here comes the cat fight...
Note: Since this has sparked a lot of reaction, we've moved it to the top.
Morgan Pressel on why Michelle Wie should be made to qualify for the Women's US Open this year (following her 82 in the final round last year): "I'd be very surprised, just because of what happened last time. I don't think she needs an exemption. I've been through qualifying. Everybody who doesn't make it on the money list, other amateurs, other professionals that aren't members of the tour, they all have to go through qualifying, too. I don't see why she shouldn't, or why she should be afraid, or expect an exemption." More here.
34 Comments:
I agree with Morgan Pressel completely. What would possibly merit Michelle Wie earning an exemption to the US Open? She has yet to prove anything that would show she is deserving of that.
I disagree.
1) The kid has proven she can compete as a 15 year old at an LPGA major level. What? She's unproven because she couldn't close the deal after leading the freakin' thing after 54 holes last year? Are you kidding me?
2) She's in high school and doesn't necessarily have the same time to commit to qualifying that others do, even if it is during the summer
3) give the LPGA a chance to market themselves, will you? Nobody comes to their tournaments. Wie is a chance for the tour to put itself on the map.
I say give her an exemption. I wouldn't want her to get knocked out in qualifying by some unknown having on hot round.
Right on Morgan...why should Michelle Wie get to play under different rules than everyone else? I see David Fay's point that if she plays well enough to warrant the position from a money-list perspective then possibly she could get an exemption - lets face it, if she were eligible to win official money then there would be no argument. However, if she does not perform at that level (say she can't play in enough tournaments because she's in HIGH SCHOOL), then she should have to qualify. To Joel123's point (" ..wouldn't want her to get knocked out in qualifying by some unknown having on hot round."), I say if some unknown has a hot round, then hell, they deserve it. The USGA is the governing body of American Golf and as such, I believe that it behooves them and the game as a whole to play by the rules.
If Nike needs more screen time, then they can bloody well pay for it...
Couldn't agree more with the oldbattler. And less with joel123.
This is a major. Sure, if the LPGA wants to promote its tour, give exemptions to Wie in regular events. But don't demote your majors. It is the U.S. Open. the chance for anyone to qualify and play a tournament. If you want to give an exemption to a seasoned old-timer who won it multiple times, fine, they have accomplished a career that earned an exemption. But don't demean the significance of a major.
As for Wie, you turned professional early, so deal with the time it takes with your new job. School takes up a lot of your time? Boo hoo. You chose to turn professional, and all that endorsement cash in your pocket can dry up any tears.
Regarding her leading the event after 54 holes, think about it this way. Ben Curtis and Todd Hamilton didn't lead a major after 54 holes, they won it. But do you think the tour is going to give them free entry into a major for the rest of their lives? No. Nor should Wie get free exemptions forever because she played well for a few rounds. And yes, I feel that she is unproven regarding free exemptions in any event on tour. You want me to view you as "proven," change your name to Annika.
As for the LPGA putting themselves on the map, where do you think they are now. Compared to the NFL, nowhere. But compared to other female sports, they are at the top of the heap. The LPGA does have people come to their events...that just seemed like an unfounded blanket statement. The WNBA is more likely to get this comment, since it is merely a floundering group held afloat by NBA money and pressure to force networks to televise the game. So what female sport has more strength? Possibly figure skating, tennis, and in the past, soccer. I'd hardly say the LPGA needs to put themselves on the map, they just need to keep themselves on a steady growth line. Michele Wie is not going to "save" the LPGA Tour at this point.
Kudos morgan for stating your opinion. Giving some character to the LPGA Tour would make me want to watch...not watching a young phenom lead after 54 holes and then shoot in the 80s.
There should be one set of rules that everybody plays by. It should not matter if your name is Michelle Wie or Jane Doe and it should not matter what your marketing pull is or who your sponsors are. Now if some unknown has the same opportunity to get an exemption as Michelle Wie does by playing well then fine anyone who would otherwise be in the top 35 on the money list gets an exemption. But if the USGA is willing to give Wie an exemption because of her name then no, she should not be handed it, she should have to qualify, just like everyone else.
Golf is a game of rules and the same rules should apply to everyone.
