She Believes It – Why Shouldn’t Wie? (cont)

...to compete against the best for the highest purses in golf history.  

If Europeans can take advantage of playing against the best, why not women too? 

Before Annika’s appearance at the ’03 Colonial it had been many years since a woman even appeared in a “man’s tour” event. Babe Zaharias, a national hero and icon, had that “honor” in the 1945 Los Angeles Open. 

Even though Annika didn’t make the cut she did indeed break down a barrier.   But considering her as a full-time player on the PGA Tour seems like little more than a fantasy.  

However, with the emergence of the burgeoning world-wide phenom Michelle Wie, the thought of a “woman” having the ability to seriously consider being able to “play with the boys” doesn’t seem so far-fetched anymore. 

Michelle’s remarkable aplomb (considering her tender age of merely 14 years) and outrageous physical skills (she routinely out drove PGA Tour member fellow-competitors at the Sony Hawaiian Open in 2004) have caused the whole golf world to reassess what possibilities might exist. 

It is this writer’s opinion that Michelle Wie has the potential to usurp Tiger Woods as THE golf story of our day.  

Her skill is already patently obvious. Her unique physicality (6’ 0” tall at 14), her gender, her Asian heritage and her “way beyond her years” maturity will all add up to this unassuming, sincere, jubilant young woman reshaping the landscape of golf.  

Her stated goal of playing in the Masters, her willingness to compete against the best right now, her desire of earning a PGA Tour card through Q-School all make her completely unique in her expectations.  

And if she believes it, why shouldn’t Wie? 

Only time will tell but if anyone can do it, it will be someone like Michelle. She possesses all the gifts necessary.  

And the boys on the PGA Tour?  GET READY! 

You don’t want to be shown-up by a girl do you?   

Some players already experienced this feeling at the Sony.  Just how do you like that feeling boys? 

John Cook has been “leading the opposition” against the insurgence of women into “men’s” events.  Sorry John, your point of view is outdated and exclusivistic. 

Whether by sponsor’s exemption or by qualifying, if Michelle plays and is competitive, LET HER COMPETE!  

At the Sony Michelle was competitive. She missed the cut by only 1 shot. She birdied 17 and 18 to believe she had made the cut. She was very disappointed when it became clear she had just missed. 

She didn’t come in as “novelty” and shoot 84-81.  She beat many regular members of the Tour.  That’s called “having a shot”.  

Can age and training do anything but improve her odds? 

If Europeans are welcome over here and take a piece of the “Tour pie” why not one of our own, even if she is a “girl”? 

Wake up PGA Tour. Keep the rules non-gender specific. Start to think of the PGA Tour as the “Best Players in the World” Tour. 

And what difference does it make if a player wears pants or panties? If they can shoot the numbers, LET THEM PLAY ! 

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