U.S. Amateur Public Links: Michelle Wie, plus 8
Michelle shot a 2-over 72 today, to go plus 8 for the 36 holes of the U.S. Amateur Public Links. ESPN's post here. Now, she has to wait until everyone else finishes to see if she makes it into the Top 64 for match play.
I'll have more to say later about Michelle's "phenom" ability, but let me just say this: to every adult male golfer, professional or amateur, who takes a verbal shot at Michelle for playing in men's events, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.
Just listen to this: "I don't think she should be here," said Danny Green, one of the leaders who shot a tournament-low 65, for 2-under. "I think she should play in the women's tournaments because they don't let the men play in women's tournaments. I just don't agree with that, but it's not my call. She qualified and she is going by the rules. She's here and she is a great player. I've got nothing against that."
If some people had their way, women would be barefoot and pregnant, and wouldn't have the right to vote. Michelle Wie is 15 years old, and twice she has almost made the cut on the PGA tour. Any male golfer who questions her ability to play men's events is only masking either his own insecurity or bias, or both.
To her credit, Michelle has always shown considerable composure in the face of the flak and criticism she receives : "I don't really care what they think because I actually qualified for this event. So I feel I belong here. I'm not looking for 100 percent support. I know there are going to be people against me. I'm not going to stop just for them." And she shouldn't.
18 Comments:
Sihwan Kim is 16 and he is 2 under after two days. Let give him some credit for his performance.
Sihwan Kim's great performance provides another perspective on Danny Green's dumb comments about Wie. Would Green say: "I think Sihwan Kim should just play in the junior tournaments because they don't let the grown men play in junior tournaments"?
Kudos to allCarry for spotlighting how silly it is when men moan about a woman being good enough to complete in their events.
It can only be fair that if women can play in men's events then men should be able to play in women's events.
Really, anonymous? Is it unfair for juniors to play in men's events if men can't play in junior events?
allcarry, the post to end the debate in my mind. well said.
now that we know she's moving on the match play, I predict a first round victory:
``I've obviously seen her play on TV,'' Claxton said. ``I'm just going to try to treat her like any other player and things will take care of themselves. I won't be ashamed to lose to her, and I'm not afraid to play her.''
This dude has already lost.
Totally agreed. The question I always want to ask these guys is this: Do you want to be the undisputed best golfer, or just the best male golfer? What are you afraid of? Why would you want an asterisk?
I agree with Anonymous in the fact that I believe there is a double standard in allowing women to play in men's events while not allowing men to qualify for women's events. What makes men the "dominant" athlete and need to allow women to compete with them.
It would be one thing, if there was no alternative for Wie or any other woman to play in, but unfortunately Wie has the US Women's Pub Links that she could play in. And when she does decide to go pro, there is the LPGA Tour for her.
I played in high school with a girl on my team, and to be honest I had no problem with it. However, once my team made it to the state tournament, the girl was required to try to make it into the girls state championships rather than going along with the boys.
Call it fair or not, we are talking about a men's amateur tournament, where you cannot be affiliated with a private club, and not a PGA Tour event. Wie should not be playing in this event.
And to respond to Douglas's somewhat short sighted remarks... Of course it not unfair for juniors to play in "open" men's events even though men cannot play in junior events. The "men" have their own championship, the USGA Mid-Am and Senior Am and the Juniors have the US Junior, but in open events, such as the US Public Links or the US Open, anyone can qualify.
And to respond to Jeff's comments, we are talking about Danny Green. Green is an amateur golfer who wants to win a championship that he has wanted to win and win under the rules as they have always been. Women have their own tournaments, and men have their own tournaments.
Here is a solution to every problem, let's create a tour that has no gender restrictions period! Everyone plays the same tees and eliminate both the men's and women's tours. Now, we would have no gender problems and unfortunately, I would feel safe to say that men would win most, if not all of the time.
Jason, if we decide to start calling it The Men's Public Links or The Men's US Open or The Men's Masters, I guess I would see your point. But I do not think we should envision the big events as designed "just for men." Indeed, I think the headline events (like the Public Links and the US Open and the Masters) already are "everyone good enough can play" events.
The fact that juniors and seniors and women have other events/tours just for them should not preclude any of these folks from competing on the biggest stage of all.
Of course, juniors and seniors and women have their own events because historically (and still today) these folks can't regularly compete with men in their 20s and 30s. But just because such special events/tours are created does not mean the folks who get to play in those special events/tours should be excluded from Open events.