As it sits now, Michelle Wie is probably in the top ten in the world. Having to do pesky things like attend high school greatly limits the number of events she can play in. She got into the 2004 Open because money she would have won if she had been professional would have put her in the top 30 on the money list and she would have qualified that way. She belongs in the field, hopefully she'll qualify with some good showings early this year on the LPGA. Does anybody really think that she's a hack who can't close the deal and she won't be a top player a couple years from now? Give me a break...
I just love it that we can feel so strongly about something like this. It really does not matter to me if she plays or not. If she plays, I will watch, if she does not play I may watch a little but probably not. I do think that is a good thing for Pressel to say; this shows some interesting parts of her personality. She should be in charge after all she has earned it.
"As it sits now, Michelle Wie is probably in the top ten in the world."
You are probably correct so she should have no problem qualifying just like so many others will have to do.
"Having to do pesky things like attend high school greatly limits the number of events she can play in."
Then she should either quit school or have thought about what a pesky thing having to attend school would be before she decided to turn pro.
"She got into the 2004 Open because money she would have won if she had been professional would have put her in the top 30 on the money list and she would have qualified that way."
OK... then if she, or anyone else does the same then give them an exemption.
"She belongs in the field, hopefully she'll qualify with some good showings early this year on the LPGA."
If she belongs then she should have no problem qualifying.
"Does anybody really think that she's a hack who can't close the deal"
You may want to rethink that comment after reviewing how often she has closed the deal the last 30 months or so.
"and she won't be a top player a couple years from now? Give me a break..."
I thought you just said she was a top 10 player already.
If I'm not mistaken, the decision is up to the USGA for the US Open, not the LPGA.
Wow, andrewsdad put me in my place. You know, I've reconsidered and I think he's right about everything he's written here.
toolazytogetaccount
Pressel may be technically right in what she said, but it seems like a pretty dumb comment, she should just say it's up to the USGA. From her comments, it sounds like she would rather not have Wie in the field. Is she afraid of facing Wie?
cat fight! I love cat fights.
She'll follow the Tiger Woods trajectory. Lots of scepticism and criticism from the traditional golf crowd at first, then she'll shut everybody up by dominating women's golf for the next decade.
Pressel is like a pit bull. Wie, a greyhound. Pressel would eat Wie alive in a real fight.
joel123 nailed it: She'll follow the Tiger Woods trajectory...
I remember when Tiger was going pro one of the big golf magazines ran an article where they asked the big-time golf instructors how he would fare and several said he wouldn't get or keep his tour card! I'd love to see a follow up article on that one...
She may very well follow Tiger's path but that is not the topic here, its should she be handed an exemption to the 2006 US Womens Open or not. I do not remember Tiger getting any special exemptions to the US Open, of course thats because he did not need an exemption, he earned his way in. Something that as of today, Michelle Wie has not done for the 2006 Womens US Open.
If she is as good as advertised, which I think she almost is, she should have no problem qualifying. PowerFade nailed it once again, "It is the U.S. Open. the chance for anyone to qualify and play a tournament". The key word there is qualify. Until they change the qualifications to include a players sponsor dollars or marketing appeal, she needs to qualify on a course just like everyone else.
Now on the whole cat fight angle of this, I think its going to be great for womens golf. The media wants to create something between Sorenstam and Creamer but there is too big of an age and accomplishment gap. The rivalry needs to be between Wie, Pressel, Creamer and any other up and comers. There is no doubt in my mind that Creamer and Pressel are fed up with the Wie PR when both of them have so far run laps around what Wie has accomplished on the course. Can you imagine the interest if Wie and Pressel are paired in the same group of the 2006 US Open, 4th round with a shot to win?
There would be some interest if Wie and Pressel are paired in the same group with a shot to win, but I don't think it would be enough to generate a big increase in overall interest in the LPGA. Wie's popularity is based on her attempts to compete with men, despite the press's attempt to generate interest in a Wie/Pressel/Creamer rivalry. If a couple of years from now, Wie decides to stop competing with men and focuses on the LPGA. her battles with Creamer, etc. will be interesting, but 2nd page news. I think that's where Pressel, etc. miss the point, Wie's attempts to play with the men and the resultant hype, are helping her. If it weren't for Wie's high profile few people would even know who Pressel is.
Wow, a lot of comments. I think this will all be moot b/c Michelle should do well enough on money to meet David Fay's standard of exemption.
