| Author | Message | ||
| Jack (Gilles27)
Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 874 Registered: 3-2002 |
Golf as we play it is a game. Golf, at the top level, is very much a sport. It brings together the physical and mental like few other sports do. Crusing--you can't judge a sport as not being one simply because there are fat, out of shape slobs competing. If you do, then there are almost no sports left. Football and baseball have overweight players, and the NBA was once the home of Barkley, a self-professed pig. Tim--your friend's logic is obviously flawed. Most premier athletes, regardless of their sport, have been playing it since an early age. If anyone doubts the rigors of professional golf, they should read John Feinstein's "A Good Walk Spoiled". It will give you a new respect for the players. | ||
| John A. Suarez (Futureowner)
Member Username: Futureowner Post Number: 656 Registered: 3-2002 |
Alas, the cut has not been made. Oh well, it is a shame that she has promised not to play any more PGA Tour events. If only she could have drained some putts... Even she admitted that she loses feeling in her hands under great stress. Class act all the way. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 5004 Registered: 12-2000 |
After 3 holes she's 1 under today, so back to even overall. That's my girl! | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 5003 Registered: 12-2000 |
Golf is a sport IMHO. Play golf once a year like me and you get tired about 2/3rds through the round. Your arms start hurting, your back, and blisters where you use to have calluses in the glory days. It's not because I'm out of shape, but I'm using different muscles than with my swimming, biking, and running. Golf is very much mental, but the physical conditioning and muscle memory/coordination makes it a sport in my book. Is car racing a sport? I've done 100 mile bike races and felt better afterwards than some 30 minute races in 100 degree heat with a fire suit on. | ||
| Crusing (Crusing)
Junior Member Username: Crusing Post Number: 85 Registered: 10-2002 |
Golf is not a sport. The reason: Craig Stadler, Tim Herron (sp) etc. These guys would have trouble climbing three flights of stairs. Golf is a skill and a very difficult one to master. Good golfers are amazing. I view golfers in the same league as good bowlers, skeet shooters, bocci ball players, and the like; they have amazing skills. I love golf, don't get me wrong, but to be a called sport the players need to do something that causes physical exertion when you perform your skill. Chess is not a sport and chess players are not athletes, yet Chess masters have quite a skill. Just my $.02. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 5001 Registered: 12-2000 |
I think it's great, I'm basically 100% inline with what John has said here. If PGA wants to create a rule that women can't play on the PGA, then that's fine, but right now if she can get a sponsor exemption or actually qualify, then it's her right. The PGA tour is not a men's tour by today's rules. I'm sure the LPGA tour has a rule against men though, so that's why men can't play there. If they don't, then men should go out there and kick some butt if they think they're better. More money being top 10 on LPGA than bottom 10 on PGA. She's good, not a top 20 golfer, but if she played all season I bet she would be about middle of the pack in the rankings. Make about half the cuts and even a few top 20 finishes. Most men are better than most women golfers, but Annika is better than 99% of male golfers. Oh, I don't believe in being PC, or affirmative action, or letting women into Augusta if they want it to be a men's club. If you have a private club, then you can make your own rules. I also don't believe in the Casey Martin ruling. Rules are rules, shouldn't make exceptions for his handicap. I have several handicaps... I walk like a duck, I'm very near sighted, and I have temper. So how many strokes are you going to give me? | ||
| Mark (Study)
Member Username: Study Post Number: 474 Registered: 10-2001 |
Bob, You think thats bad? I use to take my fishing poll and get a few cast in at each pond while waiting for slow play in front of me  | ||
| Bob Campen (Bob308gts)
Member Username: Bob308gts Post Number: 586 Registered: 9-2001 |
I once heard that anything you can drink and smoke while doing is not a sport Just change it to the WMPGA ( White Man PGA ) that should take care of it all | ||
| Mark (Study)
Member Username: Study Post Number: 473 Registered: 10-2001 |
Golf is not a sport? Its so much fun to watch Michael Jordan and all those NFL guys that are golf nuts in the off-season. Some of the best athletes in the world are brought back to earth when they try to tame this little game. I was in the PGA for 8 years. Got to play a lot with the baseball teams in Florida for Spring training. Fun watching those guys come apart on the course. | ||
| Vincent (Vincent348)
Member Username: Vincent348 Post Number: 346 Registered: 4-2003 |
