Some More Wie Afterthoughts
Hello. I watched the wrapup of "The Michelle Wie Show" on The Golf Channel last night, then read some writeups on the Internet. Here's what I think after absorbing it all:
1) Mercer Baggs had two columns, one before, one after, on thegolfchannel.com. In the before, he mentioned how many negative comments he got. The most common was along the line of "Why does Wie want to play against men? Why doesn't she play against women?" What struck me about this was if you substituted the phrase 'work with' for 'play against', it would sound like 40 years ago, when women were trying to get a foot into the workplace. How amazing that sports in general, and golf in particular, are 40 years behind the 'Sexual Revolution'. I commend everyone who is giving Wie the chance to live her dream. We should all remember Michelle Wie's generation has only known an 'equal' society, and realize what she wants to do is the ideal way.
2) Kay Cotterill was asked by Steve Sands on Golf Central on The Golf Channel if Wie's desire to play with the men will make the LPGA seem like the equivalent of Triple A baseball, one notch below the majors. She said no, even though I could tell she struggled with the question. NEWS FLASH - the LPGA is Triple A!! We were told that 3 years ago by Annika and Vijay when women competing in PGA Tour events became a modern reality.
3) Mercer Baggs in his "after" column wonders why the Wies aren't marching into LPGA headquarters demanding to at least qualify for the LPGA, if not ask for Tour exemption. Can you imagine what an uproar this would cause, since Wie already gets a lot of flack for accepting sponsors exemptions? The two questions that come to mind are a) why isn't the LPGA running to Wie, and b) why does Wie need an exemption for the US Women's Open when she tied for 3rd at the Kraft Nabisco Championship (how "Open" can the US Women's Open be)?
4) Mark Brooks was quoted as saying it was probably a good thing Wie didn't qualify, because Winged Foot Golf Club may be too tough for her. Hello? The whole point was to try to get into the US Open, to experience a men's major. No one would expect her to make the cut, or play particularly well. If these US Open courses are too tough for those that qualified, then make the qualifying courses tougher to prepare them for it.
To wrap things up, I'll say again - Michelle Wie is on a journey to her personal goal. She wanted to play with the men, and she's done so. She's being paid very well to do so, unlike before when Charles Davis of The Golf Channel's Grey Goose 19th Hole accurately stated she was playing a pro schedule as an amateur. She's not a known terrorist threat. She's very polite. She seems well-grounded even under the brightest of spotlights. And her parents are supporting her. If my daughter were in her circumstances, I would probably use the Wie's plan as a model.
All the best in the future Michelle. Next week I'll say where I think you may spend next year.
Regards,
Steve
1) Mercer Baggs had two columns, one before, one after, on thegolfchannel.com. In the before, he mentioned how many negative comments he got. The most common was along the line of "Why does Wie want to play against men? Why doesn't she play against women?" What struck me about this was if you substituted the phrase 'work with' for 'play against', it would sound like 40 years ago, when women were trying to get a foot into the workplace. How amazing that sports in general, and golf in particular, are 40 years behind the 'Sexual Revolution'. I commend everyone who is giving Wie the chance to live her dream. We should all remember Michelle Wie's generation has only known an 'equal' society, and realize what she wants to do is the ideal way.
2) Kay Cotterill was asked by Steve Sands on Golf Central on The Golf Channel if Wie's desire to play with the men will make the LPGA seem like the equivalent of Triple A baseball, one notch below the majors. She said no, even though I could tell she struggled with the question. NEWS FLASH - the LPGA is Triple A!! We were told that 3 years ago by Annika and Vijay when women competing in PGA Tour events became a modern reality.
3) Mercer Baggs in his "after" column wonders why the Wies aren't marching into LPGA headquarters demanding to at least qualify for the LPGA, if not ask for Tour exemption. Can you imagine what an uproar this would cause, since Wie already gets a lot of flack for accepting sponsors exemptions? The two questions that come to mind are a) why isn't the LPGA running to Wie, and b) why does Wie need an exemption for the US Women's Open when she tied for 3rd at the Kraft Nabisco Championship (how "Open" can the US Women's Open be)?
4) Mark Brooks was quoted as saying it was probably a good thing Wie didn't qualify, because Winged Foot Golf Club may be too tough for her. Hello? The whole point was to try to get into the US Open, to experience a men's major. No one would expect her to make the cut, or play particularly well. If these US Open courses are too tough for those that qualified, then make the qualifying courses tougher to prepare them for it.
To wrap things up, I'll say again - Michelle Wie is on a journey to her personal goal. She wanted to play with the men, and she's done so. She's being paid very well to do so, unlike before when Charles Davis of The Golf Channel's Grey Goose 19th Hole accurately stated she was playing a pro schedule as an amateur. She's not a known terrorist threat. She's very polite. She seems well-grounded even under the brightest of spotlights. And her parents are supporting her. If my daughter were in her circumstances, I would probably use the Wie's plan as a model.
All the best in the future Michelle. Next week I'll say where I think you may spend next year.
Regards,
Steve
posted by Irrelevant at 1:06 PM
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