorenstam tees off at the Bank of America Colonial. So you think we'll wait before we do any more Annika and the boys stories? No way.
Here's CNN's Josie Karp on the media frenzy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSIE KARP, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Annika Sorenstam faced her first major challenge at the Colonial on Tuesday away from the golf course. At a pre-tournament press conference, she sat for almost an hour in the glare of the spotlight and still had trouble comprehending that a decision she made three months ago led to this.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM, 43 CAREER PGA VICTORIES: I'm still overwhelmed and I can't believe how many of you guys are here. I mean, it's great. But I think when I accepted the invitation I must have been very naive. You know, I'm doing this to test myself and I didn't think everybody else wanted to test me at the same time.

CARP: Sorenstam said her goal when the tournament starts on Thursday is to shoot even par. If she does that, she'll likely make the cut, the measuring stick most experts are using to determine if her calculated risk is a success. Along the way, the world's best female golfer will have to prove she can withstand demands that are more than physical.

SORENSTAM: You know, mentally, I mean I've, you know, this is, you know, I like to compare myself maybe with a mountain climber. This will be Mount Everest for me and I believe I have practiced for this for years. And now I'm here and, you know, I've, you know, I personally feel like I've got nothing to lose. You know, nobody expects anything from me. You know, I expect to play well.

CARP: With her blonde ponytail and exclusive access to Colonial's ladies' locker room, playing well is the only way Sorenstam will fit in on this golf course.

SORENSTAM: This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I want to enjoy the week. And, you know, everything around it is so different than I'm used to. Obviously, playing with the guys, you guys, the golf course, that, you know, I'm in an environment that I'm not really used to. So, you know, those are factors that I have in the back of my mind.

CARP (on camera): To try to put Sorenstam's mind at ease, one high profile PGA tour player has been providing moral support. According to Sorenstam, Tiger Woods has called three times in the last week offering advice and letting her know that even though he's not here, he will be watching.

Josie Karp, CNN, Fort Worth.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: A good friend.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com