her problem is going to be putting. She's is not the best putter and today they played on relatively slow greens, making it easier to score. The weather is supposed to get better and the greens are going to get PGA slick. That's going to be tough for her, LPGA greens are not nearly groomed to be that fast. She's not going to make it this weekend. You know, she was invited to play. I'm glad she accepted the invitation, it's made for some interesting conversation. "Golf not being a sport" Hitting a golf ball out of 4" rough 200yds and keeping it on the green is no easy feat. have youmet any of these PGA players these days, most of them are athletes and some of them are well accomplished in what some would call real sports. | ||
| John A. Suarez (Futureowner)
Member Username: Futureowner Post Number: 652 Registered: 3-2002 |
Tim, This kid obviously doesn't have his head on straight! That is some of the worst reasoning I have ever heard. There are millions upon millions of people who play golf. And several hundred thousand who have dedicated serious amounts of time to the sport. The ones who make it to the top have a combintatoin of strong work ethics and extreme innate skill. As for Annika again, it is going to take more than just a couple of rounds with the guys for everyone to know just how good she is. There are PGA Tour players who go for YEARS hovering on the bottom of the money list before they have a breakthrough win. | ||
| Nika (Racernika)
Member Username: Racernika Post Number: 929 Registered: 12-2001 |
Hey - who cares if you are male or female if you can play the game. If she wants to play golf then I'm fine with that. When the city said we need more minorities in our fire dept...our Police dept...etc. For me - that's fine BUT everyone that wants to do that has to be able to meet the requirements....why LOWER them so a MINORITY can make it in...that is STUPID. So if a woman wants to be a fireman - let her...if she can carry a 150 lbs. man down a flight of stairs. But when I hear they lower the standards for ethnic minorities ....I can only worry ..... Go Annika - play your best.....because I don't really care of you are a guy or girl...You're a golfer in my eyes | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 3055 Registered: 6-2001 |
I was trying to disagree with their reasoning, but here it is. this kid feels that something is not a sport if you can practice since you were born and someday, be a professional at it. Look at tiger woods.... This what he thinks, not me. | ||
| Mark (Study)
Member Username: Study Post Number: 472 Registered: 10-2001 |
I don't mind a lady driver in the Indy 500, makes the sport more intersting. I don't mind a female in a F14 durring the last war with Iraq. Why not a lady on the golf tour? Sports are just entertainment. Whats wrong with adding one more story to the PGA... its a bit dull to begin with. Lets jazz things up! | ||
| John A. Suarez (Futureowner)
Member Username: Futureowner Post Number: 650 Registered: 3-2002 |
Maybe so for the WNBA, but possibly not for golf. Interesting Fact: Corey Pavin, who has won several events on tour(including a major and Colonial), has an average driving distance that is shorter than Annika's. Tim, JUST FOR FUN! I want to know how you reached the conclusion that golf is not a sport. | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 3054 Registered: 6-2001 |
The best WNBA player would not stand a chance in the NBA | ||
| John A. Suarez (Futureowner)
Member Username: Futureowner Post Number: 649 Registered: 3-2002 |
"If she wants to do it for "better competition", then why dont we see the best WNBA players in the NBA looking for better competition? because it would be a joke." Explain to me how having the best competitors would be a joke. | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 3050 Registered: 6-2001 |
DB 360- EXACTLY. they arent equal. If she wants to do it for "better competition", then why dont we see the best WNBA players in the NBA looking for better competition? because it would be a joke. They would be terrible. We had a nice discussion about this at the dinner while watching TV. Besides agreeing that she shouldnt be in the PGA, we also came to the conclusion that golf isnt a sport (but thats a different argument . Shes 1 over par, but 76th overall last time i saw. Only 40 make the cut... | ||
| John A. Suarez (Futureowner)
Member Username: Futureowner Post Number: 648 Registered: 3-2002 |
1 over par today. Not too shabby. If she could have made some puts here and there she would be close to 2 or 3 under. | ||
| D B (Threesixty)
Junior Member Username: Threesixty Post Number: 177 Registered: 8-2002 |
First off let me say, I don't mind that she's playing. Good for her. [flame suit]What really gets to me though are the people who say that she should be allowed to play because men and women are equal blah blah blah. Hate to break it to you, but men and women are not equal, and never will be. Men are better at some things, while women are better at others. When it comes to physical matters, men are simply better than the vast majority of women. And to those who think men and women are equal, would you let any of the guys on the PGA play on the LPGA? I gaurantee 99% will say no...and why not? Because he would end up winning just about everything. And why's that? Because men are better than women when it comes to golf (among other things). [/flame suit] | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 492 Registered: 2-2003 |
