Comments on: Jean Van de Velde to Enter Women’s British Open

By: Erik J. Barzeski

Erik J. Barzeski — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 11:30:36 +0000

I can't possibly understand why some of you think he should be allowed to play against the women. That's ridiculous.

Should he also be allowed to play on the Champions Tour? The AJGA circuit? Why don't we let him compete in the Special Olympics?

The further up you go in ability, the less restrictions there are. The PGA Tour (and the British Open) are as high up as you can go - if you've got the ability and you qualify, you can play. Lesser circuits have more restrictions, and for women's events, that includes being a woman (in gender, not in spirit).

It has nothing to do with bank accounts and everything to do with common sense.

By: Mike Sigers

Mike Sigers — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 00:19:30 +0000

If the R&A and the PGA Tour didn't want and like the free PR it gets for them, they'd change their rules.

The LPGA is smart enough to know they can't have men in their events, so they make a rule to prohibit it.

If the PGA cared about their members instead of their bank account, they would do the same.

Maybe the members should boycott tournaments until they do.

By: Episode 001 | The Sand Trap

Episode 001 | The Sand Trap — Sat, 29 Oct 2005 15:05:55 +0000

The first podcast talks about Jean Van de Velde's plans to play the Women's British Open, compares Tiger's year to Annika's year, and much, much more. Tune in!

By: 7 under

7 under — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:37:13 +0000

Remember Bobby Riggs - he made a fool of himself when he challenged Billie Jean King to a tennis match. Jean will probably do the same thing, however, I think he's right in his attempt to "draw the line" somewhere. Maybe the PGA should change its name to MPGA. Personally I don't know what women are trying to prove - - - they have sued to be able to play football with the boys, baseball with the boys, etc. Even Annika could not make the cut in a PGA event. So, if it is an ego question, I think it should be a private bet on the side one on one. I think Michelle would not have been so closely scrutinized if she would have kept her ambitions to herself. I wonder how many female athletes are taking male hormones now to try to "bulk up" for upcoming "men's" events? The past is the past (speaking of biggotry in any form), we've all come to realize that. It's always fun to have "mixed" events from time to time, but, the bottom line is let mem be men and women be women.

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 10:22:09 +0000

I agree with Jean on this, if it's decided to open qualifying for men's events to women, then men should be permitted to attempt to qualify for womens events. The issue is, I think, analagous to a situation where a woman gets a job ahead of better qualified men, just so the employer can say they have equal numbers employed. That's not equality, it's still discrimination.

It's different if a sponsor invites women to play, because the sponsor is paying up for that, but in my opinion the sponsor should not reduce the number of spaces for qualifying men in their events where they invite others to play.

By: Stacy Solomon

Stacy Solomon — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 23:38:29 +0000

He has every right to qualify if it's open to him but BOY is he gonna look like a sissy.

Especially if he DOESN'T qualify!