U.S. Women's Open finished on sour note

Women's golf never had it this good.

The story lines were so compelling going into the final round of the U.S. Women's Open that it became must-see TV. There was a distinctive buzz among the 30,000 lucky souls scrambling for a view on a sunny day at Cherry Hills in Colorado.

Annika Sorenstam was going for the third leg of the Grand Slam, and while she was five shots out of the lead, she was on the same course where Arnold Palmer charged to the greatest comeback in U.S. Open history 45 years ago.

Just as captivating where the two teenagers still in high school, tied for the lead and trying to become the youngest major champions in golf history -- 15-year-old Michelle Wie and 17-year-old Morgan Pressel.

Then the cameras came on, producing the highest rating for the U.S. Women's Open in eight years.

And women's golf has rarely looked this bad.

Not even a finish that ranks among the most dramatic in U.S. Open history -- a 30-yard bunker shot holed by Birdie Kim, one of the coolest names in golf -- could spare the LPGA Tour from perceptions it has battled for years.

Its new marketing campaign is "These Girls Rock." The image from Cherry Hills is that they can't play worth a lick.

The scoring average the last day was 76.1, some of that undoubtedly brought on by the pressure of the most prestigious event in women's golf.

"I hate to call it choking, but that's what it is," television analyst Johnny Miller said, and it would be hard to argue with him.

The women looked bad.

The lasting image of Cherry Hills shouldn't be putts left short or fairways missed wide, but Birdie's bunker shot for a birdie, and a brigade of teenagers on the verge of giving women's golf the attention in deserves.

They'll get another chance, and soon.