LPGA Gets it Right

[Jeepthrills]

Go figure, the women did the right thing where the men fought hard to do it wrong. The LPGA has offered a special exemption to a top Amateur player. This in itself is not the story. MacKinzie Kline is a 14 year old girl with a congential heart defect that prevents her from walking long distances. The LPGA is letting her play in the Ginn Tribute and are also letting her use a cart and have access to oxygen on the course. They determined that it does not give her an unfair advantage on the course.

http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.a...4&select;=21656

Unlike their male counterparts, they actually used their brains and realized that the cart and oxygen only allow her to somewhat level the playing field. Just as it did with Casey Martin several years ago. The argument was that the cart made it easier for Martin to play and he would not be fatigued like the other players. Even though just walking from the cart to the greens and tees was harder for him than it was for guys like Tim Herron to walk 18 holes. This is going to be great PR for the LPGA Kudos to them. Granted she is an amateur and is not expected to contend. If she was a pro and was a threat to take some of their money they may change their tunes.

[zebrasinamerica]

I thought of the same thing when I saw this last night or the night before. I just sat there and thought, hmm what a shame that the PGA treated the same situation in the completley opposite way.

Zebra

[cmarkmyers]

How can you say it was the same situation? Casey Martin's disability, while truly horrible and debilitating, is no where near as severe as Kline's. Kline could die if too much pressure is put on her heart whereas Martin's leg disorder (Klippel-Trenaunay-Webber Syndrome) won't bring about death.

Either way, I am not going to get into the argument now, as this was discussed in length here when it first came up. I do like the point that someone brought up back then that was something like, “Why pick a career/hobby that can kill you due to your heart defect?”

[iacas]

How can you say it was the same situation? Casey Martin's disability, while truly horrible and debilitating, is no where near as severe as Kline's. Kline could die if too much pressure is put on her heart whereas Martin's leg disorder (Klippel-Trenaunay-Webber Syndrome) won't bring about death.

Additionally, one is an amateur, the other was/is a pro. Vastly different circumstances.

[zebrasinamerica]

my mistake, i apologize for not getting all the particulars on each disease I just meant in general they seem to be similar situations but yes, one is an amateur and the other is/was a pro and I do agree with you on that point. So again I apologize and didn't mean to offend or get under anyones skin on this subject.

Zebra

[iacas]

my mistake, i apologize for not getting all the particulars on each disease I just meant in general they seem to be similar situations but yes, one is an amateur and the other is/was a pro and I do agree with you on that point. So again I apologize and didn't mean to offend or get under anyones skin on this subject.

You won't get under my skin, I know that. I just don't think the two situations have much in common.