Singh: 'I hope Sorenstam misses cut'

The men finally began to register their opposition to being joined by the women's world No 1 Annika Sorenstam at next week's Colonial Tournament, led by Vijay Singh.

The Fijian said Sorenstam has no business playing in the event, adding: "I hope she misses the cut." He said he would withdraw rather than play with the Swede. "Why? Because she doesn't belong out here. If I'm drawn with her, which I won't be, I won't play."

Singh knows he will not be playing in the same group when she becomes the first woman in 58 years to compete on the PGA Tour, as his name will be drawn from a pool of Tour winners.

The last woman to play on the PGA Tour was Babe Zaharias, who qualified for the 1945 Los Angeles Open, and Nick Price, the defending champion at Colonial, said Sorenstam's presence "reeks of publicity."

Scott Hoch, who once played with Sorenstam in a mixed-team event, said he wants to see her play well so people will realise "how much separation there is between us and the ladies' tour."