Weeeeeeee

[elpatzer]

http://thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?...1&select=16815

Any golf fans out there? Think Michelle will make the cut? Think she shouldn't be there at all? Thoughts?

[moon]

No way she makes the cut. She may be good for a girl but against men, even the weak field that the John Deere Classic has, I still doubt that she is able to make the cut.

[ratech]

Weak field indeed.
Only 1 top 10, 11 top 50, and 35 top 100.
On that note, I think she has a chance, but she is going to have to shoot low tomorrow.
I hope she does.

EDIT - Glen Hnatiuk is in second right now with a 6 under.

[elpatzer]

Originally posted by ratech@Jul 7 2005, 09:39 PM
Weak field indeed.
Only 1 top 10, 11 top 50, and 35 top 100.
On that note, I think she has a chance, but she is going to have to shoot low tomorrow.
I hope she does.

EDIT - Glen Hnatiuk is in second right now with a 6 under.

I'm pulling for her for sure. I especially want to see her succeed as the nay sayer group grows. I don't care how weak the field is. It's still a PGA event. All that said, since she was one stroke outside the cutline yesterday, I'm thinking she needs to get to -4 ish today. I think that's a pretty tall order.

[Resolute 14]

Until men are allowed to play LPGA events, Wie should not be there.

[elpatzer]

Originally posted by Snakeeye@Jul 8 2005, 01:41 PM
Until men are allowed to play LPGA events, Wie should not be there.

The difference is that the LPGA is a closed tour while the PGA is an open one. It's the equivalent of saying until americans are allowed to play in the Canadian Closed Golf Championship, canadians shouldn't be allowed to play in the US Open Golf Championship.

The PGA is the highest level golf tour in the world. Open to all humans.

I think a very sound argument could be made that she doesn't deserve to be there because she has done nothing to deserve a PGA exemption.

[Mike Oxlong]

Originally posted by Snakeeye@Jul 8 2005, 01:41 PM
Until men are allowed to play LPGA events, Wie should not be there.

That is a ridiculous statement.

Do you think men should be able to play in a womens hockey league just because Rheaume played in an exhibition game in the NHL?


As Elpatzer said it is the best tour in the world open to anyone. Not just men. There is a reason it is the Lpga tour, the L doesn't stand for Let anyone come and play. Ladies profesional golfers association, strictly for the women.

If Wie thinks she is good enough to play with these guys then good for her. To shoot 1 under on that course yesterday is pretty damn good and I would LOVE to see her make the cut.

The only thing I don't agree with is that she get a sponsors exemption to play in the tourney. She should have to qualify to play in the tournament like anyone else. I don't like the fact that she took a spot from a struggling PGA pro who needs as many tournaments as he can to make some money and keep his card.

Right now the projected cut is at -2 and she is sitting at -1 before teeing off today. I think she will likely have to be -2 or -3 today to make it. I would Love to see it.

As far as women playing in mens events go, I am all for it. Provided they earn there way into it just like everyone else. I don't like the sponsors exemption route.

[transplant99]

Provided they earn there way into it just like everyone else. I don't like the sponsors exemption route.

I disagree.

Sponsors are the reason golfers can make almost a million dollars a WEEK if they win. It's their money that sees so much going to charity, its there money to do as they please with. They piut up the millions, they have every rioght to see as much exposure that week as they can get. Wie brings that kind of attention to the sponsor when she competes.

There is a reason for the sponsors exemption...they make the whole tour go round. If CEO of John Deere wants his 15 year old grandson to play...let him.

The kid may not of earned the spot, but the sponsor sure did.

[Mike Oxlong]

Originally posted by transplant99@Jul 8 2005, 05:09 PM

I disagree.

Sponsors are the reason golfers can make almost a million dollars a WEEK if they win. It's their money that sees so much going to charity, its there money to do as they please with. They piut up the millions, they have every rioght to see as much exposure that week as they can get. Wie brings that kind of attention to the sponsor when she competes.

There is a reason for the sponsors exemption...they make the whole tour go round. If CEO of John Deere wants his 15 year old grandson to play...let him.

The kid may not of earned the spot, but the sponsor sure did.

That is a very valid point.

The sponsors pay the prize money, the charities etc... So they should have a say as far as who plays in their tournament. Especially for a tournament like this that is not a high profile event, this is a way to add some exposure to the event.

However, I still don't agree with the fact that they are taking away the chance for a struggling PGA pro who has earned his card to make a living. If you don't play golf you aren't getting paid. These guys need as many starts as they can get to make some money so they can survive out there and hopefully retain their card for next year.

I just think if Wie has as much game as she thinks she does she should earn a spot just like everyone else. I think that would help her gain far more respect from tour pro's, media, and fans.

[JiriHrdina]

The other thing is that in general fans want to see Wie in these tournaments. So in general
- Fans want Wie
- Sponsors want Wie
- This means more $$$ for everyone

Seems like its an easy decision that she should be there. It just makes sense to me that someone that generates interest in the tournament should be there over a borderline PGAer who probably doesn't stand much a chance to win the tourney.