Put another way, when everyone starts calling the PGA the MPGA, I'll be more convinced by your arguments.
We've learned hard lessons from the past: separate is not equal. No one can dispute that men's sports get far more attention, television coverage, prestige, and money. If Michelle can crossover and eventually make it on the PGA tour, that will be an achievement with implications going far beyond golf. We shouldn't be putting up road blocks for her, when she's already hit under par at a PGA event and beat many male pro golfers. Gosh, let's not forget the kid is only 15 years old.
Douglas, the tournaments started off for men and then the women's tournaments grew up around them. I agree with anonymous, who said that if women can play in "mens" tournaments then why can't men play in women's tournaments?
Isn't it sex discrimination to have a women's only tour?
Please people get a grip.
There is no "Mens Amateur Public Linx", there is no "Mens US Amateur", there is no "Mens US Open", these tournaments don't exist so stop acting like they do. Learn to read. It's the "APL" not the "MAPL".
Anybody can enter, you dig? These tournaments are trying to find the "best player" not the "best mens player".
Who the hell would want a title knowing that the best "players" didn't play? What a freakin' empty piece of trash that title would be.
As for restricted events, I suppose a handicapped player shouldn't be able to play in the US Open if he qualifies because unhandicapped men aren't allowed in handicapped tournaments.
I suppose anyone who plays in the US Mid Amateur, like that fat first round loser Danny Green (whose golf legacy will now and forevermore be remembered as the guy who said Wei didn't belong out there), should not be allowed to play in the US Amateur or the US Open because the Mid Amateur is a restricted event. What a fatheaded hypocrite. Green makes his way to the Masters by winning a restricted event (The 1999 US Mid Amateur) and then has the audacity to criticize Wei.
Whose the best public links player in the world? That's the issue they're trying to settle. Cut Wei out and you don't have the best players, 'cause she's proved she belongs there.
Michelle Wei is the most exciting sports figure in the world right now, and I believe after seeing her make FIVE birdies AFTER being 2 down, and closing the match with a winning birdie that she will win major championships against the men. In fact, I believe she will win everything there is to win. She may be the greatest golfer of all time by the end of her incredible journey on this planet.
I've learned so much from watching her hit the ball and even more from her tenacity and focus. People need to wake up, this girl is not going to lay down for anybody, man, woman, demon, whatever. Michelle Wei is the Goddess of golf. Play at your own risk. End of story!
PS: that Claxton kid is class all the way.
Oi
Y'all crazy with this talk. I mean who the fuck cares whether it's a god-damn dog out there beating everybody? If the dog can play let him play, and be gracious when it kicks your silly ass. Golf is a game; may the best GOLFER win. Don't anybody understand that?; don't anybody want competition? What the hell is this Danny Green talking about? "Oh, she can play against us, but I can't go out and play against women." What the fuck mate? You don't want the stiffest competition, Danny? Go ahead, go out and play the girls; if that's what floats your boat.
I agree with this last anonymous exclusively. People need to pull the sticks out of their asses. It's just golf; if someone is good they should be rewarded by being able to put their skills up against the best. People who think playing against competition lower than yourself must be dykes. Who wants to smash people all the time; that would be so damn boring.
Bye Bye Wie you got you ass kicked by a claydog now go back to the junior until you can win. Oh I forgot you can't win there either.
Wie can't even win on the LPGA. What makes her think she has the slightest chance to win a PGA Tour event....oh that's right the media hype is who. Annika Sorenstam is the top female golfer and has been for sometime. She sticks to what she does best and that is play on the LPGA. Michelle when you can win a bunch of majors, and you think the competition just isn't there playing with the girls...than maybe play an event on the PGA. Until then, you are just a novely.
Wie can't even win on the LPGA. What makes her think she has the slightest chance to win a PGA Tour event....oh that's right the media hype is who. Annika Sorenstam is the top female golfer and has been for sometime. She sticks to what she does best and that is play on the LPGA. Michelle when you can win a bunch of majors, and you think the competition just isn't there playing with the girls...than maybe play an event on the PGA. Until then, you are just a novelty.
There is a huge different in people not being allowed to play in Junior tournaments because fo their age and therefore physical development, and men not being allowed to play in womens tournaments because of their sex. Isn't that what you all are speaking for? Equality in the sexes? Someone explain to me why she is allowed to play in the mens tournament while men are not allowed in the womens.
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