12/21/24
February 18, 2005
Ladies could enter the Open: - we've discussed it before, and last time I seem to remember the arguments hinging around the wording of the entry forms for both the Open and the US Open. That wording has been (or is being) changed.
Good. And I for one hope to live long enough to see a woman in the running for a big-time "men's" event.
posted by 86 at 07:40 AM on February 18, 2005
If they play off the same tees, then I don't see why anyone would be against it.
posted by afx237vi at 08:35 AM on February 18, 2005
And I for one hope to live long enough to see a woman in the running for a big-time "men's" event. Why? It should really not be a novelty. A woman in contention should get no different reaction than a man in contention. If they play off the same tees, then I don't see why anyone would be against it. I only really fear for what it might do for the LPGA if all the best players are trying to play on the men's tour. Are they still going to get sponsorship if the best players are playing elsewhere? That might be a premature worry but I do wonder what's going to happen in 10 years.
posted by dfleming at 08:50 AM on February 18, 2005
Why? It should really not be a novelty. A woman in contention should get no different reaction than a man in contention. I hate to break this to you, but it would be a novelty, or at least all of the interest in that event would be based on the fact that a woman was in contention. I'm not sure that's a novelty, but hopefully you get the idea. Yes, in some sort of dream-world, where no one paid attention to genders or race or whatever, we would judge people blindly, but we don't live in that world. And generally speaking, I rooting for this so that we can get closer to that world. I root for Tiger because with each win, it reinforces the fact to minority kids that they can win and succeed in a forum that minority folks have not traditionally had (or been allow to have) success in. I don't view his wins differently than I do a white golfers, but I root for it more because it helps us, as a whole, see that there is no difference. I root for Anika in the same way. And Michelle Wie too. Each time they have success, no matter how limited, it brings us closer to not seeing them as "a novelty".
posted by 86 at 09:11 AM on February 18, 2005
Frankly I'm not convinced that there is a real issue here anyway. It's an Open. Go get 'em. I guess I'm rooting for them in the sense that it's anti-establishment. And that's the kind of guy I am this week.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:24 AM on February 18, 2005
Hey, can I (a guy) get into girl scouts? seriously? because that would be sweet, all the cookies and stuff. Can I just go ahead an sign up for women's league basketball? I don't see why I should be excluded if I'm able to play the game.
posted by mayerkyl at 04:50 PM on February 18, 2005
I don't think any of those examples has any relevance to golf. Logic holes big enough for a mack truck.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 04:56 PM on February 18, 2005
Oh Weedy, are you high again? The embedded question is, if we reduce certain established boundaries will others not likely follow? Dude........that was deep.
posted by mayerkyl at 05:01 PM on February 18, 2005
That's the classic response. If we let this go, where will it end?!? Golf is a sport of individual excellence, whether you're a girl, a guy or a wookie it has no bearing upon your opponent's score. Since I think we can all agree that being a women gives you no specific advantage, then I don't see the issue. Should you participate in a team sport, then other factors are at play, aren't they? I didn't say women should join the PGA any moe than you should join the girl scouts, this is an Open. If you don't want girls to play with/against the boys, just say so. The meandering logical extremism is not really a reason. And I'm all for reducing established boudaries (though not to all extents). Some call it progress.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 05:30 PM on February 18, 2005
Oh, I don't know that I'm against women playing with men. Mostly, I'm just pro-golf. If the net result is more exposure and more people enjoying the game worldwide, then I'm all for it. After all, it's only a golf match. Is it going to hurt anything to let the ladies play? However, The "classic response" question that I posed ( If we let this go, where will it end?!? ) does, in my opinion, have some merit, which is why it's a classic response. I think that women playing in Opens will probably be the first step in a progression. And I seriously believe it will lead to men challenging to play in women's sports (probably get made fun of for it though), if that isn't happening already. If some women want equal opportunities, it may turn into a two-way street, and I don't like that in all circumstances, for obvious reasons. I don't know. Frankly, I don't care that much, let the best golfer win.
posted by mayerkyl at 06:04 PM on February 18, 2005
Agreed! God, you're a fun addition to the blog, mayerkyl.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:30 AM on February 19, 2005
thanks! thought you hated me by now - I may have been a little off base on the whole Raptors thread.
posted by mayerkyl at 10:09 AM on February 20, 2005
It's not exactly an unequivocal welcome to the fairer sex, but it's a step in the right direction. The snippet from the article that I'm surprised more wasn't made of was: "the organisers of the Masters... have said they would welcome any woman that qualified." Admitedly, they're not suggesting they'll make winning any of the ladies' majors a qualification criteria, but again, it's a step in the right direction.