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| My update for Wednesday
Weather: still raining, but not as cold
Media credentials: 607
Trips to the soft serve ice cream machine in the media center: 3!
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| Daily Diary author Laura Neal, hard at work in the very crowded PGA Tour press room. |
It's been another busy day at Colonial Country Club. I arrived at 8 a.m. for really no other reason than I just didn't want to miss anything! I was surprised to see so many reporters already here, considering Annika wasn't scheduled for the pro-am until the afternoon. But I guess there are many other things to cover besides Annika, although you wouldn't know it by reading the newspapers or watching TV. I hope you have been enjoying the coverage so far this week. As LPGA fans, I'm assuming you feel the same as I do-excited to see Annika getting the recognition she deserves, albeit a little late considering her accomplishments on the LPGA Tour over the years.
The media center is packed to capacity. I just spoke with the tournament staff, and they are basically telling reporters who call for credentials-sure, come on out, but we don't have anywhere for you to sit, anywhere for you to park and there's no room for you inside the ropes. And people are still coming!
 Everyone wants to be here, just to witness history, discuss it, speculate on what's going to happen. All around the media center, you'll see little clutches of people talking about Annika, what it means for women's golf, the PGA Tour, the LPGA, etc. And then you've got reporters interviewing reporters. I've really never seen anything like it. I feel very fortunate to be here. And the well-wishes to Annika continue to pour in.
 The tournament staff from the LPGA Corning Classic sent Annika two dozen yellow roses with a very sweet card. Even though she's missing their tournament to be here, the folks in Corning have been so supportive. They should really be commended. The LPGA caddies in Corning asked for the address here to send Annika flowers as well, which is so nice. Those guys aren't as tough as they act! And Beth Daniel dictated a personal note for me to place in Annika's locker.
 Some famous names from outside the golfing world have also sent words of encouragement to Annika. Maggie Will met with former President George H.W. Bush last week at the opening of the First Tee of Richmond, and he signed a program wishing Annika good luck. Maggie was kind enough to fax a copy to the press room and I put it in Annika's locker. It reads, "Annika- Good luck at Colonial. You can do it. George Bush (#41)." And Bill Cosby's office called our headquarters in Daytona Beach to get the address of where to send a letter of encouragement from Mr. Cosby. Hopefully a faxed copy of the letter will get here before Annika tees off tomorrow.
And I know Annika appreciates all of the support. She phoned her tournament-assigned personal security guard last night at 11 p.m. to thank him for all of his help yesterday. With all the attention, Annika needs to feel safe and secure at the golf course, and the security personnel have certainly been doing a great job. Annika can focus on her golf game knowing everything else around her is being taken care of.
But I guess not everyone can be positive. This afternoon on CNN, Wolf Blitzer hosted a debate about Annika competing this week. Marguerite Sallee, chairman of the LPGA Board of Directors, was a guest (on the "pro" side) and Armstrong Williams, a right-wing conservative from Washington, D.C., (on the "con" side). Judy Rankin, who was at home watching, called my cell phone spitting nails! She was livid at some of Mr. Williams' comments-that any mediocre high school boys' golf team member could dominate the LPGA Tour and that Annika would be taking four shots for every two of the PGA Tour players (I guess that means she'll shoot in the 140s?). Judy couldn't believe the misinformation he was spewing. I guess you have to laugh at those kinds of comments and focus on the tremendous amount of positive coverage and support for Annika's efforts.
 At 3:36 p.m., the officials announced over the staff radios, "We're done for the day." It had been raining constantly and the course was just too wet to continue. PGA Tour officials did not want to jeopardize the condition of the golf course for the next four days of competition. Annika's team was 6-under-par through 10 holes, drenched but happy.
Let's hope for better weather for the start of the tournament tomorrow. I know Annika is ready to get her historic week under way, while the rest of us are prepared to document her every shot, every step, every breath --rain or shine.
Talk to you tomorrow.
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