LPGA Golfers Mad Wie Is Playing In PGA Tournament

Michelle Wie, the 18-year-old golfer has been catching a lot of heat lately for her decision to skip major LPGA tournaments in order to play in PGA tournaments.
Wie was listed in qualifying for the Women’s British Open at Sunningdale, but she pulled out and instead has decided to play in her eighth PGA tournament. Wie, who has yet to make the cut on the PGA Tour, has also yet to win on the women’s tour.
Yet LPGA golfers seem to have taken a hard line response to Wie’s decision. “I really don’t know why Michelle continues to do this,” said Annika Sorenstam, who is playing in her final major tournament in this week’s Women’s British Open.
Fellow LPGA golfer Helen Alfredsson added: “I think, if she wants to be a golfer, she should really concentrate on being on the women’s tour and dealing with them and learning to win. Winning is what we are out here for, but I just don’t see the interest really on being on the men’s tour.”
Wie, on the other hand, said she is trying to focus on having “fun” and isn’t worried about whether she makes the 36-hole cut for the first time. At a July 25 news conference Wie stated:

I’m just doing what I feel like I want to do. I can’t control, and I don’t want to control, what other people think about me. People are going to write hateful stuff, and that’s fine. All I can control is how I play. If I shoot some low scores and win some tournaments, you know, it’s going to be hard to write bad stuff.

It just seems weird to me that it’s even an issue for LPGA golfers that Wie decides to play with the men. If she’s good enough to qualify, I don’t see why the fact that there’s no “L” in front of the organization sponsoring the event should matter. It’s a sport, and if people are playing golf, it seems like a perfectly adequate venue for Wie to showcase her talents, regardless who she’s playing against.

Disclaimer: This post was written by a Feministing Community user and does not necessarily reflect the views of any Feministing columnist, editor, or executive director.

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