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Media are clueless in Seattle

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Posted: Monday September 20, 1999 11:05 AM

KENT, Wash. -- While Maria Hjorth was capturing her first career victory at the Safeco Classic last week, the local media were trying to whip up a little old-fashioned controversy. With Karrie Webb and Juli Inkster -- Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, on the LPGA Tour money list -- absent, the media claimed that the field was weak.

This time the media was crying over spilled milk.

THE SHAG BAG For the last seven years Safeco Classic winner Maria Hjorth lived life as a blonde. Two weeks ago, she decided to change her luck and go back to her natural color, brunette. ... Amateur Jimin Kang, who was the runner-up at the U.S. Amateur this summer, made the cut last week and made a few friends at the same time. Because Kang, 19, who is a senior in high school, didn't count against the cut, 15 pros were able to play the weekend. ... When Michelle McGann's clubs didn't arrive after her trip to Scotland, British Airways told her to go out and buy another set and they would reimburse her. "You don't understand," her father, Bucky McGann, said. "This is her livelihood and these are her tools. It's not that easy." ... Dale Eggeling recorded a hole-in-one on the 12th hole on Saturday, bringing the total number of aces on tour this season to a record 31. ... Annika Sorenstam is searching for a partner for the JCPenney Classic. Last year, she played with husband David Esch and this year she planned to play with John Huston, but he was invited to play in a big-money event in South Africa.

Fifteen of the top 30 money-winners were at the tour's Seattle stop, which is outstanding considering the exclusive Samsung World Championship was played the previous week in Minnesota. If you think Seattle had a weak field, you should check out the Corning Classic or the State Farm Rail Classic, where fields aren't full and anyone with her name on a golf bag can tee it up.

The actual problem is that for the past 17 years, the Safeco Classic has been spoiled. Seattle has consistently boasted one of the best lineups on the schedule despite having a below-average purse.

As you cruise up the driveway at Meridian Valley Country Club, the host club, the defending champions of the tournament are honored with individual plaques. The list along the road reads like a who's who of women's golf: Patty Sheehan, Inkster, Kathy Whitworth, JoAnne Carner, Beth Daniel, Pat Bradley, Jan Stephenson, Webb and Annika Sorenstam. That adds up to six Hall of Famers, at least two probable future ones, 297 career victories and no reason to complain.

The scribes tried to reason that the relatively small $650,000 purse at the Safeco Classic was the reason for the rash of absentees.

Money isn't always the major motivating factor when players make their schedule. Sorenstam speaks for most of the players when she says that it's the victories, not the money, that matters most.

With 43 events on the LPGA schedule, players can't play every week. Players like Helen Alfredsson think that the tour is spreading itself too thin. Commissioner Ty Votaw admits there has been healthy debate over this issue.

"I think the right number is somewhere between 36 and 43 events," he said.

But the real reason Seattle was missing the normal star-studded field was scheduling. Generally, the World Championships are held after the regular season. Next year it will return to that spot and the players will be back.

In the meantime, I think I'll send the local media some cheese for Christmas to go along with their whine.

Tom Hanson, a regular contributor to Sports Illustrated's Golf Plus section, caddies for Sara Sanders on the LPGA tour. His column appears weekly on golfplus.cnnsi.com.

 

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