Ryder Cup clogs up the airwaves but LPGA gets a possible final round boost

Ryder Cup frenzy has already begun. From Kiel Christianson’s opinion that the Europeans will once again take the honors to Chris Baldwin’s opposing view, the excitement is building and with good reason. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will be teammates and that’s always good ratings. Watching Colin Montgomerie’s frustration should also be tantalizing: he’s usually great at wearing his heart on his sleeve. Sergio Garcia’s colorful couture should also keep viewers intrigued. What about the golf? That’s always top-notch!

All Annika Sorenstam and the rest of the ladies on the LPGA tour have to do is patiently wait until Sunday when golf fanatics suffering from Ryder Cup withdrawal will most certainly be flipping the remote control incessantly. Let’s hope Sorenstam doesn’t disappoint at this week’s Longs Drugs Challenge.

Some of the hoopla surrounding this event will be over who snags the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award. Asians currently hold the top three spots as Seon-Hwa Lee has more than a 200-point spread over Q-school medalist Ai Miyazato. Jee Young Lee is only two points behind Miyazato. It appears as if the Asian contingency will bring home the honors!

What can I say except that if all of the Asian women who currently play golf on the LPGA and LET played an event during the year on the LAGT, perhaps the purses there would be bigger and interest in their events would be world-oriented instead of Asian specific. Karrie Webb, Ai Miyazato and Se Ri Pak were among the national members of the annual Queen Sirikit Cup Golf Team Championship on the LAGT but have since moved into the international arena.

The almightly U.S. dollar is a more important commodity in the world than tour recognition.

Catch Ryder Cup action all over the internet and wax poetic on the Worldgolf.com website! Television coverage begins on USA but switches over to NBC for both the second and final round. Final round action is from 8am to 12:30pm. Couch potatoes can then catch three hours of the LPGA tour on the Golf Channel beginning at 3:30pm (EST). Check your local listings.

And no, the Champion’s Tour will not steal the thunder of the LPGA this week. The over-50 set has the week off. Smart move!

Of course, football season has begun for the testoterone-laden men…N.Y. Giants versus the Seattle Seahawks opposite the LPGA? My bet is that ladies golf doesn’t get big ratings on either east or west coast. Both teams are expected to make the playoffs and the outcome of this game could affect who gets home field advantage in the playoffs.