Oh yeah, Annika's in rare form! It's fantastic to see her playing so well - I just love it.

Knocking out all the competition with authority, Annika Sorenstam set a new tournament record at the Michelob Ultra at Kingsmill in Virginia. 64-66-69-66=265 (-19)! How's that for dominance? Impressive, to say the least. And yes, Lorena Ochoa was there. So was Paula Creamer. It wasn't an easy field, but Annika made it look that way.

So if you thought Annika was down for the count with the young guns taking over, think again. Paula and Annika were tied with 2 wins each coming into this tournament, and Annika took the lead with three. The total purse for the event was $2.2 million, with the winner receiving $330K. Ochoa may be dominating overall, but Annika's hot on her tail, has great momentum and means business.

Meanwhile, the top two finishers alone in The Players Championship on the PGA Tour this weekend earned more than the entire purse value of the Michelob Ultra. Garcia won >$1.7 million, Goydos took home >$1 million and the total purse was $9.5 million. This disparity doesn't just happen when it's the "5th major" on the PGA Tour vs. a 6-year young event on the LPGA. It happens every week. But there I go again.

Getting back to the point - Annika just reminded everyone that she is still capable of dominating any given event and is hungry to be #1 again.

As I've said before, I'd love to see her do it. She's confident, professional and humble, and demonstrates all of the above in her own blog including her most recent post about winning.

This lady's got more than hunger and talent, she has heart and a lot of great golf still to play. Plus, she's got class.

www.thegolfchick.com

The casting call has gone out for the ABC show Wife Swap and this time they're looking for a golf family.

Here is how the casting producer describes the show:

"The premise of Wife Swap is to take two different families and have the moms switch places to experience how another family lives. Half of the week, mom lives the life of the family she is staying with. Then she introduces a "rule change" where she implements rules and activities that are important to her family. It's a positive experience for people to not only learn but teach about other families and other ways of life."

I'm guessing a "rule change" could involve a change in frequency of golf related activities, but what do I know? I'm not a wife. If the wife is the bigger golfer, she could implement a "must golf on Saturday" rule.  If she's a "golf widow" it could go the other way.

To compensate you for filming an episode of the show, your family will receive $20,000 and quite possibly a life changing experience. To qualify, a family must consist of two parents and at least one child between 7 and 17 and reside in the continental U.S. There may be more children of varying ages but at least one must fit in that range.

The Wife Swap website doesn't mention the golf angle in the application information but if you're interested, please contact me at kristen (at) thegolfchick (dot) com and I will send along a referral for you.

And if you'd like to check out the show first, it's on tonight - Wednesday - at 8 PM (7 central) on ABC.

www.thegolfchick.com

What do you get when you put All-Star athletes, golf chicks & bloggers, social networking, and charity golf all together? A fabulous golf event called "Team Challenge."

What and why

Using the same tournment format and interactive technology for fan participation as the Pro Team Golf League, Team Challenge pits 4 teams against one another to determine which other major sport churns out the better golfers. Smack talk won't raise money for charity, their skills will. The purse is $250,000, with 100K of it going to the winning team.

How you can get involved

You can take part in all the action and help raise that fund as well! You can virtually "coach" the team of your choice and for every participant who chooses the winner, another $1 will be added to the purse for charities. Read more about how on the Team Challenge website.

When and where

The two-day event will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net on June 7th & 8th from the Eagle Falls Golf Course, Fantasy Springs Resort Hotel & Casino, in Palm Springs, California. Charles Barkley is the commissioner of the event and according to the press release, is a "non-playing" Team Captain of the basketball foursome. Maybe we'll get to see his infamous swing in the Pro-Am.

Who else

And what about the golf chicks and bloggers? Jay Flemma will be on the scene and, schedule permitting,  yours truly will be there along with the Golf Girl and Tony from Hooked on Golf and The Golf Space, if they can make it.

Stay tuned to Team Challenge as well as here and on The Golf Chick for updates to player and event information.

www.thegolfchick.com

There is no debating the rich history and prestige of Augusta National and The Masters. The golf course is spectacular and the tournament is a favorite among many fans and players around the world. Winning the event is considered one of the greatest honors in golf. The green jacket is indeed coveted.

Though I enjoy watching it, the feminist in me can't help but feel guilty for it. Though women can play at Augusta if they're accompanying a member, they cannot themselves be members. I actually don't fault the club if they choose to have that policy. Private organizations can include and exclude who they choose. And it's not like anyone can simply apply for membership at Augusta. It's an extremely exclusive club with maybe 300 members, and if one is deemed worthy, they will be sent an invitation to join along with a bill for dues.

