It is ashame that Michelle Wie got thrown out when she was in second place. Are golf rules antiquated?

I love "the rules of the game" but shouldn't they be reevaluated from time to time?

Wie–who according to everyone, it seems, had flamed out faster than a lit fart–winning her first LPGA event.

Kiel, wow, what great writing...are you trying for a Pulitzer?

I'm trying for a Poopitzer -- an award for the most excrement-related references in a golf blog over the course of a year.

Wie-Wee is not only a poor golfer....she is incompetent (or stupid). She forgot to sign her card!

Sue Witters, the LPGA’s director of tournament competitions, disqualified Wie in a small office in an LPGA trailer at the golf course after asking her what had happened.

“She was like a little kid after you tell them there’s no Santa Claus,” Witters said.

Nice job recycling your comment from Jennifer's blog entry, John D. Lack of Creativity award to you.

Richard, you are on to something. The LPGA is slowly moving toward farcical with this latest gaffe. First they let an S.I. writer influence the outcome of a tournament with a subjective interpretation, then they allow a player to leave the scoring area without asking the simple question "Cards signed?" Finally, how did they not know the answer to the dispute before she teed off on Saturday. I'd like to know if other players have been DQ'd for the same infraction or if Miss Wie is the only one who ever forgot to sign a card. Maybe if she accepts LPGA membership, they'll stop hounding her.

RonMon... why is this anyone elses fault except MW's. It is the golfer's sole responsibility to ensure that they sign a correct scorecare before leaving the area. How can you say the LPGA was out to get her when a volunteer ran her down and reminded her to sign her card. Too bad it was too late by then.

JR is right. I will re-post what I opined on Balwin's blog.

I do agree that they should have notified her as soon as they detected the problem.

As for the idea that there should be officials holding the players' hands in the scoring tent, I'm not so sure. I mean, why then have the rule in the first place? I'm serious about that. It seems like one of those unnecessary rules anyway. Sure, a player has to sign his scorecard, but if he forgets, what's the big deal if he does it later?

My point is, it seems to me that the only purpose of this rule is to say, "We're going to give you this responsibility (for whatever reason) and you'd better fulfill it." So, again, if that principle is not going to be applied, what's the point?

I believe rules should be enforced strictly, but I also believe in the institution of only just and necessary rules. I'm not sure this qualifies.

To elaborate, is there any other rule where you'd say there should be officials constantly present to ensure players abide by it? How about moving your ball marker back? How about not touching the intended line of your putt? Again, I reject the notion that players should have someone looking over their shoulders to ensure they follow just and necessary rules. If the rule doesn't have that character, dispense with it. If you think it does, then treat it like any other such rule.

Messed up my Sun TV schedule. Should have DQed her after today's round... even better for the news cycle if she had won the SFC. Stupid people... haven't they heard of ratings and making the big moola every chance you get?

Dear Lacy's Uncle Smails,

I knew that I would have rebuttal on the "which rules" point. My guess is that more visible controversy takes place in and around the scoring tent (Jackie Pung, Mark Roe, Jaxon Brigman, Roberto DiVicenzo and now Michelle Wie), although five major catastrophes in over 50 years of pro golf is, I guess, not bad. I'll shut up about it, as I have no defense.

William Faulkner

Ron,

You stay away from Lacy, now. You do want to be good, don't you?

I'm surprised that cards aren't routinely checked for totals, marker and competitor signatures when they are handed in at professional tournaments. I suppose if PGA and LPGA rules state this must be done within a "designated area" then it's up to the competitor to know and abide by the rule. DQ seemed a bit harsh to me for a few yards beyond a rope, but I can just imagine the furor if she had not been DQed and the tardy signature exposed later.
The LPGA and MW would be getting even more stick than they are now.

Can you see the IOC accepting the rules of golf and having this sort of controversy as a way of life for one of their venues?

Quite frankly, any game that will disqualify 5 young fellows for taking refuge from a storm is pretty stupid.
The rule they broke was ( pardon me if I paraphrase) You may not stop play because of inclement weather.
It was a vicious thunderstorm but...
I guess they'd rather the possibilty of the kids dieing, than break a precious rule. Where were the "Officials" that didn't halt the tournament in that case? I believe it took place in NY state in 2000 or 2002.

The R & A and the USGA better clean up some iffy rules or the IOC isn't likely to have golf in their midst any time soon.

BREAKING NEWS: MW scheduled for the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open with the men (PGA) next week. Yippeeeee, the saga continues and now scrambling to find out who will provide the TV coverage. Gotta get the popcorn ready.

All the more power to her, MaiTaiSue.

I really don't give a rats butt whether she makes the cut or not, just the fact that she is doing it again and shaking up all the mysoginists of the world is good enough for me.
I like a really good laugh and watching all the reporters make asses of themselves tryng to come up with even more outrageous statements about Michelle should keep the blogs humming for months.

P4P, my sentiments exactly. Why we need the popcorn for the show that is about to start AGAIN. Watching the reporters (& some posters here) go ballistic is more fun than I can shake a stick at.

Get out the matches...I want to be one of the first to light the fart....probably on Friday!

"shaking up all the mysoginists of the world is good enough for me."

Nothing to do with that. I'd be glad to see a PGA event give Paula Creamer or Lorena Ochoa a shot to tee it up, after all they've earned it with top-tier performance on the LPGA. In your view, what has Michelle Wie done that qualifies her for freebies like this? Do try to remember she has never won a professional tournament, and can't even qualify to play in one on her own record.

New York Giddy,
Paula and Lorena have no desire to play against the men...they know exactly where the money is. They laugh all the way to the bank when they outplay the ladies from Asia Minor.

Hey Monny - 'recycling comments'? My, that's a GREAT idea - for you. At least once you MADE a rational comment, you could copy it everywhere...and we would all be in AWE of your command of the English language! ROTFLMAO

Kyle - you've seen my comments on your posts before, and you know I don't hold you in high regard...but 'flame out faster than a lit fart' is a classic! Kind of Mel Brooksian, but still...

New York City,

Ochoa and Creamer don't belong there any more than Bubbles. You don't earn a shot at the men's tour by playing in women's events any more than you earn a shot at the heavyweight title by boxing in the lightweight division. Spots in men's events should be reserved for those who have proven themselves capable (to some extent) in the men's arena. And when fellows like you say otherwise, I think you're just trying to prove how "open-minded" you are.

As for Creamer, she'd stand even less of a chance than Bubbles on a men's layout because of her relative lack of length. And Ochoa would be hard-pressed to make a cut as well.

Judge, totally correct.

Except for the last part. Paula and Lorena stand just about as much chance. Paula is a straight driver and hits the ball much further than she used to - not that far behind Michelle, I suspect. Lorena, well, she's the best female player on the planet, so she stands as good a chance as any woman.

The thing is, the only difference between LPGA and PGA Tour courses is the length. These two tours could very well play tournaments over the same courses, only using different tees. So, as long as Paula and Lorena have the length off the tee to reach the fairway (from the man's tees), it is simply a matter of playing golf normally, only on a slightly longer course. Therefore, I fail to see how Michelle has the advantage, simply because she may have ten or fifteen yards on them. Remember, Michelle's short game and putting sucks, and her drives usually go sideways.

Dave,

I agree with some of what you say, but I have to correct one thing. It isn't the case that length is the only difference between men's and women's layouts. In general, PGA courses have tougher pin placements, faster greens, and deeper rough (and, according to a greenskeeper I once corresponded with, the fairways are narrower on PGA courses, but I don't know if this is true). It really, Dave, is a totally different game.