04/23/24
April 26, 2005
Open Open?: "American teenager Michelle Wie could become the first woman to play in The Open at St Andrews later this year.... if they(women, in general) qualify through the normal channels."
I expect Vijay Singh will have something to say about this...
posted by lil_brown_bat at 02:10 PM on April 26, 2005
Does anyone know the Masters policy on this? I know they don't want women members of Augusta National (they've made that clear), but would they allow a woman to compete if they qualified through normal channels?
posted by 86 at 02:15 PM on April 26, 2005
Anybody who qualifies should be able to play. Sponsor's exemptions, not so much. But you play your way in and you belong.
posted by vito90 at 02:18 PM on April 26, 2005
To answer my own question, this ESPN.com article on the subject says that, "The three majors in the United States -- the Masters, U.S. Open and PGA -- have no policy barring women."
posted by 86 at 02:46 PM on April 26, 2005
If she can qualify, she should play. However, she hasn't shown me yet by her past performances that is is deserving of an exemption. Anika has clearly dominated the women's tour and if any woman deserves an exemption it's her.
posted by willowhouse at 09:57 PM on April 26, 2005
But it shouldn't be an exemption, willowhouse- it should be as others say a clearly earned entry. Gender- like race- shouldn't matter if you can get your PGA tour card. And the Opens, by definition, don't require a tour card. That said, I have two comments about Wie: 1) She hasn't live up to her promise- yet. But she's still only 15, and can hit the ball a *ton*. It's her short game that needs work, and that will probably come over time. Any notion that she'll be hindered by hitting from the same tee (one of many sexist notions in that bbc.co.uk article) is silly. 2) Again, she's only 15- so maybe I'm wrong for saying this, but she's pretty foxy! I wouldn't mind seeing her on the telly during the British Open- at least for the first two days.... :(
posted by hincandenza at 12:41 PM on April 27, 2005
First, The Masters is an invitational tournament. Although most who are invited have met certain criteria (past major winners, top 50 world rankings, etc.) the membership of Augusta National can invite or uninvite whomever they please. Don't look for Michelle Wie to be invited in any lifetime soon. I agree with Willowhouse...if any female is deserving, it is Annika Sorenstam. But don't hold your breath for that, either. She can't play in the PGA, because she's an ameteur. So that leaves the two opens, U.S. and British. Today is the entry deadline for the U.S., so unless the USGA offers her an exemption (which they won't,) she can forget that. So if she can qualify for the British, more power to her. I don't think she can.
posted by Denrod at 01:04 PM on April 27, 2005
1) What is the 'British Open'? Is it anything to do with the 'Open Championship'? 2) "Any notion that she'll be hindered by hitting from the same tee (one of many sexist notions in that bbc.co.uk article) is silly" - it's not notional to think that Wie will suffer off the tee. It's all well and good hitting it the same distance as some of the men when you're playing target golf on a calm sunny day in Hawaii, but it's a different story entirely when you're standing on the 17th tee at St Andrews and the rain is coming in horizontally. Also, strength is required in other areas - playing from wet rough that comes up to your waist can ask some questions of your wrists. 3) I'm not saying "she's not good enough because she's a woman", I'm just saying she's not good enough. Not yet anyway. 4) What will Vijay have to say about it? I'm a cheating cheat who likes to cheat and have you seen my magic pencil anywhere?
posted by JJ at 05:20 AM on April 28, 2005
Knock Knock. Augusta Here. Augusta, Clue in.