Good for her, if she can play with the male pro's, more power to her. I personally would love to see her trouce some of the names we know so well in the PGA. Who cares of they have the LPGA, Junior LPGA, SLPGA, ad nauseaum. There's one that stands above them all, thats the PGA. If she can compete, regardless of money, I'll support her. And if she can pull in some prize money, well, then everyone has to work harder now, don't they? Sunny | ||
| John A. Suarez (Futureowner)
Member Username: Futureowner Post Number: 639 Registered: 3-2002 |
Jim I have definitely contemplated your point before. Here is how I view it. The PGA Tour stands for Professional Golfers Association Tour. Conversely, LPGA obviously stands for Ladies Profe... The PGA Tour is NOT called the MPGA Tour. And this is a distinction that is important. Unlike the LPGA, the PGA Tour is designed to allow the best golfers to compete in the same arena. Therfore, Annika most likely qualifies under this assumption. The whole problem is that the LPGA has been designed exclusively for women, without exception(unlike the PGA Tour). I agree that in a perfect world we would not have the problem that you posed. But working with the current system's guidlines, the best we can do is to be as fair as possible(which may adversely affect others). | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Intermediate Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 1291 Registered: 7-2002 |
How would you feel about this scenario then. Say a man on the Nike tour is tired of playing for free so he just goes in the LPGA tour to make a quick few hundred grand. Is that fair? It should be if the women can play on the PGA tour. I think if she can hang with the big boys then she is good enough to play, but they can't have it both ways. | ||
| John A. Suarez (Futureowner)
Member Username: Futureowner Post Number: 638 Registered: 3-2002 |
Also, Annika shot either even or 1+ after 10 holes today. All in the rain on a soaked course. Additionally, she does hit the ball further than a few Tour Pros, and is deadly accurate off the tee(hitting about 74% of the fairways). | ||
| John A. Suarez (Futureowner)
Member Username: Futureowner Post Number: 635 Registered: 3-2002 |
Rikky Even if she does not make the cut, what would you think if Annika beat out 10 or 15 Tour players? I think she is probably better than the lowest 5% of the Tour. Also, I don't buy the argument that says "the PGA is for the men, and the LPGA is for the women." The PGA should have the BEST players in the world, not just the best men players in the world. I believe that if a women is good enough to compete with the men, then she should be able to do so on the PGA Tour. Putting gender based boundaries on the PGA Tour could stifle true competition. Same thing goes for other sports as well. Would you be opposed to a women soccer player becoming a kicker in the NFL? or If a WNBA player was good enough to be a backup center in the NBA? My deal is that I want to see the best athletes compete with each other. | ||
| Rikky Alessi (Ralessi)
Junior Member Username: Ralessi Post Number: 131 Registered: 5-2002 |
I personally am not anti-women or anything, but I certainly do not think that she should be out there. The PGA is for the men, and the LPGA is for the women. How would they feel if Tiger Woods (the PGA's Sorenstam) teed it up with them? They probably wouldn't like it. So he would crush them, and Annika won't - it is the principle. Not to mention that I think she will do poorly, and probably will turn people away from the LPGA rather than turning them toward it. She played 1 practice hole the other day, and on a par 5 she had a 190 yard 3rd shot. This went into the bunker. She just will not be able to compete, and I really don't think she will even make the cut. | ||
| John A. Suarez (Futureowner)
Member Username: Futureowner Post Number: 633 Registered: 3-2002 |
I have enjoyed playing golf for several years now, and I believe that it is wonderful that Annika Sorenstam is giving the regular Tour a shot. She seems like an honest person, and I believe her when she says that she is doing this to help elevate her game. As for those who argue about her not "qualifying" for play on the PGA Tour, this fact is not a big deal. 1st of all, Tiger Woods never went to the tour qualifying school. Also, Tiger played in his first Tour event at age 16 on a SPONSOR'S EXEMPTION. Secondly, Bank of America is allowed to dole out 8 sponsor's exemptions. Typically these exemptions are given to top amateurs, professionals, or local collegiate players. I think that Annika easily "qualifies" for a sponsor's exemption given the fact that she has completely dominated the LPGA, and is probably the best woman golfer to date. Any opinions? |