Vijay sings the blues

By Brian Betz

For a game where etiquette is revered, it's nice to see more divots as of late.

And Vijay Singh isn't replacing his.

The two-time major-winner sounded off regarding female golfer Annika Sorenstam's upcoming participation in next weekend's Colonial Tournament, saying she doesn't belong on the PGA Tour.

Sorenstam, the best golfer on the LPGA tour, will be the first female golfer to play in a men's event since Babe Zaharias in the 1945 Los Angeles Open.

Singh acknowledged she's the best female golfer on the planet but that she should stick to the women's tour because there's nothing for her to prove by making the jump.

He's right. Expect for that whole "women are inferior thing" that many female athletes are still striving to dispel.

Either way, I love it. Call me a sucker for controversy, but what would the sports world be like without it?

Most players grump and groan over such issues, like Scott Hoch and Nick Price have done with this one. It took constant questioning before Tiger gave his two cents on the Augusta debate. And now there's the usually soft-spoken Singh, not holding back from trampling all over Sorenstam's lie.

Vijay said he hopes Sorenstam misses the cut and that if he were paired with her that he'd withdraw from the tournament. That won't happen unless they both make the cut. Those who've won a tour event are paired with other winners on the first day. Bridesmaids, which in this case includes Sorenstam, pair similarly.

From Hootie and the He-man-woman-haters down in Augusta, to Singh popping off on an issue that until now, most golfers wouldn't touch with a seven-wood, it's intriguing to see some controversy in a sport that has less conflict than a peace march.

At least until Saturday. Remember, Zaharias made the cut in '45.