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LPGA gets huge boost from Bighorn
Updated: Monday July 30, 2001 2:31 PM
The Battle at Bighorn on Monday night will feature two teams made up of PGA and LPGA stars. But when the event is over, there actually will be three winners -- and I predict that none of them will be named Tiger. Though it may be slightly going out on a limb to say that David Duval and Karrie Webb will knock off Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam in this made-for-TV event in Palm Desert, Calif., the ultimate beneficiary will be the LPGA Tour.
"If Battle at Bighorn gets the same numbers as the Tiger-Duval or the Tiger- [Sergio] García matches, which were about 7 to 8, if this match gets an 8 or 9 that means they will have nearly 10 million viewers for the telecast," said LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw. "To have the same number of viewers watching Annika and Karrie as are tuning in to watch Tiger and David Duval is huge for women's golf and the LPGA." Since last year, there has been a cry for a Battle of the Sexes with Woods taking on either Webb or Sorenstam. But Votaw didn't think that match would be beneficial for women's golf. However, when the proposed event was changed to a team alternate-shot format, much like that of the old JCPenney Classic, he was quick to give his endorsement. "I had no interest in a head-to-head match because I don't think it proves anything," Votaw said. "If Tiger wins, he is supposed to. And if he loses, there will be accusations of the course being set up too easy or whatever." For the chance to play with Woods and Duval in prime time, Webb and Sorenstam are making quite a sacrifice. After the match, the two will hop on a plane and fly halfway across the world for the Weetabix British Open, the final major championship of the LPGA season. Their appearance Monday night might cost either of them another major, but the Battle at Bighorn also could be the perfect three-hour promotion for the LPGA's newest televised tournament. "Let's say there are 10 million people [watching Monday night], and a million of them who didn't watch us on Sunday are so intrigued that they decide to turn us on [the following weekend]. We are going to have an upshot in our ratings," said Votaw of the Women's British Open, which has been designated as a major for the first time. "That's what intrigued me about the date. The timing isn't perfect for [Annika and Karrie] as far as preparing for the final major, but it is good timing as a promotional platform." Don't be surprised to see Duval and Webb steal the show. Coming off his win at the British Open, Duval is indisputably on top of his game. And Webb, who has won the last two LPGA majors, is also heating up. "Normally, I don't peak this time of the year," said Webb, who just completed the career Grand Slam last month with her victory at the McDonald's LPGA Championship. "I usually play my best golf at the beginning of the year right after I see my coach, but this year some of the things we were working on didn't click right away. But the last couple of months everything has started to come together." Interestingly, though Webb and Duval have actually never met, their swings and course strategies are very similar, not to mention that they both keep their emotions hidden deep beneath their Oakleys. Looking at the other pairing, Sorenstam has the advantage of being a member at Bighorn Golf Club, but she will also have to deal with the pressure and distraction of playing with Woods. One of the knocks on Tiger is that he hasn't been much of a team player -- he is 3-6-1 record in two Ryder Cups and Duval practically carried him in December's EMC World Cup. If this trend holds true and Woods isn't on target with his tee shots, Sorenstam's dream teammate could turn into a nightmare. Tom Hanson, a regular contributor to Sports Illustrated's Golf Plus section, is a longtime caddie on the LPGA Tour. Click here to send him a question or comment.
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