Publicity stunt or pioneer?

[Shogun]

Do you think she should be playing on the Men's Circuit? All who make it to the PGA Tour had to grind their teeth and break their backs to make it to that spot. I think a main gripe about this is that she gets to pass "go" without having to pay any dues. A big problem is that she might be taking money away from those who are earned their spot on the circuit. If this is the only time that that would be fine, I think. But for her to exempt from all of the Men rules out there is an injustice to them big time.

Tiger Woods not only thinks Annika Sorenstam should play next week's Colonial, he believes she needs several chances to prove she can compete with the men.

Vijay Singh told The Associated Press on Sunday that Sorenstam had no business playing Colonial and that he hopes she misses the cut. He also said that on the odd chance he gets paired with her, he'd withdraw.

"I think it will be more fair to her if she could play four or five tournaments -- then you could judge on those results," Woods said Wednesday before playing in the Deutsche Bank Open. "I'm sure if she did play four or five, she'd get on a roll ... In one tournament a lot could go wrong for her.

"I think it's unfortunate Vijay said that -- very unfortunate," Woods said. "I don't think his is a widely-held view -- I think it's just Vijay's opinion. My message to Annika is 'just go and play.' "

On Tuesday, Singh attempted to cast his remarks in a different light.

"If it was an attack on Annika at all, I would like to apologize to her," Singh said. "I actually said if I miss the cut, I'd rather she miss the cut as well. I hope she missed the cut because I don't want to have a woman beat me."

Singh made his remarks to AP golf writer Doug Ferguson during an interview Sunday as he left the locker room after the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, N.C. A review of Ferguson's notes confirmed the original version of Singh's remarks.

That came after Nick Price, the defending champion at Colonial, said her entry in a men's event "reeks of publicity" and that she should qualify for the tour first. Scott Hoch said he wants to see her play well so people will realize ``how much separation there is between us and the ladies' tour."

Woods thinks it would be a feat if Sorenstam survived the cut at the Colonial.

[tam]

geez, do they live in 1871 or something? Is golf so stuck up that they don't wanna play with girls?

[kreator]

I'd just like to see Vijay get his ass kicked by her

[TwntyCent]

I say let her play, if she gets her azz kicked fine, if she makes the cutt more power to her.

[colonel]

I have always believed that golf is one of the few sports that can lend itself to inter gender competition. There are strength issues obviously but that line seems to blur more and more each year. Not every guy on the Tour blasts his drive 300 + yards and a few of the LPGA players are approaching that mark. (Michelle Wei for example and she's only 13!!!)

This could be the first shot fired in that transition. I do think, however, that it was handled badly.

Having said that Annika could never beat VJ from the same tee box. Over the course of 72 holes he'd be hitting a wedge into the green as compared to Annikas 4 iron or 7 metal. Nobody's THAT lucky over 72 holes. Now Corey Pavin is another story......

[Shogun]

Originally posted by tam
geez, do they live in 1871 or something? Is golf so stuck up that they don't wanna play with girls?

I don't think that that Men golfers are stuck up, it's a matter of fairness. If a man wants in then he has to work for it. Nobody just lets him in b/c who he knows or who HE is. There might be a little pride and stubborness to play along side a women but beyond those male traits there is a legitmate gripe. Would you, tam, as a computer wiz like for some kid jump into your arena and work place who hasn't earned it, although he has a brief/limited understanding of the things expected?

Originally posted by kreator
I'd just like to see Vijay get his ass kicked by her

Paying others to do you biddings is no way to back at someone.

Originally posted by 20_cent
I say let her play, if she gets her azz kicked fine, if she makes the cutt more power to her.

That's not the issue, CENT. The issue is not that IF or CAN she play, rather, "SHOULD she be playing?" I wouldn't doubt that she beats at least one guy, but should she even be in that position? Should she get the chance? It's not about breaking the barrier, it's about money--she might be taking it away from someone who's earned their spot.

Originally posted by colonel58
I have always believed that golf is one of the few sports that can lend itself to inter gender competition. There are strength issues obviously but that line seems to blur more and more each year. Not every guy on the Tour blasts his drive 300 + yards and a few of the LPGA players are approaching that mark. (Michelle Wei for example and she's only 13!!!)

