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CNN Live Saturday

Interview With Susan Reed

Aired May 24, 2003 - 18:30   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Annika Sorenstam has left the Colonial Open without a paycheck, but she can hardly call her historic week a total loss. Along the way, she's gathered some fans, including President Bush, and new recognition as the first woman in 58 years to play on the PGA tour. CNN's Sean Callebs reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The determination was there, even if the consistency was not. Annika Sorenstam's personal challenge, an effort to elevate her game, will end at 36 holes.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: You know, I tested myself, from start to finish, and that's -- that's why I'm here, so -- I have a lot to be proud of.

CALLEBS: What did the world's best female golfer learn playing in front of a supportive enormous gallery, and a TV audience of millions?

SORENSTAM: I'm emotionally drained right now, because I've given it all I had.

CALLEBS: Annika was the big draw at (UNINTELLIGIBLE), energizing the Colonial crowd and leaving the gallery entertained, supportive and sympathetic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, I think, she did the best she could. I thought it was great for her.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a great opportunity for her to show what a great golfer she is.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's held her head high and just marched on down field.

CALLEBS: The "Go, Annika" buttons will be tucked away for posterity. Sorenstam has said competing against PGA tour players would be a one time only challenge for her.

SORENSTAM: But I just feel very fortunate for what I do, and, you know, for me to come here and get the opportunity to really push myself and live my dream.

CALLEBS (on camera): Annika, showing her human side, finishing at five over, saying she wasn't as tough as she thought she was. It would be easy to find an army of supporters out here who would challenge that. She did not win any prize money, but did win legions of new fans.

Sean Callebs, CNN, Ft. Worth, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: If I would take a closer look at Annika Sorenstam's performance at the Colonial, and what her historic appearance there means for female athletes in general. Our guest is Susan Reed, editor of "Golf for Women" magazine, and she joins us now from New York. Good to see you, Susan.

SUSAN REED, GOLF FOR WOMEN: Good to see you, too.

WHITFIELD: Well, one small step for Annika Sorenstam, a giant leap, say so many, for female athletes. Do you agree with that?

REED: I do, absolutely. I think that her performance there was really inspirational and fascinating and instructive and, most of all, brave, really. But I think that what she showed was that, you know, she had the guts to take her game out and see how good she could be against the best in the world, who are the men. And I think that she showed that she had the game to play on the same field, as they do.

WHITFIELD: Yes, and, you know, she beat out 11 men, she did not quite make it to that next step like she wanted to, but, you know, she has to feel pretty good about the achievement that she has made that she has played on the equal playing field with those guys. You know, on a longer course, a much more rigorous course than she is used to competing.

REED: Well, that's right, and also, you know, I mean, I was watching, when she teed of on Thursday morning, and I have to say, I was really surprised at how excited and nervous I was, which I think anybody who was watching was. But, you know, she was -- she was on the leader board that morning with, you know, the top 10 players in the tournament.

WHITFIELD: She said she was nervous, she admits to that, and she even admits to feeling rather disappointed. Do you think, in part, because she is a competitor, she said she wants to get out there and she wants to win, but at the same time, you know, there were such great expectations. Do you think, in some way, she feels like she let down a lot of her supporters and particularly women athletes?

REED: No, I don't think she feels like she let them down at all. She probably feels like she could have done better on Friday, and -- but she said, you know, she was so nervous, and, I think, overwhelmed and exhausted by the first day. She said when she gets really nervous, she loses the touch in her hands, and so, her -- you know, her chipping and putting were week on Friday. And that's why she missed the cut, but she did not miss it by that much. And I think she'll take it as a challenge to herself, to get even tougher. WHITFIELD: Right. And she even admitted that she was very nervous and understandably so. There were hundreds of photographers, and the world is watching, and one of the largest, you know, turnout for folks at each hole she seemed to play. Even Tiger Woods, when he, you know, first gained such great popularity, he even complained that it was quite a bit of a distraction.

REED: Oh, it's a huge distraction. But you know what? The greatest athletes in the world really thrive and are kind of, you know, challenged by performing under that pressure, and that's why she put herself in that situation, because she wants to go out and win majors on the LPGA tour, which is where she is going back to next week. And she wants to make history on the LPGA tour. And I think being in this huge (UNINTELLIGIBLE) under that kind of pressure. When she goes back to the women's tour, look out.

WHITFIELD: Yes, well, you know, everyone has to agree, she's an amazing athlete and she showed, you know, incredible fortitude out there, and real fight. And you know, she's got 43 victories under her belt in the LPGA. She is already said, though, it's not likely that she wants to play again with the PGA. Do you think she is going to change her mind on that?

REED: I don't, actually. Because I think that Annika is very motivated by her own goals, and her goal here was to go out and test herself, and then take her game back to the women's tour. What I think was really wonderful about this was the attention that she brought to her game and the women's game. And also, you know, she's kind --- she's been criticized for being sort of uncharismatic and kind of a robot, and I think everybody got to see the real Annika...

WHITFIELD: Yes, we saw the charisma.

REED: ... in the last two days. And, you know what, she is so genuine and so gracious, and so classy. And I think that was a win for everybody.

WHITFIELD: Yes, no doubt about that. Susan Reed, thanks very much, appreciate it, and I know folks were routing for her in great numbers and they continue to do so as she goes on to the next big tournament, LPGA or otherwise. Thanks a lot, Susan.