[transplant99]

However, I still don't agree with the fact that they are taking away the chance for a struggling PGA pro who has earned his card to make a living. If you don't play golf you aren't getting paid. These guys need as many starts as they can get to make some money so they can survive out there and hopefully retain their card for next year

I thought if you had your card, you could attend any PGA event you liked, except for the majors where you have to meet criteria?

If so, she is taking away a spot from nobody...period. She is just one more person attempting to make the cut.

[Mike Oxlong]

Originally posted by transplant99@Jul 8 2005, 05:47 PM

I thought if you had your card, you could attend any PGA event you liked, except for the majors where you have to meet criteria?

If so, she is taking away a spot from nobody...period. She is just one more person attempting to make the cut.

Not completely true.
There are about 240 guys with PGA Tour cards. Some of them have exemptions into all tournaments but other guys who have qualified through q-school or the nationwide tour may not have any kind of exemption status yet. Therefore they either have to rely on sponsors exemptions to get into a tournament or they have to go through the Monday qualifying.

Basically they have to play a one round tournament the Monday before and the lowest 7 or 8 guys (or girl) qualify to play in the full field event starting Thursday.
(I am not sure how many spots are available through Monday qualifying, I think it varies from tourney to tourney)

Since there are 240 guys with cards and 160 spots in a tournament, that means there are a loy of guys left out.
(I realize that at an event like this lots of the top players aren't there so there are more spots available.)

[Sylvanfan]

Well even an individual sport like golf has a bussiness side to it. If Michelle Wie is not there no one talks about this tournament. She's there, so the word John Deere Classic is being mentioned a lot more. She's showing she's not that bad that she can't hang in there with the guys too. Brillian marketing move by John Deere to find a way to get some attention for what otherwise would have been an overlooked event. The weak field also does give Wie a shot at being around all weekend too, which I imagine the folks at John Deere would love.

[Mike Oxlong]

I totally agree with you guys on that. This is a great way for John Deere to make their tournament a high profile event. This otherwise boring stop on the tour is now getting international exposure. I agree the sponsor has exemptions to use as they wish.

I would just like to see her qualify for it is all I am saying. Just like anyone else wanting to play in the event has to do.

I beleive she is going to qualify for the PGA full time one day. She has stated that is her goal. I think she has the game to do it.

[Resolute 14]

Originally posted by Mike Oxlong+Jul 8 2005, 10:02 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Mike Oxlong @ Jul 8 2005, 10:02 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Snakeeye@Jul 8 2005, 01:41 PM
Until men are allowed to play LPGA events, Wie should not be there.

That is a ridiculous statement.

Do you think men should be able to play in a womens hockey league just because Rheaume played in an exhibition game in the NHL?
[/b][/quote]
Yes.

They may not call it the MPGA, but it is implied. So long as we are going to break down gender barriers, we should be breaking them down both ways.

[Mike Oxlong]

Originally posted by Snakeeye+Jul 8 2005, 08:12 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Snakeeye @ Jul 8 2005, 08:12 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

That is a ridiculous statement.

Do you think men should be able to play in a womens hockey league just because Rheaume played in an exhibition game in the NHL?

Yes.

They may not call it the MPGA, but it is implied. So long as we are going to break down gender barriers, we should be breaking them down both ways. [/b][/quote]
Well slap on the skates then and go to the Oval extreme training camp.
Love to see how that goes for you....

If a woman is good enough and has earned a spot to play with the men then I see no problem with it.

Obviously if you sent a man out to an LPGA event he would destroy them. Just doesn't work that way.

[elpatzer]

Originally posted by Snakeeye@Jul 8 2005, 08:12 PM

They may not call it the MPGA, but it is implied. So long as we are going to break down gender barriers, we should be breaking them down both ways.

Well, that's your opinion and I'll respect it. I disagree though. I don't see anywhere that it is implied that the PGA tour is the MPGA. The only implication the PGA ever makes is that they believe they are the highest level of golf tour in the world. They are open to all competitors. They're not scared of anyone and anyone who thinks they can hang with them is welcolme to their qualification process. Mildred Ella Zaharias played in a PGA event 60 years ago and made the cut. The PGA has never ever attempted to imply they are a men's association. Only the media has referred to it as such.

There are no gender barriers being broken down here only a few stereotypes.

[nfotiu]

Funny, no one complains about her gettin sponsor exemptions to LPGA tour events. She hasn't done anything to "earn" those either. If she can compete, which is seems she might be able to already, why shouldn't she be allowed?

[elpatzer]

Originally posted by nfotiu@Jul 8 2005, 08:41 PM
Funny, no one complains about her gettin sponsor exemptions to LPGA tour events. She hasn't done anything to "earn" those either. If she can compete, which is seems she might be able to already, why shouldn't she be allowed?

Lots of people have complained about her receiving LPGA exemptions. Morgan Pressell has complained (and she may have some merit to her arguments).

[Mike Oxlong]

Right now she is -4 overall and she is on the 11th hole.
Cut is projected to be -3. Things are looking good for her. Let's hope she finishes strong.