Yet another danger is that they might be changing courses to accomadate the female competitors. In that case they should stay in the LPGA. Not all men can slam like me and Tiger, but there are way longer courses than this one. Annika just picked this one b/c it is not as long is certain places (and overall) as other courses out there. She knows her limitations which highlights the issue of distance more. I can see if she wants to be a pioneer and blaze the path for more women, but not all women can hang with some of the courses designed for men. Namely, those with distance and limited green area. No way Annika can hang in the British cup.

This could be the first shot fired in that transition. I do think, however, that it was handled badly.

Having said that Annika could never beat VJ from the same tee box. Over the course of 72 holes he'd be hitting a wedge into the green as compared to Annikas 4 iron or 7 metal. Nobody's THAT lucky over 72 holes. Now Corey Pavin is another story......

I do think too that this was handled badly. It reallly makes it look illegitamate. It also made Vijay look like he was whining, but pass those misconceptions aside and you will see a valid arguement.

[colonel]

I think we're pretty much on the same page.

[TwntyCent]

Originally posted by Shogun


That's not the issue, CENT. The issue is not that IF or CAN she play, rather, "SHOULD she be playing?" I wouldn't doubt that she beats at least one guy, but should she even be in that position? Should she get the chance? It's not about breaking the barrier, it's about money--she might be taking it away from someone who's earned their spot.

Yes that is exactly the issue, SHO. I said let her play. I dont see why not.

[PFDarkside]

I heard Vijay's comment. This story twists it into a totally negative comment. Basically what he said is what all guys would say. Paraphrased: "It would be very embarrasing to me if I didnh't make the cut and a woman did". (Same as every boy not wanting to get 'beat by a girl'. His toung-in-cheek comment came out like: "If I miss the cut, she better miss it too!" <Insert heavy sarchasm>.

[TwntyCent]

Thats a good interuptation PF.

[jwreck]

I say if she wants to play, fine. Make her qualify like everyone else. There are other tournaments she could qualify for with minimum effort. Also, she wants to play with the boys, fine. Put her ass on the back tee markers like every other guy.

[Snouter]

I agree with Shogun's points.

The only problem is the double standard. She is displacing a marginal male golfer who will have to go back to a boring job somewhere as an accountant or something.

To be consistant, if they allow this, all gender based sports must be made co-ed. This will be bad for the averate female however since they will not be competitive enough and the men will dominate.

I have played recreational hockey when a talented female has been invited on a few occasions and they are treated differently even if they are highly skilled. The male forwards on the opposing team had a tendency to crowd and make every effort to somehow fall on the female goalie; mainly because she was kind of cute.

[Squalo]

Originally posted by Shogun
I don't think that that Men golfers are stuck up, it's a matter of fairness. If a man wants in then he has to work for it. Nobody just lets him in b/c who he knows or who HE is. There might be a little pride and stubborness to play along side a women but beyond those male traits there is a legitmate gripe. Would you, tam, as a computer wiz like for some kid jump into your arena and work place who hasn't earned it, although he has a brief/limited understanding of the things expected?

i disagree with that. Annika has more than a "brief/limited" understanding of golf. She's won over 40 tournaments, including 19 in the last two years.

With that said, i still don't think she should be playing in the tournament. In many sports, there are clearly divided mens and womens leagues that are in place. If she was to complete against the men in a TV special, like Battle at Bighorn or the Skins game, i wouldn't have a problem with it. But competing in a tour event doesn't sit right with me.

[302Riz]

Good for her.

[TwntyCent]

I hope she gets her azzed kicked and this is put to rest.

[302Riz]

Originally posted by 20_cent
I hope she gets her azzed kicked and this is put to rest.

And what if she doesnt, tough guy?

[kreator]

Originally posted by Shogun
Paying others to do you biddings is no way to back at someone.

Say what now?

[colonel]

One under par after 4 holes.

[jwreck]

Finished at +1 for the day. Pretty impressive. She's doing well. I'm glad to see that she is playing from the same tees. I still think she should have been made to qualify.

[colonel]

Considering she's ahead of half the field at this point I'd say she qualified.