Would Tiger Woods and Lorena Ochoa have won the GWAA awards if all golf writers had a vote?

Did Tiger Woods text-message Annika Sorenstam to gloat after winning his eighth GWAA player of the year award? Probably not because he must be too busy preening over being deemed Biography Channel’s “Biography of the Year". Catch the Tiger Woods documentary December 21st. Check your local listings.

Did Lorena Ochoa inwardly chuckle after snatching that same award from Annika Sorenstam’s grasp? The Golf Writers Association of America believed Ochoa to be more worthy of receiving this year’s accolade than Sorenstam and rightfully so.

The Mexican sensation finished off the 2006 season with six wins on the LPGA Tour versus half that amount for Annika. Ochoa also led the official money list and came away with Vare trophy for low scoring average, an honor bestowed upon Sorenstam six-times in eleven years. Ochoa has been gunning for Sorenstam’s position since the beginning of the season so it’s about time she received some of the accolades due her.

Does the number-one Swede on tour really mind sharing the spotlight? Well, if she did, she would be fighting against 87 percent of the voters who unanimously offered up the honor to Ochoa. That’s okay, Annika received her eighth ESPY for female athlete of the year, an award voted on by the fans. There’s always next year Lorena!

And, when is the GWAA going to recognize golf writers like myself who believe that penning for established internet golf sites such as Worldgolf.com is worthy of allowing us into the fold?

Perhaps it’s time for the GWAA to create criteria within their association to encompass the overwhelming number of online writers. One thought is that once a column has achieved a certain number of followers, admittance should be granted. After all, a columnist’s ability to attract readership regardless of vehicle should be the basis of admission into a writing association.

Another benefit to internet writing is that you are immediately networked worldwide. Even writers who are featured in newspapers and magazines have their work scanned into the world wide web to reach as many readers as possible.

Eventually the GWAA will have to recognize us. Remember how network television ignored cable? Internet writers need to be properly organized. Right now there are literally thousands of scattered voices. Once that occurs, our voice will will not be able to be ignored.