Since there isn't an all-purpose women's golf thread ...

[PeteyPirate]

Michelle Wie is tied for the lead on the back nine of the U.S. Women's Open.

If she wins, will it then be considered more acceptable for her to attempt to qualify for the open (read: men's) events?

 

[BYH]

What does Ben Wright think of her rack?

 

[PeteyPirate]

I guess my question would be: Why is the default expectation for her to find some success in the women's ranks before attempting the PGA et al? If she were a man struggling to make the cut on the PGA or a 16-year-old boy getting sponsors' exemptions because of the media hype, would people be as critical of her?

 

[Fly]

What does Ben Wright think of her rack?

Doesn't get in the way yet.

 

[PeteyPirate]

Who's critical? Johnny and Dottie have their pompons out in full force today.

I will try to reinterpret your comment about her participation in men's tournaments as "a complete waste of time."

 

[PeteyPirate]

Who's critical? Johnny and Dottie have their pompons out in full force today.

I will try to reinterpret your comment about her participation in men's tournaments as "a complete waste of time."

She has yet to win a women's tournament. She is not the best female player. She did not even qualify for the women's Open, meaning she shouldn't be allowed in it, either.That means, no, she shouldn't be in regular PGA events. She needs to prove herself worthy. Thus far, she hasn't done that. Those are facts, not criticisms. She's in the women's open because she brings ratings. People love watching her play. She's good for the (women's) game. Nobody's questioning that or criticizing it.

Why should she have to prove herself in women's tournaments first?

 

[sportschick]

Never mind, Junkie. He's just convinced that women should never compete with men in any way, in a golf tournament, for a job, etc. He has his jackass hat on this week.

 

[PeteyPirate]

Who's critical? Johnny and Dottie have their pompons out in full force today.

I will try to reinterpret your comment about her participation in men's tournaments as "a complete waste of time."

She has yet to win a women's tournament. She is not the best female player. She did not even qualify for the women's Open, meaning she shouldn't be allowed in it, either.That means, no, she shouldn't be in regular PGA events. She needs to prove herself worthy. Thus far, she hasn't done that. Those are facts, not criticisms. She's in the women's open because she brings ratings. People love watching her play. She's good for the (women's) game. Nobody's questioning that or criticizing it.

Why should she have to prove herself in women's tournaments first?

She shouldn't. But if she can't win women's tournaments, why would she want to play against people who hit the ball 100 yards further off the tee and who play on courses with nearly 1,000 extra yards than her female competition? She's welcome to play in any men's event she wants. She just won't ever make a cut and won't ever make a dime.

If she aspires to be the best, then I think the question would be: Why wouldn't she want to play against people who hit the ball 100 yards farther and who play on courses with nearly 1,000 extra yards that her female competition? There are plenty of men who have and will toil in obscurity trying to make it on tour. I don't see you putting them down for trying.

 

[BYH]

Please, enlighten me, so I can take my jackass hat off.

Good luck folks. The hat fits quite snugly on his head.

Why, he doesn't even think closers are real pitchers!  :D  ;D  ;D  :D

 

[dooley_womack1]

Which I don't think you'll be getting anytime soon.

 

[PTOWN]

I agree that Wie should not be playing men's events, not becuase she is a woman or isn't good enough, but because she is being invited simply to put money in the pockets of sponsors and the PGA. But in all reality she isn't good enough to play agaisnt the men, few women are. Men are better at sports. To their credit, women are better at most everything else. I hope that is taken as a compliment by female board members.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Why, are you receiving while posting?

 

[qtlaw]

Wie is a sixteen year old who nearly became the youngest major champion in the history of golf.

She gets sponsor exemptions into mens tournaments; why? publicity. What is the applicable standard for males to get those exemptions? Same reason, wild card publicity. Sometimes do not even have to be a scratch golfer. Hell, Mark Rypien got one once as I recall simply for being an NFL quarterback. What's the difference there?

Just another opportunity to knock women, simple as that.

 

[KP]

Who was that doing the walkoff interview with Wie? Had his hand on her right shoulder the ENTIRE time, clearly freaked her out, she tried stepping away.

So much for it being a survival of the fittest with the 36 holes on Sunday.

 

[da man]

She has yet to win a women's tournament. She is not the best female player. She did not even qualify for the women's Open, meaning she shouldn't be allowed in it, either.That means, no, she shouldn't be in regular PGA events. She needs to prove herself worthy. Thus far, she hasn't done that. Those are facts, not criticisms. She's in the women's open because she brings ratings. People love watching her play. She's good for the (women's) game. Nobody's questioning that or criticizing it.

OK, wait a minute. SHE'S 16, has two top 15 finishes in the U.S. Women's Open (including a tie for third this year), two top fives in the LPGA Championship (including second in 2005), four top 15s in the other two majors (including two thirds and a fourth) and you're going to try to tell me she doesn't belong in the Women's Open because she didn't qualify for it? Are you insane? Here's a news flash: Wie belongs in the Women's Open. She's one of the four or five best female golfers on the planet right now, and she's just a golfing baby. Once more: SHE'S 16!!!!

She shouldn't. But if she can't win women's tournaments, why would she want to play against people who hit the ball 100 yards further off the tee and who play on courses with nearly 1,000 extra yards than her female competition? She's welcome to play in any men's event she wants. She just won't ever make a cut and won't ever make a dime.

The men might not always be outdriving her by 100 yards (and I'm not sure they are now). And you know she'll never make a cut? She's come pretty darn close a couple of times already and -- one more time -- SHE'S 16. There are plenty of guys who don't hit the ball a mile and compete quite well on tour. I'd love to see Michelle complete and win a PGA Tour event. I think she is great for the game. I love that she has the guts and, maybe soon, the game to go after the boys.

Oh, did I mention --- SHE'S ONLY 16!

 

[Freelance Hack]

The USGA had legitimate reasons to grant Wie an exemption. And she definitely proved herself as being worthy of that exemption with her performance this weekend.

I think this was a big step for her. Did she win the tournament? No, but what's more important is that she didn't lose it. Annika and Hurst simply outplayed her down the stretch. And Wie looked way more relaxed on a final nine of a major than I've ever seen her before.

I've been critical of Wie trying to play against the men and how that may hinder her development. But I believe that she'll win at least one women's major before she turns 18.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Nice try, but you're still not getting any head anytime soon.