Sports Views

Good bit here on women in golf.

Then came the outliers, and the world was tossed into chaos. Two outliers in particular, Annika Sorenstam, and Michelle Wie, were two of the biggest stars in golf. One, an established star who dominated her sport, and the other a young phenom with an impressive drive. Some PGA tournaments desperately wanted to include these two players, for the notoriety they would bring, and because they could legitimately compete.

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Read more from this blogger: Why the Ched Head is wrong about women in golf, and that French asshole.

I wonder how Michelle Wie can win more endorsements than, say, Annika Sorenstam.

For those of us who love golf, and love to watch great golf, Mallon’s plight was appalling. How could one of the LPGA’s established, recognizable players—a past U.S. Open winner!—not have a hat or shirt sponsor? To the people who sign endorsement deal checks, I guess, it was a wise move. Who watches women’s golf, anyway? Enter Michelle Wie and her immediate $10 million in endorsement deals. Now, some LPGA veterans might be spiteful or resentful that they never made this kind of dough. The smart players, however, should be grateful: Wie’s deals pull up the market value of LPGA sponsorship across the board. More people will watch LPGA events to see Wie, boosting viewership, along with, presumably, the willingness of companies to sew their logos on shirts and hats. All of this will happen regardless of whether or not she wins immediately. As long as she continues to bomb the ball and at least makes a go at several championships (as she already has), she will continue to be a draw for the LPGA. Now, if she completely fizzles (think Jennifer Capriati in her early years), then all bets are off.

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Read more from this blogger: Michelle Wie Will Boost Women Golf

What does this make the men of the PGA?

Paula Creamer - She was the youngest to win some kind of tournament today - I believe it was the Sybase tournament. Who cares, it's women's golf. Unlike women's tennis, the ladies in the LPGA are hardly women at all. Does this surprise us? Their sport's training ground demands that you walk around for 4 hours a day and drink about a six pack before the 18th hole. Oh Paula, go to college and drop the clubs!

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Read more from this blogger: Classy Athletes

Annika Sorenstam won't be there, but here's a great write-up on why you should be there:

Even without the number-one player in the world in the field, expect a good turnout of veterans as well as some up-and-coming stars on the LPGA Tour. Let's take a look, shall we?

From 48-year old Beth Daniel, winner of 33 LPGA events and a golfer who hasn't missed the cut this year to 18-year old Paula Creamer, the talent is varied this week. Creamer is a newcomer on tour but has already made $168,811 playing in LPGA events. Brittany Lincicome, 19 and another 2005 tour rookie, doesn't have the stats of Creamer, has only made $26,582 on tour to date and jumped directly into the LPGA after an opening-round 66 in the 2004 U.S. Women's Open.

In the beginning of the 2005 season the LPGA had sixteen players 22-years old and younger with six players still teenagers, not including Michelle Wie, who will not be attending the event. Many of these younger players don't just sit on the sidelines, they contend each week. Junior golf programs on the rise throughout the country train young golfers early on to compete at a higher skill level making the transition to the LPGA tour seamless.

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Read more from this blogger: Sybase Classic Preview

Annika had a chance, but let it slip away.

Annika continued, "I had a great opportunity… and it just didn't happen, unfortunately. I'm a little sad about that." The last time Annika played 36 holes on a Sunday, she won her seventh major at the 2004 LPGA Championship.

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Read more from this blogger: Kerr Seizes First Victory of 2005 at Michelob Ultra

Am I on the right channel? Isn't this the story line from Desperate Housewives?

So, for those of you not in the know, here's the four sentence overview. LPGA Tour player hires a caddie who is 11 years younger to loop. She flirts with him and talks to him about the difficulties she (and her husband) are having trying to conceive a child. The caddie and Tour Player end up having relations and she thus becomes pregnant, and it's a strong likelyhood the Caddie is the father of the child. The Caddie is emotionally distraught and is now taking legal action against Tour Player.

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Read more from this blogger: LPGA Sex Scandal

Glad to see Wendy Ward move ahead in the Takefuji tournament.

Wendy Ward secured her fourth LPGA victory with a bogey-free round and a final score of 16-under par, finishing just two strokes ahead of Mexican Lorena Ochoa. Confidently aiming for the fairways and pin-hunting, Ward exclaimed, "I'm just tickled about the way I played today." On the second hole, a 385-yard par 4, Ward took her 58-degree wedge to within three feet. On holes 6, 9, 12, and 16, Wendy played short shots to within ten feet, birdying each time. Wendy's sport psychologist, Debbie Crews, played a role in helping Wendy's mental game. She told Crews she was trying as hard as she could, and Crews said, "I want you to quit trying and start believing."

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Read more from this blogger: Ward Triumphs at 2005 Takefuji Classic

The ongoing debate over succession at the head of the LPGA is starting to get on my nerves, also. I just don't think it's Golfweek's fault, that's all.

I generally enjoy reading Golfweek, but I just don’t get the magazine’s new obsession with outgoing LPGA commish Ty Votaw. Forget that the selection firm hasn’t been chosen yet and Votaw isn’t going anywhere until the end of the year. Already we’re getting weekly updates from our friends at Golfweek.

Even worse, the magazine is convinced the LPGA’s next leader should be a woman. In fact, they’re seemingly obsessed with helping to find that woman. If the LPGA is smart - and they usually are - they’ll ignore Golfweek’s input and find the best candidate available - man or woman.

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Read more from this blogger: Golfweek’s annoying obsession