To celebrate our 25th year we're taking a look at some of the most pivotal moments from the women's game. Today we rewind to 2003 when Annika took on the men at Colonial.


Annika Sorenstam, 2003 Colonial, Women's Golf, Biggest Moments In Women's Golf

In 2003 Annika Sorenstam accepted an invitation the PGA Bank of America Colonial. The prospect was an enthralling one. Nearly sixty years after Babe Zaharias had made the midway cut at the Los Angeles Open the best female golfer ever to walk the earth was to go toe to toe with the leading men on the PGA Tour.

In 2003 Annika was at the very peak of her career. She had won 11 times in 2002 and had shot 59 the year previous. Not everyone however considered that her accolades warranted her a place in the field. 

Then World Number Seven Vijay Singh threatened to withdraw from the event if drawn with Annika. 

“I won’t play,” slammed the Fijian. “There are guys out there who are trying to make a living.''

Singh's comments only ramped up the tension, so much so that by the opening day of the event the crowds and media interest were Tiger like in their intensity.

Considering the amount of scrutiny and pressure Annika was under it's incredible she managed to hit the ball at all off the first tee. As it was she absolutely ripped it, sending her 4-wood -- which she normally hits about 225 yards -- about 255 yards. When she feigned falling over afterward, Sorenstam won the gallery over.

Annika's would go on to fire a one-over 71 over the 7,080-yard layout. She played her usual flawless golf, missing only one fairway and hitting 13 of 14 greens.

That she missed the cut the next day, shooting 74 is of little consequence. Her conduct and ability to deal with the magnitude of that week immortalised Annika as a golfing great.

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For Annika, Colonial was always about proving something to herself rather than trying to show that the women were capable of taking on the men.

Annika had much to lose at Colonial. If she shot high eighties it would have damaged not only her reputation but that of the women's game. That she didn't is testament to herself as a golfer and a woman.