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Why is it OK for Wie to play on the mens tour and never make a cut but take a spot away from a young mean player? If a man wanted to ply on the LPGA there would be an uproar so loud it would never end.She can't even make a cut on the womens tour she need to go home and grow up a bunch before she plays with the men. Maybe she is waiting for some man to say something to her so she can holler sexism and sue for millions of dollars and the retire

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this is a disgusting practice SHE DOES NOT DESERVE ANY EXEMPTIONS.

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She has one of the best coaches in golf but her money hungry parents wont listen . Just let her keep on getting the crap beat out of her by the men while the womens game leaves her money grubbin ass behind .

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Michelle Wie isn't taking a spot away from a male golfer. She's being invited to play on a sponsor's exemption. It's very likely to have been left vacant otherwise. It's to boost ratings in the event. Very few people would watch Thursday or Friday of the John Deere Classic w/out Wie's presence. She'll create a little buzz which will help the entire field, even after she's missed the cut. It's not a disgusting practice. It's a sound business decision.

I don't think it's necessarily good for Wie's career to take this approach (tho I'm sure financially it's good in the short-term), but the only person being hurt here is Wie herself.

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to insomniac: Michelle WILL be taking a spot away from a man when she finally makes a cut... right? And if she plays enough of these she is certain to eventually make the cut. She does finish ahead of other guys who don't make the cut -- right? Right now she's more of a side show/circus act than a golf champion -- in fact she's never won anything.

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It's unfair for a guy who gets his spot taken -- but good for everyone else. That said, she shouldn't be playing. The rules for qualifying for a tournament should not be broken for ratings.

She should be invited to invitational tournaments, along with Sorenstam, maybe Ochoa and others. But they should not be allowed in qualifying tournaments unless they qualify -- bottom line.

There's a point at which Wie will become a Kournikova if she doesn't perform. If she makes the cut in an invitational, though, she deserves it as much as the guy who didn't because of her.

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Sports Word- you say that the rules for qualifying for a tournament should not be broken for ratings. So would you want to eliminate sponsor's exemptions altogether? If you do that, you deprive other young players the opportunity to play on the tour as well.

I know that I won't be watching the John Deere Classic on Saturday or Sunday, but there's a chance I might tune in on Thursday or Friday. In that regard, I think the sponsors made a sound move by inviting Wie to play.

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Sponsor's exemptions are okay - if it's predefined that there are 'x' # of spots for qualifiers, and 'x' # of spots for exemptions.

From a player perspective, qualifying for the tournament will lose meaning in proportion to the # of exemptions allowed. Tournaments which have have no sponsor's exemptions and are tough to qualify for have the greatest meaning for the players who make it.

I agree it is a sound move for the sponsors to alow Wie to play -- it helps ratings, and for many, makes the tourney more interesting.

Overall I believe you are correct (at least I assume it's your position) that sponsor's exemptions are a good thing.

I say Wie shouldn't be playing from a player's perspective (She didn't qualify! She shouldn't have a chance to win!) But I accept that it is a good thing for her, for the sponsor, for the tour, for most fans, and certainly for me as a viewer.

I guess the question would be, is the game tainted when the most exempted players are the most beautiful, well liked, or most entertaining, as opposed to the best players available?

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What difference does it make if Michelle "takes" a spot by being granted an exemption? Wouldn't the same apply to anyone else granted an exemption who otherwise wouldn't have qualified? She will draw more spectators and TV viewers than anyone else who gets in by exemption, there's no wrong in the John Deere people offering it to her. As far as her development and progress into a bona fide player, that's another story. Ledbetter seemed to have Michelle and her family convinced to stay away from these types of events, which sounds like a good way to get back on track and become a force in the LPGA. We'll see if the Wie's or Ledbetter was right after she plays. I look forward to watching her play anyway. Any if she actually makes the cut and "takes" money from someone else - they should have played better - and better luck next week!

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I think Wie should concentrate on trying to win in the LPGA first. Shouldn't she prove she is a good golfer before challenging the men? What has she won?

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I cannot believe how JEALOUS men are because Michelle Wie (and other female pros) can play better and as good as men. I being a Lady golfer since 1985 (I never had any golf lessons, am self taught) can beat nearly every man I play with just on the country club and public course circuit. I was in a Kiwanis scramble for charity with 120 men entered, only 2 other ladies and me And GUESS who got the prize for long drive that day. YES ME. I have always admired other golfers be they men or women who could play the game well. All I can say is SHAME SHAME for not admiring a remarkable athelete.

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Seems like "love of the game" and desire to be the "best" are not what's driving Michelle Wie. Her desire (maybe her parent's) seems to be to "take advantage of golf" to make a lot of money.
Jim

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I'll just be glad when the novelty of Michelle wears off. Obviously her parents are only focused on the quick buck, and the sponsors are interested in her for the same reason. She will have no long-term career when it's all said and done, but it won't matter 'cause she'll have bankrolled a load by then. The Anna Kournikova of golf... Kind of sad the way ladies golf is turning into a T and A show, while real professionals are being pushed aside. None of this is good for the LPGA...

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If only took cash to make her change her mind, that makes her a prostitute, not a pro golfer.

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My daughter played high scool golf on the boys team, no girls team, she had to play from the mens tee's and did very well, All district and All region,
So I have no problem with women playing on the mens tour, but just like my daugther had to do, Wie should have to quality, If she was able to do that, I believe more people would respect her for what's she wants to do.
But when you get a free pass,it only for show. I have played golf for 40 years, and my respect for the PGA tour, USGA has gone way down, either it's going to be an open tour for all to play or a men's tour, If Michelle is so good, let her go to Q-school and see how she does,
I will not watch any mens events she is in, and will not buy and products for the company who gave her the spot to play. I know to many young pro's trying to make a living and she is taking a spot away from one of them.

I wish her good luck, but if Annaka could not do it, way does she thing she can.

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Wie will not make the cut. She couldn't make it with the LPGA what makes her think that she could with the men. This may bring some additional ratings but will not last long. Wie needs to wait for her time. She is no where near the player that Annka S. Wie needs to realize that this is a process and she has not yet arrived.

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For those who say Michelle Wie merits an exemption, you obviously like to watch people that have not proven anything in the world of sport and are inclined to believe that whatever is in the news is actually news. Why is seeing someone, regardless of gender, fail so often and so miserably at golf, considered news? And why does failure, at such a high and consistent level, merit an exemption? Furthermore, I find it incredulous that the people who run the John Deer Classic cannot find someone who could easily generated more public interest. I could easily name 5 more deserving female as well as male golfers. The world of sports, golf and news have obviously sunk to new lows.

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