Should Michelle Wie get PGA Tour exemptions. Olin Browne and Mike Weir don’t think so:
“This is the big leagues, man. I think tournaments should invite players who qualified to play,” said Browne, who needed a sponsor’s exemptions last year until breaking through with a victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship. “I don’t see any high school kids playing major league baseball.”
“If they want to give her a shot, that’s their prerogative,” Weir said. “Do I think it’s right all the time? No, I don’t. I understand the buzz they’re trying to create with Michelle. But at the same time, she hasn’t made any cuts. I think maybe it’s about time for her to really earn a spot. It would be nice if the tour would step in. There are guys who really need to play, really need events to get in. There are plenty of guys, a lot of my friends, who are in that situation.”
I think the sponsors should be able to do what they want with their exemption. They’re the ones responsible for selling tickets, and if they think it can create buzz, more power to them.
I agree with Golf Blogger. The sponser of the tournament is putting up the money, so if inviting Annika or Michelle Wie or anybody else is helping ticket sales and/or TV sponsers, then more power to them.
Besides, I have yet to hear of the pros complaining when it’s a guy that gets a sponsers exemption. Did anybody complain when Olin Browne was getting exemptions? Or Camilo Villegas? Or when it’s some local pro?
I have to say, I sure wish these guys would shut their traps about the whole thing. It makes them look bad - don’t they realize what crybabies they look like? Are they that afraid of losing to a girl?
Actually, I think I did read about some discord over Arnold Palmer giving an exemption to his grandson. But as for Michelle Wie, I agree she should be allowed to play on the Men’s tour. Frankly if these guys who need the exemptions were any better than her, then they wouldn’t need the exemptions. They would have qualified for the event like everyone else. Is Michelle longer off the tee than Mike Weir? I think there’s some driver envy going on.