I understand that over the years, African-Americans and Jews have even been invited for membership thanks to their community standing and perhaps the effect of societal changes. Politics, religion, and financial standing are probably typical factors when men are being considered for such an invitation and I don't suppose an invite would arrive in one's mailbox unexpected. Existing member endorsement, lobbying, promotion, and member voting probably occur long before a prospective member gets the nod. I understand all that. It's a private club. I just wish that Spanky and Our Gang would take down the "no girls allowed" sign and grant women the privilege of being brought up for consideration and vetoed by members for the same reasons as men.

Perhaps one day, in wildest dreams, there will be a wealthy, Christian, republican, anti-feminist woman who will be invited to be a member at Augusta. I won't wait by my mailbox. As for a woman being invited to play at The Masters? Climate change will sooner destroy the esteemed course.

There was a green jacket promo aired during the coverage of the tournament in which Arnold Palmer says something like winning The Masters is one of the greatest accomplishements "a golfer" can achieve. I did a spit-take with my tea and almost expelled my pimento cheese sandwich on that one. I guess women are not even considered golfers. Sorry, Arnie. It's only the higest honor for male golfers.

www.thegolfchick.com

Anyone can play golf. You don’t need to be the greatest athlete or in the best shape to score well. Little people can hit the ball far. All you have to do is "pure it." I know: easier said than done. No matter what stage you are in your game – beginner to scratch – a solid mental game and cool demeanor will help you execute your shots from tee to green more consistently. Giant muscles will not.

Of course there are benefits to maintaining a strong, healthy body, not just in life, but in golf. You might get a little more distance even on slight mis-hits, you’ll be better able to power the ball out of thick rough, and stamina and endurance will help you maintain a solid level of play whether you ride in a cart for nine holes or walk 72 like the pros. And while there are custom cocktails of drugs out there that can help form a lean, toned physique rather than a beefy, muscled-up freakshow, if a golfer is only going to take one drug to improve his or her game, I think they’d be better off with one that enhances the mental game.

Though I couldn’t tell you their names, I know there are plenty of pharmacological products that could have a positive effect on one’s golf game. A recent article in Men’s Vogue tells the story of the writer’s experience playing golf while on a beta-blocker with positive results. Knowing that I’m not alone in my addiction to golf itself, I can only imagine how experiencing success on a golf course with a drug like that could be dangerously addictive, especially considering the health risks and side effects involved. Which is why, tempting as it is, you won’t find me experimenting like the author of that article.

Besides, beta blockers lower the heart rate and create a calming effect. They inhibit the stimulation of the beta receptors that produce performance anxiety symptoms, and performance anxiety isn’t exactly a problem of mine. Any anxiety I do feel is usually only when I’m competing, and is just the kind of stimulation I thrive on that I’ve found actually helps me stay sharp and score better, so any positive result I might notice simply from maintaining an even, zombie-like demeanor throughout a round would probably be canceled out. I guess it’s probably contraindicated for me. Besides, going around the course like a robot doesn’t sound like much fun. I’d rather score a few strokes higher and enjoy the highs and lows of my day. But I’m just an avid, casual golfer. If golf was my job, I might feel differently. At that level, the margin of separation is so minute, any advantage might be too tempting. But both the LPGA and the PGA are implementing anti-doping policies and beta-blockers are on both their lists of prohibited substances along with other "calming agents" like marijuana.

What do you think? As an amateur golfer, are you tempted to try it? Would you be if there were no health risks involved?

www.thegolfchick.com

It seems not everyone is buying into the idea that Tiger Woods is a human being, though Golfgal remains a believer. :) Fellow blogger William Wolfrum recently posted about the Hoax that is Tiger Woods, including the involvement of George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg. And Tony over at Hooked on Golf hints at Tiger's alien beginnings with a video snippet of Tiger in a space suit. (I got that email from Gatorade's PR machine, too, but I need more data to work it into my own theory.)

Back in 2006, I posited my own theories on Tiger, which had him being a robot, an alien and a changeling all at once. Pretty much everything but human. And he just keeps getting more and more dominant.

While Golfgal thinks Tiger's exuberant reaction to yet another dramtic win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend was a spontaneous (and human) response, I thought it was quite choreographed. He can't do the fist pump every time.