REED: Thank you.

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 24, 2003 - 18:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Annika Sorenstam has left the Colonial Open without a paycheck, but she can hardly call her historic week a total loss. Along the way, she's gathered some fans, including President Bush, and new recognition as the first woman in 58 years to play on the PGA tour. CNN's Sean Callebs reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The determination was there, even if the consistency was not. Annika Sorenstam's personal challenge, an effort to elevate her game, will end at 36 holes.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: You know, I tested myself, from start to finish, and that's -- that's why I'm here, so -- I have a lot to be proud of.

CALLEBS: What did the world's best female golfer learn playing in front of a supportive enormous gallery, and a TV audience of millions?

SORENSTAM: I'm emotionally drained right now, because I've given it all I had.

CALLEBS: Annika was the big draw at (UNINTELLIGIBLE), energizing the Colonial crowd and leaving the gallery entertained, supportive and sympathetic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, I think, she did the best she could. I thought it was great for her.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a great opportunity for her to show what a great golfer she is.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's held her head high and just marched on down field.

CALLEBS: The "Go, Annika" buttons will be tucked away for posterity. Sorenstam has said competing against PGA tour players would be a one time only challenge for her.

SORENSTAM: But I just feel very fortunate for what I do, and, you know, for me to come here and get the opportunity to really push myself and live my dream.

CALLEBS (on camera): Annika, showing her human side, finishing at five over, saying she wasn't as tough as she thought she was. It would be easy to find an army of supporters out here who would challenge that. She did not win any prize money, but did win legions of new fans.

Sean Callebs, CNN, Ft. Worth, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: If I would take a closer look at Annika Sorenstam's performance at the Colonial, and what her historic appearance there means for female athletes in general. Our guest is Susan Reed, editor of "Golf for Women" magazine, and she joins us now from New York. Good to see you, Susan.

SUSAN REED, GOLF FOR WOMEN: Good to see you, too.

WHITFIELD: Well, one small step for Annika Sorenstam, a giant leap, say so many, for female athletes. Do you agree with that?

REED: I do, absolutely. I think that her performance there was really inspirational and fascinating and instructive and, most of all, brave, really. But I think that what she showed was that, you know, she had the guts to take her game out and see how good she could be against the best in the world, who are the men. And I think that she showed that she had the game to play on the same field, as they do.

WHITFIELD: Yes, and, you know, she beat out 11 men, she did not quite make it to that next step like she wanted to, but, you know, she has to feel pretty good about the achievement that she has made that she has played on the equal playing field with those guys. You know, on a longer course, a much more rigorous course than she is used to competing.

REED: Well, that's right, and also, you know, I mean, I was watching, when she teed of on Thursday morning, and I have to say, I was really surprised at how excited and nervous I was, which I think anybody who was watching was. But, you know, she was -- she was on the leader board that morning with, you know, the top 10 players in the tournament.

WHITFIELD: She said she was nervous, she admits to that, and she even admits to feeling rather disappointed. Do you think, in part, because she is a competitor, she said she wants to get out there and she wants to win, but at the same time, you know, there were such great expectations. Do you think, in some way, she feels like she let down a lot of her supporters and particularly women athletes?

REED: No, I don't think she feels like she let them down at all. She probably feels like she could have done better on Friday, and -- but she said, you know, she was so nervous, and, I think, overwhelmed and exhausted by the first day. She said when she gets really nervous, she loses the touch in her hands, and so, her -- you know, her chipping and putting were week on Friday. And that's why she missed the cut, but she did not miss it by that much. And I think she'll take it as a challenge to herself, to get even tougher. WHITFIELD: Right. And she even admitted that she was very nervous and understandably so. There were hundreds of photographers, and the world is watching, and one of the largest, you know, turnout for folks at each hole she seemed to play. Even Tiger Woods, when he, you know, first gained such great popularity, he even complained that it was quite a bit of a distraction.

REED: Oh, it's a huge distraction. But you know what? The greatest athletes in the world really thrive and are kind of, you know, challenged by performing under that pressure, and that's why she put herself in that situation, because she wants to go out and win majors on the LPGA tour, which is where she is going back to next week. And she wants to make history on the LPGA tour. And I think being in this huge (UNINTELLIGIBLE) under that kind of pressure. When she goes back to the women's tour, look out.

WHITFIELD: Yes, well, you know, everyone has to agree, she's an amazing athlete and she showed, you know, incredible fortitude out there, and real fight. And you know, she's got 43 victories under her belt in the LPGA. She is already said, though, it's not likely that she wants to play again with the PGA. Do you think she is going to change her mind on that?

REED: I don't, actually. Because I think that Annika is very motivated by her own goals, and her goal here was to go out and test herself, and then take her game back to the women's tour. What I think was really wonderful about this was the attention that she brought to her game and the women's game. And also, you know, she's kind --- she's been criticized for being sort of uncharismatic and kind of a robot, and I think everybody got to see the real Annika...

WHITFIELD: Yes, we saw the charisma.

REED: ... in the last two days. And, you know what, she is so genuine and so gracious, and so classy. And I think that was a win for everybody.

WHITFIELD: Yes, no doubt about that. Susan Reed, thanks very much, appreciate it, and I know folks were routing for her in great numbers and they continue to do so as she goes on to the next big tournament, LPGA or otherwise. Thanks a lot, Susan.

REED: Thank you.

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