Hey Babe, She Can Play With the Men, Too! by Andi Uiberall

Annika Sorenstam - the hottest name in golf, since she won the right to play with the best male golfers this May in a Men’s PGA Tournament.  But, Annika’s not the first woman to earn that distinction!  Sixty-five years ago it was the “Babe,” Mildred Didrickson Zaharias, who became the first woman ever to play in a men’s professional golf tournament. 

Ironically, the day Annika tees off at Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas with the men… hundreds of Long Island women will be kicking off the annual Long Island golf and tennis tournaments named in memory of Babe Didrickson Zaharias… a woman many consider the greatest female athlete of all time.

There are many similarities between the Babe and Annika… not just golf.  The Babe earned her nickname in comparison to Babe Ruth, because as a young girl she could hit a baseball farther than the boys.  She was a natural and excelled at every sport she tried, from running and high jumping to swimming and diving to baseball and tennis and basketball.  Annika also played many sports as a kid; volleyball, soccer, badminton, table tennis.  She was a top-ranked junior tennis player as a teenager.

 The Associated Press named Mildred “Babe” Didrickson Zaharias the “Top Woman Athlete of The Half-Century” (1900-49).  Who knows what the future holds for Annika Sorenstam?  

Sadly, Babe’s life was cut short by cancer.  She died in 1956, just 42 years young.  Babe ignored the symptoms of her illness and her cancer was detected too late.  We know now, more than ever, that early detection is the key to survival.  We also know that following the American Cancer Society’s guidelines can help us prevent cancer even before it starts or catch it in its earliest, most treatable stages. 

  On May 22nd, hundreds of Long Islanders will pay tribute to the Babe by participating in a kickoff breakfast for the American Cancer Society’s 31st annual Babe Zaharias Memorial Tournaments at

Old Westbury Golf and Country Club.  Outings are organized for women and men at more than 60 private and public courses across the island in Babe’s name to raise money for and awareness about breast and prostate cancer.  Participants hope to qualify for the Big Babe Regional Golf Championship and American Cancer Society National Golf Championship; the largest non-profit amateur championship of is kind.  At the kickoff event, representatives from each of the clubs share their success stories from 2002 and find out how the million dollars raised each year for the past three years supports American Cancer Society research, education, advocacy and services for cancer patients and their families.

Very few people can become as famous as Babe and Annika, but even ordinary people like you and me have the opportunity to do wonderful things.  As a chairperson for the Babe Zaharias  Golf Tournament at the Village Club of Sands Point, I can bring to the tee, the same love and passion for the game as Babe and Annika.  I can also help raise money to fight cancer and help those diagnosed live longer, more fulfilling lives.  Anyone can start up a tournament in the Babe’s name or support these efforts by becoming a sponsor. 

For more information on the Babe Zaharias Memorial Tournaments or for cancer information, contact the American Cancer Society at 800-ACS-2345 or www.cancer.org