Annika Sörenstam broke down barriers in 2003 when she challenged the men of the PGA competition The Colonial in Texas. Now, 17 years later, it is time for another Swedish to embark on a similar challenge, albeit at a somewhat lower level.
On Thursday, Pernilla Lindberg will take the field when the 101-year-old New Zealand Open competition for the first time allows a woman to play against the men.
- The fact that Pernilla wants to come here to compete in what has traditionally been an event for men, really adds something to this tournament, says competition director Michael Glading.
Celebrating the wedding day - invited by the organizerPernilla Lindberg, who won the ANA Inspiration major in 2018, was invited after the organizer found out that the Swede had passed the roads anyway. A year ago, she married her husband, Daniel, in New Zealand - and now the couple is back to celebrate their wedding day.
"The opportunity to celebrate our first anniversary and combine it with a professional golf competition was just too good to miss," says Lindberg, who is 178th on the women's world rankings.
The competition is played at The Hills Golf Club in Queenstown and includes players such as the Swede Daniel Chopra and former US Open winner Michael Campbell.
giant UnderdogIn a statement in The Listener magazine, she says the goal is to beat at least one man in the competition - something that gaming company Paddypower doesn't consider likely. The odds of winning the competition are higher than any other player: 3,000 times the money.
- I am very realistic in my expectations. It will be tough to compete with the guys, says Pernilla Lindberg.