Earth to LPGA: grant Pressel membership
This is the biggest no-brainer if I ever saw one. Morgan Pressel wants to be a full-fledged member of the LPGA at the start of the season, having already earned her tour card at Q-School (based on a special exemption that allowed her to participate). So what's the problem? The LPGA has an age requirement of 18 years old and Pressel won't turn 18 until May.
Who in their right mind cares!? Aree Song was allowed in at 17 years old. And Pressel has shown far more game than Song. Let me see, who was tied for 2nd at last year's U.S. Open and could have possibly won the whole thing had it not been for a miracle bunker shot from Birdie Kim? The New Commish Carolyn Bivens can't make the wrong call so soon into her tenure, can she?
5 Comments:
I would like to agree, but I think that maturity has to part of being a professional at anything. In the case of the LPGA, I think they are correct to hold the line on the age for becoming a member. These kids need to be able to handle failure at a very high level. The pressure of being a professional is much, much more than in the amateur level. It takes a very strong person to take the pressures a sponsor puts on these tour players. Let these girls be able to grow up and focus on things that are much more important, like getting an education. There are a large number of parents other there who are pushing their kids to the professional levels for vicarious reasons. Some are probably doing it for selfish reason. There has to be some control or we would have 10 year olds on the tour because daddy knows the right person.
Sure they are probably going to make a lot of money, but that is a big gamble. There is a large army of kids coming up through junior golf today who will take Morgan down in a heart beat. I don’t think she has the maturity to hold up to the level of play required from these tour players, the pressures the sponsors put on them to perform at a high level everyday, the media puts on them with having to answer the same questions over and over in 100 different languages.
I would hope that all of these kids have something to fall back on to do for a living in case their 15 minutes of fame is cut to a 1 minute commercial. Let them grow up first so the fall from the top is a little easier to take. The LPGA, as well as the game of golf, will be stronger.
Let Pressel onto the Tour. The fact that she has earned her card at Q-school but will not turn 18 years of age until the fifth or sixth tournament of the season should not make any difference. Any concerns about maturity will not be solved by waiting 90 days! If she can function under the pressure of the Womens US Open, she'll do just fine on tour.
I believe Aree Song was allowed to play @ 17 because she had graduated high school. That seems reasonable to me. I like the fact there is a minimum age requirement and in certain cases they will make an exception. I am not sure "because you are good enough" is a valid reason to grant an exception. I do not see where in Pressels case, waiting 6 months is going to cause any undo hardship. She can still play the sponsors exemptions its just any money earned does not count towards the money list. If anything it gives the LPGA some PR and the buildup when she does play that first event.
Great. Another high school drop. Great way to send the message that new and improved LPGA under Bivens desperately wants to foster more high school drop outs.
Looks like its a done deal:
LPGA ruling means Pressel gets full Tour status
http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=2265241
Sounds like making it through Q school and about to graduate high school with honors are part of the reason given. I would still have like to have seen her finish H.S. first. That seems to me to be a reasonable minimum to play before age 18.
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