Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

[Meatball]

She can't win an LPGA event, but somehow will take a stab at winning the most difficult major on the Men's tour.


http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=2429837

[forensicd]

Re: Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

What a joke. She has not proven herself at all on the LPGA, and I mean not at all. Why, besides the obvious media circus, would should want to do this? The best female golfer of all time couldnt even make the cut at a tiny pga event, and she said she wouldnt try it again. Its fine to have dreams, but she is 16 years old or something, why not wait until you have honed your game a little, then try?

[Skerik]

Re: Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

This is really getting old. But I guess it's not going to stop until someone on the men's tour enters an LPGA event and obliterates the field by 30 strokes. Maybe then they'll realize there's merit to having two separate tours.

[fishepa]

Re: Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

I hope she falls flat on her face.

[auburn34]

Re: Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

Reading all of these replies has given me a good laugh this morning. I'm not sure if these responses are from old cronies of Hootie Johnson or extremely insecure men who think that a woman qualifying for the US Open will be the start of the downfall for the PGA Tour or civilization in general.

Of course there is merit for having a men's and woman's tour, just as there is merit for having the NBA/WNBA, ATP/WTA tennis tours, etc. And just about anyone I know will agree that due to the genetic differences between men and women, the women's version of these leagues is not as strong as the men's version of these leagues. I see it being similar to having age cutoffs for youth leagues. Of course the 11-12 year old little league will be better than the 7-8 year old little league. But if there is a 7-8 year old (boy or girl) who thinks they are good enough to make it at the 11-12 year old level, who are we to say they can't try out. But it makes no sense to allow the 11-12 year olds to try out for the 7-8 year old league.

If Wie is playing by the same rules, from the same tees, and meets the handicap requirements for going through qualifying, who am I (or you) to say she shouldn't do it. She is not getting a sponsor's exemption/free ride into the field. She will have to earn it. The travesty was a few years ago when that female golfer (I forget her name but it wasn't Sorenstam) was allowed to qualify for a PGA event playing from different tees.

As the father of a 5 year old girl who is already very active in sports, I would never hold my daughter back from a desire to play against the best. I think Wie is trying this for two reasons. One, to play against the best. Two, no one has ever done it before and she is already aware of her opportunity to do things no one has ever done before. And the great thing about golf is that it is not subjective. If she isn't good enough, we will all be able to look at her score and figure that out.

[forensicd]

Re: Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

Reading all of these replies has given me a good laugh this morning. I'm not sure if these responses are from old cronies of Hootie Johnson or extremely insecure men who think that a woman qualifying for the US Open will be the start of the downfall for the PGA Tour or civilization in general.

Of course there is merit for having a men's and woman's tour, just as there is merit for having the NBA/WNBA, ATP/WTA tennis tours, etc. And just about anyone I know will agree that due to the genetic differences between men and women, the women's version of these leagues is not as strong as the men's version of these leagues. I see it being similar to having age cutoffs for youth leagues. Of course the 11-12 year old little league will be better than the 7-8 year old little league. But if there is a 7-8 year old (boy or girl) who thinks they are good enough to make it at the 11-12 year old level, who are we to say they can't try out. But it makes no sense to allow the 11-12 year olds to try out for the 7-8 year old league.

If Wie is playing by the same rules, from the same tees, and meets the handicap requirements for going through qualifying, who am I (or you) to say she shouldn't do it. She is not getting a sponsor's exemption/free ride into the field. She will have to earn it. The travesty was a few years ago when that female golfer (I forget her name but it wasn't Sorenstam) was allowed to qualify for a PGA event playing from different tees.

As the father of a 5 year old girl who is already very active in sports, I would never hold my daughter back from a desire to play against the best. I think Wie is trying this for two reasons. One, to play against the best. Two, no one has ever done it before and she is already aware of her opportunity to do things no one has ever done before. And the great thing about golf is that it is not subjective. If she isn't good enough, we will all be able to look at her score and figure that out.

She has never even won an event in the womens tour! Hell, i have dreams of playing qb for the miami dolphins, but i have to prove myself first in other divisions. She has done nothing to merit her attempt at playing in the PGA, hell, she can barely make cuts in the LPGA.

What if i am last on the money list in the PGA, and my "dream" is to win an event. Is it ok for me to go down to the LPGA and kick the crap out of the girls? Of course not, becuase its sexist and wrong. But for some reason its ok to go the other direction, and the person is seen as feerless.

Also, it has been done before.

[mgoblue]

Re: Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

i don't quite get why people are so angry about this...it'd be quite a spectacle if she made it to the Open, and if she sucks like a lot of people are saying then she'll get her *** handed to her in qualifying...what's the big deal? Let her qualify, and if she's good enough to make it though then she's good enough to golf at the Open with the big boys.

