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Sorenstam Shoots 1-Over Par in First Round

Aired May 22, 2003 - 15:31   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: One birdie, two bogeys, 15 pars.
Hello, every one. I'm Kyra Phillips.

It adds up to 1-over par after 18 holes at the Colonial Invitational Golf Tournament in Texas. And for Annika Sorenstam, it's a huge relief. The first woman since Babe Didrikson Saharias to play in a PGA Tour event is well-positioned to make the cut.

CNN's Sean Callebs live from the links with the highlights. Sean, what a day.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, Kyra, it really adds up to just a spectacular, historic day of golf here at the Colonial and a beautiful day in FT. Worth.

She was a picture of composure and grace throughout her entire round, but Annika Sorenstam admits that she was really a bundle of nerves, including sweaty palms and even some nausea before she hit her first tee shot.

But in the end, she finished 1-over for the day, pleased with her opening round, although she now admits that she's putting herself through an ordeal that she said that was almost more than she could handle.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS (voice-over): With a disappointing bogey on her last hole, Sorenstam finished 1 over, but for now, the weight of the world off her shoulders.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM, 1-OVER PAR 18 HOLES: I'm so relieved to sit here. It's -- obviously, I'm very, very pleased with the way I played.

CALLEBS: If the world's best female golfer had butterflies, it didn't show on her first drive of the tournament. She split the fairway enroute to a string of pars before her first birdie.

Impressive, but Annika Sorenstam insists she's not trying to make a statement playing against the best men in the game.

SORENSTAM: I'm doing this to test myself and I didn't think every body else wanted to test me at the same time.

CALLEBS: Sorenstam has legions of fans following her every move and a host of critics detecting every shot.

These buttons are selling for $3 apiece. Commemorative golf balls, $20 a set.

The fans are enthusiastic.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's great for women's golf. I hope she makes the cut and she does well.

CALLEBS: And what would the legendary Ben Hogan think?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think -- he's maybe too traditional for this, as some of the golfers are. But I think that they don't realize that this is a form of entertainment.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS: Entertainment, indeed, but a way they make their living on the tour as well.

A winner of four majors on the LPGA, Sorenstam admits she has never seen a gallery like the one that followed her here on the opening day at the Colonial.

She says she hopes the anxiety can ease somewhat by Friday as she continues to push toward her goal of finishing at level par.

Kyra, any predictions? How do you think she's going to do tomorrow?

PHILLIPS: You know what? I think it will be par or better. I'm telling you, she's on fire. Talk about being in the zone. Don't you agree?

CALLEBS: Oh, without question. I still think this could -- she could have been 3 or 4 under. A lot of putts lipped out and I can guarantee she's going to be working on her short game here as the greens dry out, become a little faster, a little more slick, a little more treacherous. So she heads in tomorrow knowing what she's going to run into.

PHILLIPS: Well, Sean, you make a good point. Usually, the men are known as those ball strikers, but boy, she got up there and just whacked it off the tee and outdrove a lot of those men.

CALLEBS: Yes, she did. There were a few holes she was back significantly and she had to hit longer clubs into the green today than she'd anticipated. But, you know, it's hot here. It's breezy. The fairways are going to dry out. She's going to be hitting shorter irons in tomorrow. And with her short game, you know, anything could happen.

PHILLIPS: Well, she's definitely hot too. All right. Sean Callebs, 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 22, 2003 - 15:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: One birdie, two bogeys, 15 pars.
Hello, every one. I'm Kyra Phillips.

It adds up to 1-over par after 18 holes at the Colonial Invitational Golf Tournament in Texas. And for Annika Sorenstam, it's a huge relief. The first woman since Babe Didrikson Saharias to play in a PGA Tour event is well-positioned to make the cut.

CNN's Sean Callebs live from the links with the highlights. Sean, what a day.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, Kyra, it really adds up to just a spectacular, historic day of golf here at the Colonial and a beautiful day in FT. Worth.

She was a picture of composure and grace throughout her entire round, but Annika Sorenstam admits that she was really a bundle of nerves, including sweaty palms and even some nausea before she hit her first tee shot.

But in the end, she finished 1-over for the day, pleased with her opening round, although she now admits that she's putting herself through an ordeal that she said that was almost more than she could handle.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS (voice-over): With a disappointing bogey on her last hole, Sorenstam finished 1 over, but for now, the weight of the world off her shoulders.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM, 1-OVER PAR 18 HOLES: I'm so relieved to sit here. It's -- obviously, I'm very, very pleased with the way I played.

CALLEBS: If the world's best female golfer had butterflies, it didn't show on her first drive of the tournament. She split the fairway enroute to a string of pars before her first birdie.

Impressive, but Annika Sorenstam insists she's not trying to make a statement playing against the best men in the game.

SORENSTAM: I'm doing this to test myself and I didn't think every body else wanted to test me at the same time.

CALLEBS: Sorenstam has legions of fans following her every move and a host of critics detecting every shot.

These buttons are selling for $3 apiece. Commemorative golf balls, $20 a set.

The fans are enthusiastic.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's great for women's golf. I hope she makes the cut and she does well.

CALLEBS: And what would the legendary Ben Hogan think?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think -- he's maybe too traditional for this, as some of the golfers are. But I think that they don't realize that this is a form of entertainment.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS: Entertainment, indeed, but a way they make their living on the tour as well.

A winner of four majors on the LPGA, Sorenstam admits she has never seen a gallery like the one that followed her here on the opening day at the Colonial.

She says she hopes the anxiety can ease somewhat by Friday as she continues to push toward her goal of finishing at level par.

Kyra, any predictions? How do you think she's going to do tomorrow?

PHILLIPS: You know what? I think it will be par or better. I'm telling you, she's on fire. Talk about being in the zone. Don't you agree?

CALLEBS: Oh, without question. I still think this could -- she could have been 3 or 4 under. A lot of putts lipped out and I can guarantee she's going to be working on her short game here as the greens dry out, become a little faster, a little more slick, a little more treacherous. So she heads in tomorrow knowing what she's going to run into.

PHILLIPS: Well, Sean, you make a good point. Usually, the men are known as those ball strikers, but boy, she got up there and just whacked it off the tee and outdrove a lot of those men.

CALLEBS: Yes, she did. There were a few holes she was back significantly and she had to hit longer clubs into the green today than she'd anticipated. But, you know, it's hot here. It's breezy. The fairways are going to dry out. She's going to be hitting shorter irons in tomorrow. And with her short game, you know, anything could happen.

PHILLIPS: Well, she's definitely hot too. All right. Sean Callebs, 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