While Lorena Ochoa struggles to grab player of the year honors on the LPGA tour, Annika Sorenstam has decided she likes the PGA "silly season" better, foregoing the Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions for a matchup against the men. Sorenstam and Fred Couples, known as the "king" of the post-season, have paired up for this week's Merrill Lynch Shootout.

Normally this wouldn't catch my attention but it appears as if Annika is diversifying, stretching her legs after a terrific golf season and, perhaps, wondering if she can attract the same kind of media attention as PGA tour wannabee, uber-teen Michelle Wie.

This is the first time that a lady has been invited to the shootout, staged by Aussie Greg Norman. I guess women golfers DO attract attention! Ticket sales are the highest in five years and officials attribute some of that interest to Annika's appearance. I guess "The Shark" feels differently about the silly season than he does about PGA tour-sanctioned events. Norman has made it clear in the past that he doesn't believe that the sexes should meet on the fairways.

Even Fred Couples is excited by his good fortune and considers Annika to be the "female Tiger Woods". "She hits the ball like a machine. It doesn’t curve. It’s unbelievable. I have a lot of respect for her game."

The difference between this event and Michelle Wie's attempt at the Casio Open in a few weeks is that women are heartily welcomed during the off-season and during non-sanctioned events, whereas I'm not so sure the feelings are the same for Michelle Wie at the Casio and on the European Tour in general. I'm interested in knowing if the golfers playing against Wie would rather have another male playing in her stead.

Also, Michelle Wie was forced upon the PGA tour by her big money sponsors instead of being welcomed as was Sorenstam. Which person would you rather be?

Annika Sorenstam may have found the secret to gaining acceptance into men's tournaments. Get into the off-season "swing". There will be plenty of golf afficionados who are hungry for a televison event and the men will even accept you into the fold!

Take note, Michelle!

To leave a comment, click here.

Read the latest WorldGolf.com golf blogs.