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From Jason Sobel, ESPN

Annika Sorenstam has a new job.

Sure, she''s still a top-level golfer, but the 10-time major championship winner is also dabbling in course-design work, a role that eluded many of her elite LPGA predecessors. Sorenstam has already completed a course at the massive Mission Hills development in China and has two others in the works -- Patriot''s Point (a redesign in South Carolina) and Euphoria Gold (in South Africa).

Consider those just the tip of the iceberg.

The Golf Club at Red Mountain in Rossland, British Columbia, will be Annika''s first North American design from scratch; she and fellow architect Thomas McBroom plan to break ground in 2009.

The Hot Seat caught up with Sorenstam during a recent walk-through at the site. Q: Other than a few former players, most notably Jan Stephenson and Amy Alcott, women haven''t made a major impact as course designers. Why is that?
A: Well, I think that women''s golf is still in a young stage. It''s an old sport, but for women, it''s still very young. It''s not until the last 20 years or maybe even 10 years that professional golfers are getting more recognition and more respect. And I think that''s really where it starts. If they consider women as good golfers, then you have credible names and credible knowledge leads to credible opportunities. Like you said, Jan and Amy are the first few to really get the opportunity, and now I''m getting one, and it''s really a lot of fun. It''s an area women have not really touched, so the opportunities are there.

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