Golf: A right old Karrie on

Australian promoters are hoping to cash in on the hype over Annika Sorenstam's battle of the sexes by inviting Karrie Webb to play against the men.

Tony Roosenburg, director of the Heineken Classic and Australian PGA tournaments, said he would invite Webb to play in both events.

"I would love for Karrie to be one of the 10 invitees at the Heineken," Roosenburg said.

"It's not very popular with the [Australasian] PGA ... but we have to survive as promoters and this is a funny gimmick that would be really popular."

Australasian PGA Tour boss Wayne Grady said he could not see any point in allowing Webb to take on the men when Swede Sorenstam had already tried it.

But Grady said he would not stand in the way of the promoters if Webb, an Australian ranked No 1 in the world a few years ago but now third, accepted the challenge.

"I don't see the point in continuing it.

"If the best player in the world has gone and done it, what are we going to prove by having more of the same?

"Why have the No 2 and No 3 and No 4 out there?" Grady said.

"If the promoters in Australia feel they need to invite Karrie, well, that's up to them and we won't be trying to stop them at all.



Sorenstam became the first female player to compete on the US PGA Tour for 58 years when she took part in the Colonial tournament at Fort Worth, Texas. She missed last Friday's cut after rounds of 71 and 74.

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American Juli Inkster's achievement this week at the Corning Classic almost escaped attention.

The 42-year-old Hall of Famer from Santa Cruz, California, shot a sizzling final-round 62 to crush the field, and win by four strokes from Canadian Lorie Kane.

It was Inkster's 29th career win and her final round, which comprised 11 birdies and a solitary bogey, equalled the LPGA record of Mickey Wright and Kathy Whitworth.

Inkster finished on 24-under 264.

Kane had every reason to feel miffed; she shot a five-under 67 but was overrun by the American.

Scotland's Catriona Matthew, the third round leader, finished third on 19-under, after a 70.

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Australia's former British Open winner Peter Thomson says Sorenstam's appearance on the men's tour shows the game is desperate for something to excite fans.

"The United States PGA Tour must be in pitiful condition if it needs the infusion of Annika Sorenstam from the LPGA," the five-times British Open winner said.

Writing a column in Melbourne's The Age newspaper, Thomson said the women's tour also lacked excitement.

"Did anyone notice there was an LPGA event running at the same time in another state? I wonder," Thomson said.

Thomson said other sports such as cricket, tennis and various football codes were more likely to "make our blood boil".

"The height of excitement [in golf] is usually the sight of Woods holing out from 10 paces across a piece of grass as smooth as velvet," Thomson said.

Thomson said Sorenstam had showed amazing strength of character in the media spotlight but the "charming Swede" had failed to achieve a significant breakthrough for women's golf.

"If her aim was to prove that her female division is on a comparable level to the men's circuit, she tripped up."

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Craig Perks is the sole New Zealander in this week's Colonial event at the Muirfield Village Golf Club - better known as Jack's Place.

The tournament is Jack Nicklaus' personal contribution to the US PGA Tour, an event he founded and which began in 1976.

He won it twice, in 1977 and 1984.

The bulk of the world's top 20 players will be there, chasing the US$700,000 ($1.2 million) winner's cheque from a pot of US$5 million.