Category: LPGA
Michelle Wie, Annika Sorenstam, Morgan Pressel, Paula Creamer ... Has the LPGA ever had such a marketable lineup? The next decade could turn out to be a very exciting one for the women's professional golf circuit.
Wie DQ’d In First Professional Tournament
It’s not exactly a “Hello World, I’m Tiger Woods” moment.
Michelle Wie, in her first professional tournament was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard after making a bad drop on Saturday.
Her offense was that—in taking a drop—the ball ended up closer to the hole than it started.
Apparently, rules officials were alerted to the offense by Sports Illustrated reporter Michael Bamberger. A review of videotape was inconclusive, so they took Wie and her caddy back to the scene of the crime, had them identify the spot and then measured it with string.
Wie said that the ball may have been about three inches closer. Officials said it was a foot.
I don’t know how anyone could make such a determination a day later. I know as a coach and rules official for high school golf that it’s hard enough to make a determination later in the same day.
Wie v Pressel
Golf Digest has an article on the looming competition between Michelle Wie and Morgan Pressel. This could be the Arnold v Jack matchup that sparks women’s golf.
They’ve got some very marketable stars right now, and if the new commissioner plays it right, the LPGA could really up its exposure, the payouts—and possibly even the quality of the golf.
How’s it going to elevate the golf? My theory is that as tthe stakes go higher, the players will become more competitive. And the fastest way to take down your competition is to improve your short game, which in my opinion is the weakest part of the women’s game.
