I'm A Twosome

At first I craved spaghetti and meatballs. As my pregnancy
progressed--I'm now at 25 weeks--it got harder for me to swing a
golf club the usual way. I could relate to all the guys out
there with beer bellies. My front kept growing, which meant my
arms got farther and farther away, which meant my swing plane
was always changing. But there I was last week at the Solheim
Cup, the biggest tournament of my life. I'd never miss the
chance to represent my country in my home state of Ohio on a
course built by the greatest golfer ever, Jack Nicklaus. My
friend JoAnne Carner might be golf's Big Mama, but I'm
Big-Mama-to-Be.

Our team captain, Judy Rankin, didn't want to pressure me to
play, but an O.K. from my obstetrician and my strong play at
last month's State Farm Rail Classic convinced Judy that I was
ready to go. Being pregnant has lowered my endurance--18 holes a
day is about my limit--but it can help, too. My new, lower
center of gravity helps me stay down and hit through the ball.
I've also found that I play better giving 80% effort. I used to
get too aggressive, going all-out all the time, but if you watch
Annika Sorenstam and Se Ri Pak swing, you'll see that they stay
within themselves. With them, and with me lately, every swing is
smooth and easy. The difference is that they didn't have to go
through mood swings and morning sickness to figure that out.

My doctor told my husband, Bill, and me that our baby will
probably be a girl. If so, I will name her Tina Marie after my
sister, who was also my best friend. She died with her two sons
in a 1982 auto accident. I still miss her, but it cheers me up
to think of the future, when my baby's grandmas and grandpas,
aunts, uncles and cousins will all tell her, "Tina Marie, we
remember when you and your mommy played the Solheim Cup together."

Tammie Green went 1-2 for the U.S. at the Solheim Cup.

COLOR PHOTO: JIM GUND Baby on board Green says pregnancy has helped her game. [Tammie Green playing golf]