Whaley is setting stage for PGA tourney

Suzy Whaley will follow Annika Sorenstam's act at the Greater Hartford Open.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
VIENNA -- There hasn't been a day go by since September that Suzy Whaley hasn't thought about what she's going to do this July 21.
It was in September that Whaley won the PGA of America Club Professional Championship, and in doing so earned a spot in this year's PGA Greater Hartford Open tournament, which will be held July 21-27 at the TPC at River Highlands course.
At the time that she earned the spot, she was going to be the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event since Babe Didrikson Zaharias.
Then Annika Sorenstam got into the act and was invited to play in the Colonial Invitational in Texas last month.
Sorenstam missed the cut, but performed well and held her own with the men. Can Whaley do the same?
Probably not, since she qualified at the sectional from the women's tees, or tees which were 10 percent closer than the men's tees. She won't have that luxury at the GHO.
Familiar with course
"I've played the tournament course there about six times since September since my husband is the general manager of the place," Whaley said. "From the tips it plays about 6,800 yards, which is about 500 yards more than we're used to playing."
Whaley wouldn't say just what she shot at the course when she played there, but said that she needs to keep the ball in the fairway and hit a lot of greens to have any success.
"At first I was really worried that I would go out and shoot 85 or 90 and embarrass myself," she said. "Then I thought that there were probably a lot of men, who like me are a club professional, have shot 85 or 90 in an event like this."
Whaley, like Sorenstam, has been working on a rigorous conditioning schedule to help her get ready, but she will quickly add that she's no Annika Sorenstam.
"Annika is the best woman golfer in the world and she didn't make the cut," Whaley said. "Making the cut is not one of the high priorities on my list."
Got an exemption
Whaley asked and got a sponsors exemption to play in this week's Giant Eagle LPGA Classic at Squaw Creek Country club.
"I've played in two LPGA events and will play two more, three possibly if I can qualify for the U.S. Women's Open," she added.
Whaley has played Squaw Creek before. She played here in 1992 when it was the Phar-Mor in Youngstown and she was a non-exempt LPGA tour player. She also played in this tournament in 1998 and 1999 at Avalon Lakes, but has never survived the cut.
Whaley played in last week's LPGA Championship in Delaware and didn't make the cut while Sorenstam went on to her second straight win, beating Grace Parks in a playoff.
"I was disappointed in the way I played," Whaley said. "I prepared hard for that event and I wasn't hitting the ball that bad, but my iron play was poor. But I learned a lot there."
Whaley expects to be very nervous at her PGA debut.
"I been working with Golf Magazine Mental Game Consultant Dr. Richard Coop and we are taking things one at a time," she added.
Good experience
Whaley said she has played some very good golf at TPC at River Highlands in the past.
"I shot 66 there once, but from the white tees, which is considerably shorter than what we'll play next month," she added.
"I admire what Annika did last month, in fact at the LPGA Championships I stood in a line at the putting green just to congratulate her on what she did," Whaley said.
Whaley, who is a spokesperson for the March of Dimes, says that if she can help women's golf to advance a little she will feel very happy no matter what she shoots in the tournament.
mollica@vindy.com