Tiger needed to make up some ground on Saturday and he would have shot 7 under if he needed to, but thanks to Vijay faltering at 3 over that day, Tiger kept it modest and dramatic by only shooting the required -4. Evidently, he was instructed to win but not by a landslide, and I think his leaders originally had a playoff in mind. Then before his putt on the 18th hole on Sunday, they had a little extrasensory (and invisible) conversation that went something like this:

Alien leader: We've already discussed this. You know we'd really like to see a playoff here. Your humanity is being questioned already.

Tiger: People expect dramatic putts from me. Besides, why play another hole or two and then make it exciting? Why not do it right here?

Alien Leader: Gpr8#kl2, we have this all worked out. We'll blink up your fuel cell while you're turning in your card, then you match strokes with the human for one hole and take him down on the next.

Tiger: No, listen... uh... respectfully, Your Grace. I have a new move I can use. It will look spontaneous. When people see my putt heading for the hole, they'll be expecting the standard fist pump. I'll take it up a notch - I've been running the internal simulations since the 15th hole so I've got it down. I stare down the ball while backing up as if I'm willing it into the hole and when it sinks, I suddenly remove my Nike cap and throw it on the ground! Uploading simulation to you now.

Alien Leader: Removing the Funders' headgear... interesting. Realistic, even...

Tiger: Yes, as though we're - I mean I - am not concerned about displaying the Logo during a win. Until I put it back on, of course. Isn't that human?

Alien Leader: Yes, and it will be a good opportunity to showcase our new "aged" hair pattern we've been working on. Okay, Gpr8#kl2, you are hereby authorized to proceed with this amended plan. Sink that putt and show everyone your moves.

And there you have it. As for Gatorade's involvement, I'm not sure where they're going with the space suit angle, but the video of Tiger's testing (including lots of electrodes and "human" sweat) tells me they're definitely in on it, knowingly or not.

www.thegolfchick.com

Ko'Olina is a beautiful golf course. Its grooming is immaculate. It has pretty water features. The service is what you'd expect from a nice resort. It smells good. It's in Hawaii. All reasons tourists and casual golfers - myself included - enjoy playing there. But I just don't get why the LPGA would select it for a tournament.

It's flat. It's wide open. The greens are almost as friendly as the service. A championship golf course? I think they're getting fast and loose with that classification, informal though it may be. Professional golfers should mop up that course like janitors on speed, and many of them did, especially Paula Creamer, who won the Fields Open this weekend (a three day event) at 16 under.

The women played from 6,519 yards. That's behind the "regular" tees (6,450), which have a course rating of 70.5 for men. The "championship" tees play to a maximum 6,867 yards and are rated 72.3 for men. For those of you who don't know, that is the number of strokes it should take a scratch golfer to complete the course. It's usually a couple strokes higher for women's ratings. So if we take the "regular" tees rating, add 2 for the gender difference and, oh, let's say .2 for the extra yardage, that's a rating of 72.7.* Par is 72. In the Fields Open, you have to go down to 58th place to see a golfer shoot even par. And I'd guess some of those women would actually be playing off a single digit handicap if they weren't pros. That's a lot of numbers and even a little math (I think I violated a restraining order there and probably argued against my point) but my point is, the course is too easy for pros.

*One little twist that could explain some of the higher numbers at the bottom of the pack is that these ratings are for scratch players, not pros. This makes a difference because they hit it farther and that can either eliminate or bring into play obstacles that were rated differently for the scratch player.

You won't catch the men playing a course like that. Heck, even from its maximum 6,867 yards, Tiger could probably go 'round it in 53 strokes. And just to throw a few more numbers while I'm feeling frisky, I'll conservatively estimate that Tiger would play to a +10. The USGA doesn't calculate handicaps to that level, but at their max of 3.5, they add another .5 for the 135 slope rating. So, 72.3 - 10.5 = 61.8. Yikes.

A little real-life perspective: I played Ko'Olina when I was a fresh beginner of 6 months with a 28.8 index. I played from the forward tees (71.8/126) which gave me a course handicap of 32, so my target score to play exactly to it was 104. I played it twice the same day and shot 100, then 95 (-4 and -9 net). Yes, I posted them both! From an article by Ross Goodner (Golf Digest) I found on the Pope of Slope:

The average golfer beats his handicap by only 2.7 strokes as his BEST score in 20 rounds. Fewer than nine percent of golfers ever beat their handicap by six strokes, and only two percent have ever beat it by nine strokes.

