Thomson bemoans lack of excitement in golf

Australia's former British Open winner Peter Thomson says Annika Sorenstam's appearance on the men's tour shows the game is desperate for something to excite fans.

"The United States PGA Tour must be in pitiful condition if it needs the infusion of Annika Sorenstam from the LPGA," the five-times British Open winner said on Tuesday.

"This past week's explosion of publicity over the presence of the leading lady player among the grimness of the men's arena is an indication of what is lacking from the men's domain -- something unusual and extraordinary, apart from Tiger (Woods), that is."

Writing a column in Melbourne's The Age newspaper, Thomson said the women's tour was also lacking excitement.

"Did anyone notice there was an LPGA event running at the same time in another state? I wonder," Thomson said.

Sorenstam became the first female player to compete on the U.S. PGA Tour for 58 years when she took part in the Colonial tournament at Fort Worth, Texas. She missed Friday's cut after rounds of 71 and 74.

Thomson said other sports such as cricket, tennis and various football codes were more likely to "make our blood boil".

"The height of excitement (in golf) is usually the sight of Woods holing out from 10 paces across a piece of grass as smooth as velvet," Thomson said.

Thomson said Sorenstam had showed amazing strength of character in the media spotlight but the "charming Swede" had failed to achieve a significant breakthrough for women's golf.

"If her aim was to prove that her female division is on a comparable level to the men's circuit, she tripped up," he said.

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