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Teeing Off

Golf in the Lower Hudson Valley, from high schools to the pros

For the love of humanity, let it go already

May
22

I remember writing a similar blog entry last summer about reasons Michelle Wie shouldn’t play in men’s events and feeling somewhat like a chauvinist in the process. Now I have no reservations about making the same case.

Yes, the Big Wiesy has “accepted another sponsor’s exemption into the John Deere Classic in July”:http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/news?slug=ap-johndeere-wie&prov=ap&type=lgns, this after missing the cut in all six PGA Tour events she’s played, and having missed the entire LPGA schedule thus far because of a wrist injury.

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Let’s be clear: there’s no question Wie is a tremendous talent, nor is there a question that women deserve at least the chance to try to play against men if the situation is right. As I’ve said before, watching Annika Sorenstam’s historic two rounds in the 2003 Colonial was probably the coolest thing I’ve ever covered. But whereas Sorenstam earned a shot at crossing over based on her remarkable play over a number of years on the women’s tour, Wie has yet to establish herself as anything more than a carnival attraction in these events.

This is a bad idea. No, let me rephrase that: this is a ridiculously bad idea.

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Speaking of Wie, I had no problem with her attempting to qualify for the men’s U.S. Open last year since she had to go through the same steps as everyone else. Her 36-hole qualifier at Canoe Brook made for compelling theater, and after 18 holes, it looked as if she was actually on her way to Winged Foot.

This year, though, Wie didn’t enter, meaning the sectional qualifying will be a much quieter affair. The sectional in these parts is June 4 at Old Oaks Country Club and Century Country Club in Purchase. Since there is no tour event in town, officials are expecting a modest field of roughly 58 golfers. No word yet on how many spots will be available in the Open, but I’ll be sure to pass that along when I have it.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007 at 3:31 pm by Sam Weinman. Print | Email

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About this blog
Journal News sports reporters share their thoughts on the local and national golf scene.
About the authors
Kevin DevaneyKevin Devaney
Kevin Devaney Jr. came to The Journal News in 1998 and worked on the sports staff through college. A Fordham University graduate, Kevin primarily reports on high school football and basketball but has experience covering college and professional events. He is married, and enjoys playing golf, video games and fantasy sports.
Mike DoughertyMike Dougherty
is the lead golf writer for The Journal News and LoHud.com and has been covering the sport locally for nearly 20 years. HeÕs chased Tiger Woods aro und Congressional C.C. followed Annika Sorenstam at DuPont C.C., and stalked the dedicated golfers that sleep in their cars at Mohansic every spring in hopes of landing a weekend tee time. Dougherty also spent a decade on the Knicks beat, which left plenty of time for golf every April.
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