In a recent column, Stan Hunt outdid himself in his castigation of Annika Sorenstam and her play at the Colonial. I have never read a more childish, immature column by a supposed professional as was this.

His mean-spirited attack on Sorenstam belie his reputed fostering of the game of golf. His choices of words and phrases reveal a level of misunderstanding and ignorance that surprise me. Does he really think that more women are going to “cross the line” and “challenge the men”? Does he foresee that “others [will] line up and try their hands at it”? And how preposterous is it to suggest that her “weightlifting and bulking up” would lead to her “joining some men’s weightlifting championship.”?

At one point he asks, “So where did I go wrong?” Mr. Hunt, you went wrong when you misconstrued Annika’s appearance at the Colonial as a challenge to your chauvinistic belief that whenever a woman attempts something that doesn’t fit your definition of her place in life, it is unacceptable and must be stopped before it spreads.

I can’t believe that you would have the malice to wish that “ she hits her opening drive into the deep rough, fails to get out and is on her way to a nice 81 or 82.” This from a man who purports to love golf. Why would you wish this for anyone? As we know, she did not shoot 81 or 82, and even though she did not make the cut, her performance was admirable.

Further, I think you ought to go back and check with the PGA. Doesn’t the P stand for “Professional”? Where does it say it is a men’s tour? The L in LPGA does stands for “Ladies,” but until things change, there is no “men’s tour.” By tradition, yes; by definition, no. But I doubt you will have to worry with attitudes like yours. Not many women would want to join you and your ilk either socially or competitively.

There is only one person who embarrassed himself in this situation, and that, Mr. Hunt, was you.

Patricia McCormack

Vass