Jim McCabe

Mild that it is, the debate out on the PGA Tour is whether it is a “Big Four” of Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, and Phil Mickelson, or if Retief Goosen should be added to make it a “Big Five.”

On the LPGA Tour, there is no such discussion.

Annika Sorenstam is in a group by herself. She is the one. She is the only.

A lonely state of affairs, perhaps, but Sorenstam appears hardly bothered by the lack of company. If anything, she’s purposely scaring them off, brushing aside her competition like summer folks do mosquitos. Just a few years ago, there was a healthy competition between Karrie Webb and Sorenstam and there are many of us who still consider the Aussie as having been very much the equal of the Swede. Only Webb had no interest in matching Sorenstam’s devotion to the game, so slowly did that rivalry fade.

Along came Se Ri Pak — younger, stronger, and more powerful than Sorenstam, just not as polished. When she stared down Sorenstam and beat her in Phoenix in 2003, there was the hope that Pak was ready to ignite a rivalry, but no. Struggling with the driver, Pak hasn’t been a factor in any tournament since winning in Williamsburg, Va., last May.

Grace Park? She won a major to start 2004 and fuel great anticipation, but while she would rate as No. 2 in the world rankings, if there was such a vehicle in place, Park is not in Sorenstam’s league. Nor is Cristie Kerr. Or Lorena Ochoa. Or Juli Inkster. Or Laura Diaz. Or Meg Mallon. Or Carin Koch. Or Rachel Hertherington. Or Laura Davies. Or Paula Creamer. Or Michelle Wie.

Heck, not even the combined talents of all the Kims can match the incomparable Swede.

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No, Sorenstam is The Show, a solo act so dynamic you would have to compare her favorably to Tiger Woods of 1999-2002 when he won seven of 11 majors, one of them (the 2000 US Open) by 15 shots and one of them (the 2000 British Open) by eight. Having blitzed the fields to win the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March and the LPGA Championship on Sunday, Sorenstam has now won five of the last nine majors.

Truly, she shows no sign of letting up.

What’s more, her competition shows no sign of stepping up.

That combination of factors presents a scenario that has been bubbling for a few years now, but will overflow in 2005.

The Grand Slam.

This year, it’s her grand prize. She’ll triumph in the U.S. Women’s Open, and the Weetabix Women’s British Open to author yet the grandest chapter to her already overwhelming career story.

Improbable? Maybe.

But impossible? No.

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