Nov 18

Sorenstam, Creamer get it on in Donald Trump's back yard

This from an AP story about the heated spat between Paula Creamer and Annika Sorenstam at the ADT Championship at Trump International in my old stomping ground of West Palm Beach, Fla.:

After a debate that lasted so long it was almost too dark to finish at Trump International, the ruling ultimately went Sorenstam’s way.

Now, watching all the comments to all TG blogs roll in, I know we have some golf gurus out there. Can one of you please let me know how long a dispute like this should really take to resolve? I’m not being wisea$$ or rhetorical here. But shouldn’t Rules official Janet Lindsay have been able to look at the decision, hear both sides, then make a call? Split-second calls happen in football, baseball and other sports all the time and, fan grousing aside, those refs are right more often than wrong. Would love to hear your thoughts.

Lastly, Trump International is a heck of a course, that’s for sure. But if you’re into location, location, location, well ….. I’ll just say the highlights of that neighborhood are the airport, a number of pawn shops, the Palm Beach County jail and T’s Lounge, a nearby strip joint (which I’ve, uhhh, read about). Oh, and until now, the nastiest spat at Trump International was when some surgeon from New York wacked a rare black swan to death with a golf club a few years back, claiming the bird attacked him on the 16th hole. The Donald wasn’t happy. Neither was the swan.

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13 comments

Comment from: Denver Player [Visitor]

Sorenstam seems to be having more and more rules "incidents" lately.

Sort of glad Creamer, right or wrong, stuck to her guns on this one. Seems as though nobody wants to chance upsetting some of the best players in the game.

But it went on way too long. If in disagreement, the rules official should hear both sides of the story, take a look for her/himself, and make a ruling. Period. Shouldn't drag on for more than five minutes in this case. No instant replay, no crying, just give your side and make the judgment.

2005-11-18 @ 10:10

Comment from: Cheap Bastard [Member]

If they were still out there debating, I would still be watching.

2005-11-18 @ 11:04

Comment from: Denver Player [Visitor]

Hey Cheap Bastard,

Wasn't the tournament on cable? Do you actually ante up to get cable?

Sort of takes away from your spendthrift image, doesn't it?

2005-11-18 @ 11:38

Comment from: Cheap Bastard [Member]

Ante up for cable??? Moi???? NEV ...

Um, I mean, yes, of course I ante up for cable. ;)

2005-11-18 @ 12:32

Comment from: Vann [Visitor]

[I]There was no splash. They found the ball inside the red hazard line, plugged.[/I]

The fact that the ball was plugged brings into question whether it hit land. Second, Sorenstam's ball normally moves R-L. Add those two up and Creamers view is sound, unless that was a very strong crosswind.

2005-11-18 @ 16:44

Comment from: Norman [Visitor]

Paula likes to think of herself as Annika's rival. That's why she has absolutely no fear in standing up to her. I think Paula has a way to go yet though to rival Annika.

2005-11-19 @ 12:29

Comment from: Zetto from Atlanta [Visitor]

Mark, I was hoping a cat figth would break out between the two leading to both Paula and Annika fighting on the course, pushing each other into one of the lakes, and well, you can see where I am going with this....

2005-11-20 @ 11:28

Comment from: Norman [Visitor]

All Paula succeeded in doing, was making Annika angry.
Is it a good idea to make the worlds best female player angry?
Probably not, given the ass whippin' Annika gave Paula, beating her by 6 shots.

I do enjoy when Annika gives the youngsters a lesson (despite being a Wie and Creamer fan).

2005-11-20 @ 15:11

Comment from: j [Visitor]

creamer thinks she is Annika's rival?
yes, it's only in her dream.
Annika is unreachable.

2005-11-20 @ 22:08

Comment from: Carole (Visitor) [Visitor]

Annika is losing a little credability with me since she attended one of the very demanding USGA Rules Seminars (4 days) I did back in 1997. Her disappointment at the now famous "please take that shot over" chipin during the Solheim was way too soon after the seminar for her to have "forgotten" that rule. She recently pushed another Rules Official to the limit over the line of sight incident and now this. It's one thing to lose credability with me, another to lose it with the people who will be calling the Rules on a daily basis. If Creamer was right, that was a nifty little purported 190 yard advantage. Annika is way too good to need that. Hey Annika, I'm off for another 4 day stint on the Rules in March....care to come along for a refresher course...??!! Perhaps it's time.

2005-11-21 @ 06:50

Comment from: Joe [Visitor]

Paula certainly should consider Annika as her rival. She is already #2 in her first year so her goal must be to be #1. The only way that happens is to beat Annika. This is good for golf and the fans. This will motivate Annika to stay at the top of her game. It will be fun to watch Paula. Morgan and the others chase Annika.

2005-11-21 @ 13:29

Comment from: Norman [Visitor]

Paula should indeed try to beat Annika. The only thing is she is NOT Annika's rival at this stage. If she thinks she is, she is kidding herself.

Paula should continue to work hard and try to improve her game, in the knowledge that if she improves DRASTICALLY, she could then be Annika's rival.

It certainly is good for Paula to try to be the best. She should look forward and try to catch Annika sure, but at the same time be humble enough to admit, that there is a long way to go in order to be referred to as Annika's rival.
At the present time in women's golf, Annika is miles ahead (like Tiger in the mens). Paula is among a group of chasers, along with Kerr, Wie and many more. Maybe next season, Paula might pull clear, as a clear 2nd best by some distance, but I doubt she will challenge for number 1.

2005-11-21 @ 16:39

Comment from: Johnny Canuk [Visitor]

Paula needs to use her clubs to make a point and not her mouth. She embarrassed herself to all the fans watching on TV and to her sponsors who were on that silly pink cap and who were the main sponsors of the event. Anika is untouchable right now and taking cheap shots at her at the Solheim Cup and at this instance only shows how much better she is than the field and to what lengths the others will go to if thier game is not up to par. Unfortunately, golf as we all know brings out the worst in some people and Paula showed her real self here.

2005-11-23 @ 07:08

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