[puroresu]

Basically, this whole thing is a stunt. The truth is, in most sports there are a few top tier females who could perform at a decent level against the males. Not a winning level, but a decent level. You can take the very best females in most sports, put them in against the males, and the very upper tier of females will perform at what most would call a passable level. They might outperform some of the lower tier males. They might even outperform a few higher level males who are having an off day. But they would never be a championship threat, and their presence would merely underscore the fact that the very best women in most sports are only about as good as a lower tier male, or on occasion an upper tier male who is in a slump.

Just see what would happen if Tiger Woods demanded the right to play in the LPGA. There would be outrage and hysteria from the feminists, who would call him a bully. He'd be universally derided as a coward for "picking on the girls" instead of playing against his fellow males. If he played in an LPGA tourney and won, which he almost certainly would, it would be derided as a cheap win and he'd be treated as a thief who unfairly "stole" the ladies' winning purse money.

Men are simply stronger than women. That's why we have different leagues for them. Men are expected to respect the women's leagues, but it's considered "cute" and even "progressive" when the women try to invade the men's tourneys. It's the same deal as when men's colleges like VMI are forced to sexually integrate, while women's colleges are sacred turf where women retain the right to exclude men.

I have nothing against women's sports. It's great if women have their own golf leagues, or basketball leagues, or whatever. But it's silly to glorify a top tier female athlete for performing at a barely adequate level when she invades the male leagues.

[OldFriend]

As a woman I am unamused at women insisting they be allowed into every man's club, sport, facility, etc.

The tennis women demand equal pay for less work. Ridiculous and IMHO demeaning. But then, I'm sure my opinion counts for nothing to the elitists.

[over3Owithabrain]

Well put, perhaps you'll get flamed less than I because of your eloquence. It's funny, equal treatment is demanded, but when it's given, everyone freaks. If Annika was a man considered to be a top pro, we'd be talking about how poorly or mediocre she played, and how far off the lead she is. But because the "poor woman" didn't play horribly and beat 1/10 of the men she's to be lauded. How is that equality?

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

This argument that if Tiger were to play on the LPGA he would dominate so therefore Annika should go back to her own little lesser challenging world is ludicrous.

Is the same thing said when Lee Trevino moves from the Senior Tour to a PGA event? Do people say, "Well then PGA players should be able to play in Senior Tour events"? No.

There is a dramatic difference in ability between the tours, no one questions that. Yes men overall are better at physical sports than women. That doesn't mean, however, that women should not be allowed to compete with men at any time.

The PGA approved of Annika playing in this event. Was it a monetary motive? You bet it was!

Does it give Annika some attention in the press she hadn't had before? Yep!

Will a dozen or so men, maybe more if she has a better day tomorrow, have their egos hurt by her outplaying them using the same rules? You bet!

How does any of this "hurt" either the PGA or the LPGA?

People already know that the PGA is a tougher league than the LPGA. People also know that having a top woman player in a tournament makes for a more entertaining tournament.

Since she is hitting from the same tees, and has no advantage during play, I don't see how this is a problem from the rabidly-anti-PC folks here. She shot a 71 on a tough course today. Even counting the great men players that aren't there, she did something that maybe 120 people living today could do. If there are 119 men and 1 woman that can do it, then kudos for that 1 woman as much as for the 119 men. That sets her apart, that makes her the best woman in the world in golf.

I personally would think it would be a great tradition for the sponser of the Colonial to give the best LPGA player an exemption every year. Would be kind of a quirky gimmick that would set the tournament apart and would bring in a larger audience.

[presidio9]

If he played in an LPGA tourney and won, which he almost certainly would,

Tiger would shoot 4 rounds in the 50's on most LPGA Courses. He would be driving the greens with irons on a lot of par fours!!!

[monkey]

You can take the very best females in most sports, put them in against the males, and the very upper tier of females will perform at what most would call a passable level. They might outperform some of the lower tier males. They might even outperform a few higher level males who are having an off day.

Your last sentence is true, in sports that are head games like golf and bowling. However, if you think women can compete with men at a passable level, or outperform lower-tier males in sports like basketball, football, baseball, track and field and even soccer and tennis, then you haven't played competitive sports.