Cromwell, July 24: American Suzy Whaley will become the second woman to play on the PGA men's tour this year when she tees it up at the Greater Hartford Open this week. It has not attracted quite the same attention as Annika Sorenstam at The Colonial, but Suzy Whaley gets her chance to tee it up against the men Thursday at the Greater Hartford Open. A teaching pro from Avon, Connecticut, Whaley won a PGA Sectional tournament in Connecticut playing from the ladies tees last fall to qualify for this tournament. Whaley would have been the first female to compete in a PGA Tour event in 58 years if Sorenstam had not accepted an exemption and competed in the Colonial in May. Because she has two jobs - a teaching pro and mother of two daughters - Whaley has not had a chance to play much. She tied for 48th place last week in the LPGA Big Apple Classic with a 7-over 291, but relishes a chance to play in a PGA Tour event. The 36-year-old Whaley was on the back nine of her practice round Tuesday when a downpour soaked the TPC at River Highlands. She was 4-over par on the first eight holes when rain interrupted her round for the first time. Whaley was even after four holes on the back nine before a thunderstorm ended her round.


Whaley has avoided comparing herself to Sorenstam, the world's No. 1 female player who shot a 71 and a 74 and missed the cut at the Colonial.


The biggest name here is two-time defending champion Phil Mickelson, who is looking for his first win since his one-stroke victory over Jonathan Kaye here last year.


Bureau Report