Wie gets British Open Chance

[underpants]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/golfgbropenwomen

LONDON (AFP) - Fifteen-year-old Michelle Wie has been given the chance of playing in this year's British Open after the Royal and Ancient Club agreed to allow women to enter the Championship.

Details of how women players would qualify have yet to be announced but Wie comes into a special category because of her invitation to the John Deere Classic in Illinois on July 7-10.

The US Tour event carries with it an exemption into the Open for the leading non-exempt player.


So Wie, who next month makes her first attempt to qualify for the US Open, could miss the halfway cut and still claim an exempt spot.

[bmbmd]

1. That seems absolutely scandalous

to me. Andrea Yager, anyone?

[northzax]

2. She may have business in the British Open

but she has not come close to proving it yet. Yes, she can hit the living daylights out of the ball, but can she win on the lpga tour? seriously, if she's really that good, don't treat her like a sideshow freak.

Men's and Women's golf, at this level, is a completely different game. I would bet that any PGA player who earns his card on the money list would be top-20 on the women's tour, probably top-ten. at the least. So unless Michelle Wie can do even that, she won't success at St. Andrew's. Now, I don't think she should be prevented from earning her living on the PGA tour, more power to her, but she should actually earn her way there, not by being a circus sideshow. If she qualifies by missing the cut at the John Deere, her only men's tournament, then she was, in essence, given an exemption to a Major, and that ain't right, for anyone.

[Awsi Dooger]

3. Great!

Doesn't look like I'll be able to make it to St. Andrews this year. But it will be a treat watching on TV as Michelle Wie attack those short par 4s and try to maneuver the diabolical double greens. I hope it's not true they removed the front bunker on the Road Hole #17. That would destroy the mindboggling nature of the 2nd shot.

I dare the men's pros to attack Wie or the British Open for allowing her an opportunity. For decades the primma donna men's touring pros dodged the British Open because they didn't think the purse was high enough or they didn't want to face the prospect of travelling over there yet fail to qualify. Every year several players who were exempt wouldn't even make the trip, and air one grief after another as an excuse.

[underpants]

4. Arnie is generally considered with making The Open what it is in

American Eyes.

His win in '61 pretty much MADE Americans start going over there.

http://www.linksgolfstandrews.com/events/british-open-champions.htm

That being said it is still one of my favorite sports events to watch on TV.

[ThorsHammer]

5. Fair enough

I prefer this scenario, where she has to earn her way in, to the stupid sponsors exemptions that she normally gets. I wouldn't mind them giving exemptions to someone like Sorenstam, who has dominated the women's game, but giving them to a young lady who has not accomplished anything professionally yet is not right. I would also have no problem if she were to gain a spot in the Masters by winning the US Amateur, or the US Open through sectional qualifying. If she's good enough to win her way in, and plays from the men's tees, all the power too her.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. Fair Is Fair, TH

If she plays well enough in qualifying, good for her. I don't see it happening, but if she does, then it's fine!

After Annika said she wouldn't be back in a men's tourney, that was enough for me. If Annika doesn't think SHE'S good enough, there's not a doubt at all that Ms. Wie isn't good enough. (Annika - 50 wins on tour. Michelle - None.)

I understand the Deere people though. The big names avoid that tournament like it was played in Antarctica, or something. The sponsors have a duty to try and make some cash. If inviting her to that tourney improves attendance and TV interest, i understand and approve. She won't win, but it will increase interest.

The Open, though, is different. As long as she has to qualify on an equal footing with all others, (as opposed to Susie Whatley who qualifed for the GHO playing from the forward tee boxes), it's fair, and fair is fair.
The Professor

[ThorsHammer]

7. I agree almost completely

I might not have worded mine that well. I don't mind anyone gaining a spot by earning it. The Masters takes the Amateur champ, the US Open has several qualifiers, and the British Open has something similar. If Whatley qualified from the women's tees, that is not fair. However, I'm pretty sure that Wie is playing from the men's tees both in qualifying and in the tournaments.

I understand why the Deere people are doing it, but it still doesn't seem fair. If she had some success on the women's tour, like Annika (big understatement here), it would be one thing, but right now she's more of a novelty act. She's definitely more appealing to the casual fan, but I'd rather see an underdog from the Nationwide or foreign tour, or a former star like Greg Norman. I'd love to see Wie win big on the LPGA and then get invited, but I believe that they are pushing her too hard now when she's still much more potential than results. I can see why they're doing it, especially (IIRC) since it is right before the British Open, but just wish she had a little more on her resume.

Have you been able to play much now that the weather has gotten better? I'm trying to get out at least twice a week (once to the range, once to the course) now.