US Womens Open

[touchfaith]

Wie tied for the lead and almost leading after sticking her 6-iron approach to 6' on 18 (missed putt), a 459 yrd. Par 4 that most are hitting fairway metal into and is playing over par for the field.

Oh, and what where we saying about maturity again??

[ QUOTE ]
After making five birdies over her first eight holes, (17 year old) Pressel closed her round with a double bogey and bogey to fall back to even par. On the way to her fractured finish, she slammed her driver to the ground, buried her head in her hands and, at the bitter end, trudged to the side of the ninth green, sat down cross-legged and pouted while her partners putted out.

When she emerged from the scorer's tent, she had been crying.


[/ QUOTE ]

[HDPM]

oh, that is gross about pressel. A DQ for a major breach of etiquette should send the message there is no crying in golf. /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Saw some of Wie's round yesterday and was impressed by a couple of things. First it looked like her putting and short game was getting better. Also she made a good decision to lay up out of the rough and made par after a great wedge. I don't like what BJ has done with the mens events and veiled product shilling, but Michelle seems to be improving. She still has no business getting sponsors exemptions to mens events tho.

[andyfox]

Gee, I'm delighted when I finish 6-5.

[andyfox]

"She still has no business getting sponsors exemptions to mens events tho."

Hey, there are only a handful of stars playing golf: Tiger, Phil, Anneka and Wie. Who else is there who people will come see to play? I understand your feelings about a woman playing in a men's tournament, but Brad Faxon ain't gonna make people buy a ticket.

[HDPM]

I have no problem with women in men's events if they are remotely qualified. Annika is clearly the best woman playing and she has played in one men's event and wasn't competitive. Michelle hasn't won an LPGA tournament yet and is playing more mens events than Annika. Maybe if she can hang on to win the junior amateur this year it will be different. /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Seriosly all a woman has to do to play a men's event is pay for monday qualifying or pony up the 4K for Q School. I didn't mind seeing Annika take one exemption, but Michelle is pushing it IMO.

[2+2 wannabe]

[ QUOTE ]
I have no problem with women in men's events if they are remotely qualified. Annika is clearly the best woman playing and she has played in one men's event and wasn't competitive.

[/ QUOTE ]

one men's event? wow nice sample size

didn't she miss the cut by one or something - same with wie?

clearly the players that finished below annika in that tourney (i.e. sergio garcia) shouldn't be out there either

[BadBoyBenny]

Why does it matter? It's one spot out of somewhere around 120. So one journeyman does not get into the tournament, but the other 119 players benefit from the larger purses that will result from the increased hype.

[touchfaith]

Paula Creamer, after opening bogey, double thru 5, is setting the course on fire @ -5 thru 13, on what has proved to be a tough day for many...

Live scoring (http://www.uswomensopen.com/scoring/alllb.htm)

[eric5148]

Wow, eagle on a 414y par 4.

But it doesn't matter, cuz Annika will win.

[brassnuts]

Heh heh hehe... Paula Creamer... Heh hehehe.

[HDPM]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have no problem with women in men's events if they are remotely qualified. Annika is clearly the best woman playing and she has played in one men's event and wasn't competitive.

[/ QUOTE ]

one men's event? wow nice sample size

didn't she miss the cut by one or something - same with wie?

clearly the players that finished below annika in that tourney (i.e. sergio garcia) shouldn't be out there either

[/ QUOTE ]


I was clearly knocking Michelle more than Annika. But like I said, Annika can afford the 4000 for Q school. Let her prove she can make the tour and be competitive. She isn't trying, which is fine. But don't think she would be competitive on the mens tour. Michelle hasn't won an LPGA event yet. She really has no business getting a lot of exemptions. One in her home state one time maybe. Perhaps some day she will be competitive on a consistent basis with the men, but I doubt it, given the fact the 15 year old boys haven't matured as much yet. In 7 years you will be hearing about the 22 year old men who hit it miles and putt better than Michelle.

[eric5148]

Sponsor exemptions are for selling tickets, not giving tour veterans a chance to make a paycheck.

[HDPM]

I think it demeans the game and the skill of the people who are qualified to give them out to people who clearly aren't. Once in a while it is fine. The exemption for the local hero or whatever. I know why they do it, but it doesn't mean I have to like it.

[andyfox]

How does it demean the game? It's the entertainment business. It's purpose has nothing to do with the purity of the game. If the sponsors think people want to see Wie or Arnold Palmer or Mark McGwire play, so what? There may be people more qualified to shoot a lower score, but if the sponsors think there is something about these people or others that will interest people other than low scores, so be it.