If she doesn't, though, I don't have a strong feeling one way or the other. If USGA says no to her (she should've qualified in a qualifier), that is a reasonable position. And maybe it would be a ruling that benefits Michelle by giving her the fire to "go after it." On the other hand, if USGA gave some special exemption (apart from top money list earnings), I really wouldn't care. I agree with the commenter who said he'd watch more b/c of Wie. But if Wie were missing from this year's U.S. Open, the world's not going to end. She's got many more ahead of her.
Wow...AndrewsDad is one of the smartest people I've ever come across. What a horse's ass!
Well, I feel Michelle should quailfy for the Women's US open. I would think she can make it and it would be good for her game. And yes she could get beat by an unknown in qualifying. Golf can be anybody's day when it comes to playing. Do any Future's Tour top players get exemptions. I was wondering. If not the top money leader on it should. I feel that person would be very deserving of that exemption since they are working to get on the LPGA. Going thru the grind is hard but good for all aspiring tour players.
As a junior golfer who plays and has watched Morgan Pressel. I wish her the best out there. She has worked and been thru alot. I will be cheering her on. The Florida girls have to stick together! We all are working hard to be successful at this game. Every tournament and every qualifier is experience under our belt. We all hopefully will be on the LPGA tour, some of us will win, some of us won't. But what a game we have learned to love!
Ok. Let's not turn this into a Wie vs Pressel fight.
Did Michelle ask for an exemption?
Stop pouncing on Wie! Pressel is the one creating all the trouble here!
If Michelle Wie doesn't merit an exemption, who the heck DO you have exemptions FOR?!? That's insane. If you want to argue for no exemptions, fine, but if you HAVE exemptions, Wie is the perfect example for the type of player you use them for. GOSH.
Agreed Vance. If exemptions exist and you have a player who so many people believe is a top ten player then that person is suitable for an exemption if they fail to qualify through regular channels (for whatever reason). That's what an exemption is generally for.
The golf world is populated by people who never grew out of a high school jockocracy mentality and many in the golf crowd have the thinnest skins of any athletes. This isn't a spiritual quest they are on, it's a game and it's a golf tournament. If they have exemptions available, it's OK if they give one to whoever they want, including Wie.
There's a tinge of racism in a lot of the criticism of Wie. People are tired of foreigners (Annika) and Asians dominating women's golf.
Wie = Jack Johnson
Pressel = James J. Jeffries
They are jealous of her because in the commercialized world of golf, she has a higher market value off the course than the others. This isn't necessarily fair, it's just reality. Too bad, that's the way it works in a capitalist system...they'd take the money if they could get it.
Racism? Let me be the first to say that is cheap shot and wholly unnecessary in this argument...
It has to do with the rules and fair play. Personally, it also has a lot to do with a distaste for over-saturation and over-marketing in the face of this game that I believe to be pure.
Would Michelle Wie be on the map if she wasn't a marketing tool? No. There are better golfers who deserve to play and they get to because they qualify. It has been argued that exemptions should be given to a player "who so many people believe is a top ten player then that person is suitable for an exemption." First of all, who really believes she is a top-ten player? (She WILL be, but she isn't right now) Beyond that, my opinion is that exemptions should be reserved for those who have prooven themselves to be worthy, but who don't qualify for one reason or another - a top ten player who has been injured, a historical figure, etc.
Hell, I believe Wie's exemption last year was warranted - she had placed high enough in LPGA tournaments that had she been making offical money, she would've qualified. I do take issue with the fact that she was often given those tournament exemptions based on her marketability more that her play, but then thats my axe to grind...just don't call me a racist - I don't have an issue with who Michelle Wie is or where she came from, I have an issue with gigantic corporations infiltrating my game and how that can cause the rules to be over-looked.
I think it's likely that if she played a full schedule this year, she'd have a very good chance of making the top 10 in the world. There are many people who agree with this point of view, it has come up in the press and elsewhere many times.
I agree that the racist claim is a little over the top...but it may be true with some people who are tired of 'all those asians on the LPGA'. Again, this has come up in the press e.g. Jan Stephenson incident.
'I do take issue with the fact that she was often given those tournament exemptions based on her marketability more that her play...'
In the case of tournaments with commercial sponsors, they can give their exemptions to a trained golf playing monkey if they think it'll increase the draw to their tournament. That's what a sponsors exemption is for.