So I had two improbable rounds because of my stellar concentration (check it out -  that's just a practice swing!) or this course needs to be re-rated. And the pros need to leave it to the amateurs. And I need to play like I did when I was a beginner, but that's another story.

I still love the ladybug!

www.thegolfchick.com

You know the saying: "Behind every great man there is a great woman."

Well, behind every great golfer there is a great team, and the players take the time to recognize that whenever they win a tournament. This weekend, I watched as Phil Mickelson beat out most of the top golfers of the world (glaring exception noted) and proceeded to thank his troops as he claimed his prize on the 18th green at Riviera.

After all, being number 2 in the world doesn't mean you always win when number 1 isn't around. But it all came together for Phil at the Northern Trust Open.

Of course there are his coaches, trainers, "Bones" and family to thank, but at this tournament, he threw in a little someone extra. Oh, just a little Hall of Fame golfer who walked the course with him on Wednesday and gave him pointers, with particular regards to the greens. So with the same breath he used to thank his beautiful wife, Amy, he thanked his secret weapon, Amy Alcott.

Phil thanks the two Amys.

Amy Alcott knows Rivera Country Club well. It has been her home course since the age of 13. And with her history of professional wins (32 -- same as Phil) including five majors (Phil has time to catch up), along with her reputation for creative shot making (just like Phil), she definitely has the credentials to counsel an already great golfer. That he ultimately won is a testament to her skills and knowledge. Having so much in common with each other must make for a pretty smooth relationship, which can't hurt either.

I can only hope that in her upcoming book, set to come out this spring (Spiked Shoes: Golf Lessons, Life Lessons) she will share some tidbits to help the rest of us.

Meanwhile, she's got some articles out there (linked from her official site) with great tips like this GFW piece on chipping.

Congratulations to Phil Mickelson. It was great to see him win. I get teased for being a Phil fan, but I can't help it. I'm a sucker for a great smile.

Check it out - I think Amy's looking at me like she knows I could've been a contender.

www.thegolfchick.com

A lot of women are looking forward to this Thursday, February 14th, but instead of hearts and flowers, they'll be seeking birdies in Hawaii.

Yes, Valentine's Day marks the official start of the LPGA 2008 season. The ladies will be battling it out at the SBS Open on the Palmer Course at Turtle Bay, a beautiful and romantic backdrop for their endeavor. The impressive field includes most of the 2007 top money earners with a notable exception of No. 1  -- Lorena Ochoa. But last year's winner, Paula Creamer, still has her work cut out for her in defending her title.

Not that I'm rooting against Paula, per se, but it sure would be nice to see Annika Sorenstam get off to a strong start toward what I'd like to be able to define at the end of the year as a dominant, if not magical, season.

There are plenty of other golfers who aim to get in their way, including Suzann Petterson, Cristie Kerr, Morgan Pressel, Natalie Gulbis, Jeong Jang, and much of the rest of the 2007 Solheim Cup teams. This should be a compelling competition to watch.

I also enjoy watching this tournament simply because of the golf course. I've played it, and it really is breathtaking, not to mention quite a challenge. I even have fond romantic memories from certain locations on the course. Ahem. Prime spots aren't difficult to find when you're out there. And the air in Hawaii is conducive to passion a warm, fuzzy feeling. Although when you rip that 5-iron for your approach shot, you might curse that air for gusting and diverting your ball into a bunker. Then you'll shake it off, remember you're not competing for a $1.1 million dollar purse, and just enjoy where you are.

Speaking of the purse, it kind of sounds impressive at first, until you realize that money is split between 85 players with the winner receiving a paltry $165,000. For a quick disparity check, the first event of 2008 on the PGA Tour had a $5.5 million purse and the winner -- Daniel Chopra -- received $1.1 million: notice that's the entire purse for the LPGA's first event.

What was I talking about? Oh yeah, my excitement about the event, the competition and the golf course.

The absence of a certain player whose home is in Hawaii hasn't escaped my attention either. I think I heard something about Michele Wie taking a break from college already to play some events this year, but she's not on the field list so evidently this isn't one of them. And I can't be bothered to pay much attention to her schedule or look it up.

My DVR will capture all the action the Golf Channel will allow (that's a whole 2.5 hours per day) so if I'm not playing locally or attending the nearby Northern Trust, I'll be rapt in this season opener. And I'm sure we can count on Paula Creamer to sport something pink to celebrate and remind us of the simultaneous Hallmark occasion as she tries to defend her title.

Go, Annika!

www.thegolfchick.com