[JTrout]

[ QUOTE ]
How does it demean the game? It's the entertainment business. It's purpose has nothing to do with the purity of the game. If the sponsors think people want to see Wie or Arnold Palmer or Mark McGwire play, so what? There may be people more qualified to shoot a lower score, but if the sponsors think there is something about these people or others that will interest people other than low scores, so be it.

[/ QUOTE ]


It's purpose is to enhance entertainment.
It will increase ratings/ticket sales; however, it does demean the game.
The best should compete. Period.

Arnold Shwartzeneggeerrrrrr may enhance the ratings of the final table of the WSOP, but his presence would demean the game

[touchfaith]

Annika's done, 9 back and fading...

[mason55]

Since Michelle Wie is now tied for the lead at even par, what are the implications WRT teenagers and specifically her status on the LPGA tour if (when?) she wins the US Open?

[Clarkmeister]

Michelle has made 13 straight LPGA cuts. She should be in any field she chooses to be in.

[Bill Murphy]

Well, the "P" in LPGA stands for "professional". IIRC, she has no status on the Tour, she just gets lots of exemptions and special invites. If she wins tomorrow, or has a high finish, I'm not sure if she "officially" would get all the spelled out goodies a regular pro would. And ICRC what the LPGA's age rules are.

But it's a fait accompli anyway. Unless she goes full Goosen tomorrow she's getting into anything she wants, and if she wins IMO the pressure(and mega-money offers) on her to turn pro will be irresistible.

BTW, who would ever have thought Annika would be trailing THREE amateurs and be tied w/a fourth after three rounds?

[HDPM]

No. She is not qualified for the pga tour, the nationwide, the european etc.... She is eminiently qualified to play in any LPGA event except for the LPGA Championship, which until this year properly excluded amateurs. I don't knock her for playing the LPGA tour. I do disagree with her taking all these exemptions into men's events. She should not be in those fields. 13 LPGA cuts is just a bit behind Annika who has taken one exemption into a mens event. I do think she should be allowed to play as a pro - I think the LPGA has a minimum age, not sure what it is. Because Michelle is an amateur only because of the too-loose USGA rules. The fact she gets a free private jet this summer is shamateurism at its finest. I blame BJ and the USGA, not Michelle for all those problems.

[touchfaith]

[ QUOTE ]
I do disagree with her being offered all these exemptions into men's events.

[/ QUOTE ]

FYP?

I just think your disappointment is a bit misfocused.

Don't dislike her because she is accepting things that are being offered to her based upon her exceptional skill and drawing power for her age.

I doubt you or I would do much different in her position.

Hell, give me a jet at 15 and I'm showing up to the tourneys shitfaced with hookers on each arm. Give her credit for her sobriety alone.

[HDPM]

well I am disappointed she is offered the exemptions. But I am also disappointed she takes them. No need to fix my post. She hasn't won the girls junior yet. Maybe she'll skip that by winning the women's open tomorrow. But she has no business taking all the exemptions into pga tour/nationwide events.

[andyfox]

"Demean," to me, means to lower the dignity of something. Neither golf nor poker are dignified pursuits. They're ways of making money for the sponsors and the participants.

[Clarkmeister]

My mistake, I was talking about LPGA only. Though I really don't have much problem with the exemptions to the mens tour either as she'll either prove herself worthy or become a laughingstock in short order and either way it won't be an issue for long.

[masse75]

[ QUOTE ]


one men's event? wow nice sample size

didn't she miss the cut by one or something - same with wie?

clearly the players that finished below annika in that tourney (i.e. sergio garcia) shouldn't be out there either

[/ QUOTE ]

But...Annika did cherry-pick the event, on one of the shorter courses to try to negate her length disadvantage.

Put her on Pinehurst #2, which was at just over 7200 yards...not even close.

[mason55]

[ QUOTE ]
And ICRC what the LPGA's age rules are.

[/ QUOTE ]

That was the meat of my question. They have a minimum age limit (18 I believe), saying that the girls wouldn't have enough maturity and skill to adequately compete. This week Wie has shown more skill than the rest of the field. She's also shown a hell of a lot more maturity than Tiger did on 18 last week.

[HDPM]

The rule was designed to prevent young women from being pushed too much too early or being freak shows. The problem with a hard and fast age limit is that it doesn't fit everybody. IMO Michelle would be better off playing as a pro on the LPGA Tour maybe now, maybe next year, rather than the circus that is going to go on the next few years. She will still either suffer or survive being very young and having all the media attention etc..., and might avoid some of the crap like playing in mens events. She will also avoid making a mockery of the amateur status rules. But as I said I think the USGA should tighten up and police things more given how the rules are being abused by Michelle, Ryan Moore, etc... Anyway, Michelle is the case to show that the age limit doesn't work.