[SPTO]

Re: Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

It's not even a given that she'll make it anyways so why complain. At least she's actually having to qualify for the event. Correct me if i'm wrong but Annika Sorenstam didn't have to play any qualifiers for her time in the Mens Tour. So at least Wie is having to work for it.

I think it'd be a huge story if she were to contend in the final round but I doubt it. I think she'll miss the cut. (That's if she even makes it)

[Meatball]

Re: Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

Congratulations to Michelle just for having the stones to try out. I just think she is in way over her head. Like forensic said, prove yourself a little on your own tour first, then go for it.

She is biting off more than she can chew right now. We are not talking about the Greater Greensboro Open here, this is the hardest golf tournament in the world. Sheesh.

[utexas]

Re: Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

1. She just officially joined the LPGA, so to think she won't win and win big is very naive. She is still a teenager!!!
2. There is nothing wrong with having a goal at a young age and working hard to earn the right to pursue it
3. Why do some men have a hard time when a woman can compete at or even above their level? Wie could beat anyone on this board in golf, is that what is causing all the anger?

[mgoblue]

Re: Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

1. She just officially joined the LPGA, so to think she won't win and win big is very naive. She is still a teenager!!!
2. There is nothing wrong with having a goal at a young age and working hard to earn the right to pursue it
3. Why do some men have a hard time when a woman can compete at or even above their level? Wie could beat anyone on this board in golf, is that what is causing all the anger?

people say she hasn't proven anything yet, but what people in these qualifier tournaments have proven stuff? I don't know, i'm not threatened by her, and honestly it's kinda fun to watch the spectacle.

[forensicd]

Re: Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

The point is this is a girl who says she wants to play with the best. Well, she cant even play with the best in the LPGA, so why would you come and try to play in the PGA? The best female golfer ever couldnt even make the cut a year or so ago at a non-major, why does this 16 year old girl think she can? She is doing it for publicity, not for the love of the game and competition. I can see in 5-10 years from now if she has dominated her tour, then she has some merrit to do so, otherwise its a cheap publicity stunt, just like most of her tournaments.

[utexas]

Re: Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

But why does she have to prove herself to you or anyone else? Its competition, if she didn't have the skills then she wouldn't be in the position she is now. I love the fact that she is constantly trying to reach higher and play against better competition. That is what sports is all about. She is not havingher place defined for her, she is redefining who she is and how women golfers will forever be viewed. You only live once, might as well make a difference.

[daflyboys]

Re: Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

Reading all of these replies has given me a good laugh this morning. I'm not sure if these responses are from old cronies of Hootie Johnson or extremely insecure men who think that a woman qualifying for the US Open will be the start of the downfall for the PGA Tour or civilization in general.

Of course there is merit for having a men's and woman's tour, just as there is merit for having the NBA/WNBA, ATP/WTA tennis tours, etc. And just about anyone I know will agree that due to the genetic differences between men and women, the women's version of these leagues is not as strong as the men's version of these leagues. I see it being similar to having age cutoffs for youth leagues. Of course the 11-12 year old little league will be better than the 7-8 year old little league. But if there is a 7-8 year old (boy or girl) who thinks they are good enough to make it at the 11-12 year old level, who are we to say they can't try out. But it makes no sense to allow the 11-12 year olds to try out for the 7-8 year old league.

If Wie is playing by the same rules, from the same tees, and meets the handicap requirements for going through qualifying, who am I (or you) to say she shouldn't do it. She is not getting a sponsor's exemption/free ride into the field. She will have to earn it. The travesty was a few years ago when that female golfer (I forget her name but it wasn't Sorenstam) was allowed to qualify for a PGA event playing from different tees.

As the father of a 5 year old girl who is already very active in sports, I would never hold my daughter back from a desire to play against the best. I think Wie is trying this for two reasons. One, to play against the best. Two, no one has ever done it before and she is already aware of her opportunity to do things no one has ever done before. And the great thing about golf is that it is not subjective. If she isn't good enough, we will all be able to look at her score and figure that out.

I have a daughter in sports as well, but she is not very talented in it and is only doing it for the experience and the social exposure.....in short, to have fun.

But pitting girls against boys in certain sports at younger ages and what's done on the the professional level isn't even apples and oranges...... it's more like apples and...... escalators. So if we want true equality in any given sport, abolish the seperate leagues/organizations and stick them in one big pool under which the conditions are completely the same.

And, yes, this is coming from a guy who knows that Michelle Wie can kick his ***!

[Meatball]

Re: Michelle Wie will attempt to qualify for 2006 U.S. Open

So if we want true equality in any given sport, abolish the seperate leagues/organizations and stick them in one big pool under which the conditions are completely the same.

in any given sport? lol.