As for purity in the pro game...I'd look elsewhere. It's a purely money driven form of commercial entertainment.
Like I said, it is my ax to grind as far as purity of the game int he face of commerialty...which is why I take issue with the US Open above all...the is the governing body of the game we're talking about, not Buick or Wachovia...can't we at least put a litle faith in the USGA to uphold its own rules?
Wie's results last year in the LPGA sure look like a top 10 player. She would have been something like 13th in the money list if she had been a member despite playing 1/3 of the events everyone else played. Statistically she was clearly in the top 10.
Besides, there are a lot more than 10 players at the US Women's Open.
Hypothetical:
If you were an LPGA rookie, 20 years old, who's game would you rather have to carry you through your career: Creamer, Pressel or Wie?
It's just my opinion but I'd take Wie, because she has the power game similar to that on the modern men's tour: 300 yard drive + wedge + putt = birdie. It's boring but it works for Tiger, Vijay, Phil + Ernie.
Young players with lots of talent and who were predicted to be the break-out stars of the future:
Sean O'Hair
Jason Gore
D.J. Trahan
Ignoring the guaranteed money from the Mercedes, how have they done this year?
They have made 2 out of 14 cuts, and $27,595 in winnings.
But they have talent, right? So...lets stick them on the Ryder Cup team. We already have the Europeans heavily overpowered like last time, right?
The point was whether Wie deserved an exemption based on talent. Not:
Does Wie have talent?
Do exemptions exist?
Do talented players gets exemption?
Does high school interfering with playing golf and making 10 million a year on the side deserve getting an exemption?
Would a golf playing monkey get an exemption?
(Which brings up the natural question) Isn't everyone racist, and isn't the white man just trying to keep anyone not up to code out of the game of golf?
And although it isn't part of the topic (as are half the comments...no, wait a minute, 2/3 of the comments), is Andrewsdad a horse's ass?
Which brings up this point. When does this topic Jump the Shark? Was it when Andrewsdad brillantly broke apart an entire comment, refuting every word? Or was it when an anonymous voice started comparing the players involved as competitiors in a dog fight? No...it was when Andrewsdad said that Powerfade nailed it, for that truly is a sign of the apocolypse.
HEY! I resent those comments. First off, I said Power Fade nailed it ONCE AGAIN. I almost never disagree with Power Fade. In fact as soon as my Golf Blog commentator of the year trophy arrives, I am going to ship it south to Northern California to its rightful owner.
Now on the horse's ass comment, ask anyone I work with, I am not a horse's ass, I am an arrogant ass. They are not the same. The only thing that bothered me about that comment was the anonymous poster was too intellectually lazy to back the comment up with any facts. Hell, there are tons of reasons I can think of why someone would call me an ass but this idiot can not even type one out so I can respond. Give me something to work with.
Now back to the Wie exemption... USGA events are not like regular tour events which have sponsors exemptions. Can they give exemptions, sure, are the reasons they would give an exemption the same, no. As of today, does Michelle Wie deserve an exemption? Not sure why she would qualify for one. Now if she goes out and wins an LPGA event or earns enough money to have made the top 35 then in my opinion, she deserves an exemption because of performance on the course. If she does not then she needs to go through the qualifying process JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. Now to those who say its not fair because she has high school or she is limited in the number of events she could play, I would like to remind them that it was her decision to turn pro and take the cash. It reminds me of the joke about the kid that kills his parents then asks for leniency from the judge because he is an orphan. And speaking of fair, please explain to Creamer, Pressel and Sorenstam about the fairness of getting 10 million dollars for winning 1 Women's pub links 2 and a half years ago.
Wasn't pressel the one complaning about Asians dominating the LPGA?
I love how all the threatened whiteboys have to try and make shit up to prevent Asians from playing.
Michelle Wie will not dominate any tour until she develops mental toughness. She may never attain the kind of success people believe because 1) she is not a good putter, a skill that some can develop but truly comes naturally; and, 2) she is not really bright on the golf course.
What may really be holding Michelle back is how much she is now overswinging trying to hit the ball a long ways. She came unraveled when Brittany Lincicome outdrove her on virtually every hole when she trounced her in match play.
Michelle is a great natural talent but there are dozens of players around with great natural talent that don't win: Charles Howell to name just one.
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