Anyway, a while back I posted that I thought Michelle should graduate HS a year or two early and get out of the house and to the mainland for a year or two of college golf. Now I think she should probably just be allowed to play as a pro on the LPGA Tour and take the Nike money above the table. Get a GED and a good set of financial advisors.

[JTrout]

[ QUOTE ]
didn't she miss the cut by one or something - same with wie?

clearly the players that finished below annika in that tourney (i.e. sergio garcia) shouldn't be out there either



[/ QUOTE ]

Annika missed the cut by 4.
I think she beat app. 10 players.
Sergio was not one of them.

[touchfaith]

The course is picking them off one by one this morning...

[Clarkmeister]

She did beat Sergio on the first day. For the record, here's the scores from the first two rounds:

Dan Forsman 66-66--132
Kenny Perry 68-64--132
Jim Furyk 68-65--133
Tim Petrovic 68-66--134
Chad Campbell 67-67--134
Rory Sabbatini 64-70--134
Frank Lickliter II 68-66--134
Jesper Parnevik 66-68--134
Jay Williamson 67-67--134
Steve Flesch 69-66--135
Pat Bates 69-66--135
Mike Sposa 67-69--136
Loren Roberts 67-69--136
Jeff Sluman 68-68--136
Esteban Toledo 68-68--136
Billy Andrade 68-68--136
Brandt Jobe 67-70--137
Brian Gay 68-69--137
Rich Beem 68-69--137
Gene Sauers 69-68--137
Duffy Waldorf 67-70--137
Stewart Cink 67-70--137
Glen Day 67-70--137
Woody Austin 70-67--137
Fred Funk 70-67--137
Phil Mickelson 67-70--137
Craig Parry 67-70--137
Patrick Sheehan 65-72--137
Brenden Pappas 70-68--138
Dean Wilson 71-67--138
Cliff Kresge 68-70--138
Brian Watts 67-71--138
Briny Baird 70-68--138
Harrison Frazar 69-69--138
Jeff Brehaut 68-70--138
Hal Sutton 71-67--138
Scott Verplank 69-69--138
Olin Browne 67-71--138
Marco Dawson 68-70--138
Lee Janzen 71-67--138
Shigeki Maruyama 70-68--138
Len Mattiace 69-69--138
Corey Pavin 68-70--138
Luke Donald 68-71--139
Greg Chalmers 68-71--139
Bob Tway 69-70--139
Bob Burns 69-70--139
Brandel Chamblee 70-69--139
Stephen Ames 67-72--139
Jay Haas 69-70--139
Brian Henninger 70-69--139
Tim Herron 71-68--139
Billy Mayfair 69-70--139
Spike McRoy 67-72--139
Joey Sindelar 69-71--140
Kirk Triplett 69-71--140
Mark Calcavecchia 65-75--140
Alexander Cejka 70-70--140
Joe Durant 70-70--140
Steve Elkington 72-68--140
David Frost 69-71--140
Peter Jacobsen 72-68--140
Jonathan Kaye 73-67--140
Justin Leonard 68-72--140
Rocco Mediate 68-72--140
Shaun Micheel 71-69--140
Nick Price 70-70--140
Brett Quigley 67-73--140
Carl Pettersson 71-69--140
John Senden 71-70--141
Tom Byrum 70-71--141
Fulton Allem 75-66--141
Brent Geiberger 71-70--141
Dudley Hart 70-71--141
J.P. Hayes 70-71--141
J.L. Lewis 72-69--141

Missed the cut
Jonathan Byrd 71-71--142
Ian Leggatt 73-69--142
Rodney Pampling 75-67--142
J.J. Henry 67-75--142
Cameron Beckman 70-72--142
Paul Goydos 70-72--142
Tom Lehman 73-69--142
Tom Pernice Jr 70-72--142
Matt Gogel 68-75--143
John Rollins 70-73--143
Peter Lonard 70-73--143
Sergio Garcia 72-71--143
Chris Smith 71-72--143
Stuart Appleby 72-71--143
Skip Kendall 71-72--143
David Peoples 72-71--143
Scott Simpson 71-73--144
Robert Gamez 75-69--144
Per-Ulrik Johansson 69-75--144
Heath Slocum 72-73--145
Arron Oberholser 76-69--145
Tim Clark 71-74--145
Annika Sorenstam 71-74--145
Carl Paulson 70-75--145
Aaron Barber 72-74--146
Mark Brooks 72-74--146
Joel Edwards 73-73--146
Geoff Ogilvy 72-75--147
Bob Estes 73-74--147
Dan Pohl 75-72--147
James H McLean 72-76--148
Kevin Sutherland 76-72--148
Craig Perks 73-77--150
Scott McCarron 74-76--150
Rod Curl 78-76--154
Pat Perez 72-WD
Keith Clearwater 76-DQ

[HDPM]

Rod Curl and Dan Pohl, there's some names from the '70's or something. /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[mason55]

[ QUOTE ]
The course is picking them off one by one this morning...

[/ QUOTE ]

Leaders at +3 right now. Crazy. Wie is self-destructing and is quickly falling out of contention.

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The course is picking them off one by one this morning...

[/ QUOTE ]

Leaders at +3 right now. Crazy. Wie is self-destructing and is quickly falling out of contention.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ochoa with a collassal implosion. Cost herself the tournament almost for sure. Wow. What an all-time choke.

Big Wieazy still in it. Anything can happen for here. Too bad Annika couldn't have posted like +4 and watched them all back up behind it.

[mason55]

[ QUOTE ]
Big Wieazy is completely done

[/ QUOTE ]

+7 heading out.

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Big Wieazy is completely done

[/ QUOTE ]

+7 heading out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Now she is, two horrible holes after my post. Though +4 could easily win so she's still got a crazy kind of a shot.

Ochoa with a choke job second only to VanDevelde.

[Bill Murphy]

[ QUOTE ]
Ochoa with a choke job second only to VanDevelde.

[/ QUOTE ]

As horrendous as Ochoa's choke was VDV's was far worse as he had a THREE shot lead. Granted, Ochoa was essentially playing for par wins but blowing a lead is always worse IMO. But yes, for train wreck on 72nd hole it was pretty dang bad.

BTW Wie at +8 w/7 to go is still on life support after Gulbis' yack on 18. +5 has a chance for a playoff. OOPS, never mind after that yip on 12.

[Clarkmeister]

Pressel is really irritating me right now with her whining and angst on every shot. I hope she doesn't win. Give me the one with the 'nads to gloss herself Birdie. Can't let the Dookie win either. Go Birdie Kim.

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
Give me the one with the 'nads to gloss herself Birdie.

[/ QUOTE ]

What a shot! Yes!

[mason55]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Give me the one with the 'nads to gloss herself Birdie.

[/ QUOTE ]

What a shot! Yes!

[/ QUOTE ]

Amazing shot. [censored] amazing shot.

Edit: Morgan is a HUGE crybaby!

[touchfaith]

Oh give me a break, a birdie on 18, the toughest hole, from the bunker, by a chic named Birdie?

Golf is sooo rigged. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

Fun finish, glad the crybaby didn't get it, was more fun watching her whine.

[HDPM]

yeah, MP is awful to watch. Didn't they mention on the telecast she had committed to Duke? Perfect fit. /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[Bill Murphy]

Amazing shot and she played well the whole day. Might've been a three way playoff if she missed.

Like Clark said, major nad changing her name to Birdie, but she's gotta lose that 'stache.

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
yeah, MP is awful to watch. Didn't they mention on the telecast she had committed to Duke? Perfect fit. /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Birdie beat a whiny would-be Dookie and a current Dookie. I'm a fan.

[bugstud]

[ QUOTE ]
Well, the "P" in LPGA stands for "professional". IIRC, she has no status on the Tour, she just gets lots of exemptions and special invites. If she wins tomorrow, or has a high finish, I'm not sure if she "officially" would get all the spelled out goodies a regular pro would. And ICRC what the LPGA's age rules are.

But it's a fait accompli anyway. Unless she goes full Goosen tomorrow she's getting into anything she wants, and if she wins IMO the pressure(and mega-money offers) on her to turn pro will be irresistible.

BTW, who would ever have thought Annika would be trailing THREE amateurs and be tied w/a fourth after three rounds?

[/ QUOTE ]

well...?

[eric5148]

[ QUOTE ]
Since Michelle Wie is now tied for the lead at even par, what are the implications WRT teenagers and specifically her status on the LPGA tour if (when?) she wins the US Open?

[/ QUOTE ]

A win would get a 5 year exemption. Here (http://www.lpga.com/content/05ExemptNonExemptlisting.pdf) are the criteria for LPGA Tour exempt status.