Inkster Caddie Leaves For Wie's Bag

[Gxgolfer]

BY JAY A. COFFIN

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ARMEL, IND. — When Juli Inkster closed out her singles match Sept. 11 at the Solheim Cup, it was a bittersweet moment. Although the 45-year-old veteran began a little dance in celebration of her 2-and-1 victory over Sophie Gustafson, it marked the final time Inkster and longtime caddie Greg Johnston would work together.

Johnston is leaving Inkster after 11 years to caddie for Michelle Wie, the latest evidence that the 15-year-old will turn professional next month.

"My caddie is going to work for Michelle Wie," said Inkster, saying she didn't know what Wie's professional plans are. "He's like a brother to me and I'll always love him. It's what he wants to do and I hope it works out for him."

[swgolfs]

All of the latest gory details I've heard was that the new LPGA commish was not going to bend the age rules.......did I miss something?

[nochct]

of course now she' sso big time that she can turn down tournamnets on the pga tour. she was offered a spot in the 84 lumber and turned it down. supposedly b/c the course didn't fit her game. in other words, she wasn't going to play well there and so it would ruin her future sideshow antics. she should enter a club championship somewhere while she's still an amateur so that she can at least win something.

[br61]

I believe that Wie plans to turn professional and become an "independent contractor" without applying for LPGA membership which will enable her to play on sponsor's exemption on LPGA, LET and Asian tournaments which should help her and her caddy plenty of chances to earn some dough.

 

Which tournaments would be nuts not to offer her a spot in their tournament. She has a strong drawing power to sell additional tickets and garner additional revenues for any tournaments that she participates in.

[Debit]

This is an instance where Votaw's being a nice guy has turned on the LPGA. He set a very bad precident IMHO when he waived the age requirement for Aree Song. [Note that the PGA didn't buckle to allow Ty Tryon -- who was also this supposed phenom -- compete before he met their age requirement.] The door was unlocked and there is a new crop of outstanding young golfers clamoring to get in ... the LPGA is now in a no win situation. Wie continues to protest that she wants to go to college -- just like Tiger. Unlike Tiger, Michelle claims that she wants a degree. If she declares herself a professional and an independent contractor, the LPGA still stipulates that she may only play so many tournaments as a non-member. As pointed out above, she wouldn't have to worry about whether to accept a sponsor's exemption to a PGA (Nationwide, PGA) contested on the same weekend as an LPGA event. She will blow her scholarship chances, but that may be moot already. The NCAA is not about to fall over itself to let her compete as she and her father have pretty well blown her amateur status under the much stricter NCAA rules.Then again, playing only on her summer vacation or missing a few classes, she will possibly make enough money to pay her own tuition. In other words, have her cake and eat it to.

[br61]

This is an instance where Votaw's being a nice guy has turned on the LPGA. He set a very bad precident IMHO when he waived the age requirement for Aree Song. [Note that the PGA didn't buckle to allow Ty Tryon -- who was also this supposed phenom -- compete before he met their age requirement.] 

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There's a difference between Aree and other young players such as Ty, Wie and Morgan Pressel, Aree had already completed her high school requirements before getting her LPGA membership at 17 while others hadn't yet completed their high school requirements. Ty Votaw mentioned that in his interview on TGC last Saturday and has repeatly stressed that point previously.

 

Personally in my honest yet worthless opinion, :clapping: I feel they should be allowed to pursue their LPGA membership as long as they can still work toward meeting their school requirements and as long as they handle themselves maturely.

[Debit]

Actually, the high school diploma thingy was Votaw's way of trying to cover his gaff. The rules of membership of either Tour stipulate "18 years of age" period. Nowhere is there any mention of what level of schooling the player has completed. Ty blew it, he realize he had blown it, now he had to find some justification for trying to undo the precident. Paula Creamer had been the medalist at the LPGA qualifying tournament as a high school student. As the medalist, she immediately announced that she was turning professional. You do realize that she won her first tournament the weekend before her high school graduation -- well, the graduation ceremony anyhow? She had technical completed HS in December.

[br61]

Actually, the high school diploma thingy was Votaw's way of trying to cover his gaff. The rules of membership of either Tour stipulate "18 years of age" period. Nowhere is there any mention of what level of schooling the player has completed. Ty blew it, he realize he had blown it, now he had to find some justification for trying to undo the precident. Paula Creamer had been the medalist at the LPGA qualifying tournament as a high school student. As the medalist, she immediately announced that she was turning professional. You do realize that she won her first tournament the weekend before her high school graduation -- well, the graduation ceremony anyhow? She had technical completed HS in December.

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Good point, I had forgotten about Creamer's situation but she's already 18 at that time. I did not read rules of membership about diploma thingy but just went by what Votaw had said in his interviews, I guess we don't have to worry about Votaw anymore.

 

I certainly don't object to Wie and Pressel playing as LPGA member because they've proved that they belong on LPGA Tour.

[cpa49707]

I'm kind of curious if the age requirement was ever challenged in a court of law. Seems to me its a form of age discrimination....maybe reverse age discrimination. I'm sure if she wanted to contest it she would have a bunch of hungry eager attornies that would love to battle that one out in a court of law and make a name for themselves. Then get a job on court tv or CNN. forgive me its just me rambling again.

 

As far as the caddy jumping ship they do that all the time. Thats just part of the business. I wouldn't try to read to much into that. I'm sure with her sponsors money she can make it worth his time.

[bhpdg]

I'm kind of curious if the age requirement was ever challenged in a court of law.  Seems to me its a form of age discrimination....maybe reverse age discrimination.  I'm sure if she wanted to contest it she would have a bunch of hungry eager attornies that would love to battle that one out in a court of law and make a name for themselves.  Then get a job on court tv or CNN.  forgive me its just me rambling again.

 

As far as the caddy jumping ship they do that all the time.  Thats just part of the business.  I wouldn't try to read to much into that.  I'm sure with her sponsors money she can make it worth his time.

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not sure if the argument would be age discrimination but moreso antitrust laws, sort of like the maurice clarett thing (dude where did that guy go?)...

 

this is speculation, of course, but when you hear ty votaw speak of MW, it sounds like they wouldn't really budge on letting her join the lpga anytime before her 18th... her family might have tested the waters on that, so they're not going to push like pressel to get on, but it's pretty obvious wie should turn pro now to capitalize on her fame (which really is being outshadowed by pressel's amateur win and creamer's recent "on-fire" play) and not lobby for an lpga card, but instead play on exemptions, maybe win a tourney before 18 and then be official... and it wouldn't hurt her ncaa chances, because why would she want to compete w/college kids when she doesn't even find the lpga challenging and wants to go to the pga?

 

i really like MW, her game, attitude, etc.. lately, i've been wondering though, if she rode her phenom status a little too hard... who knows, she really may explode into a crazy player, but it's almost like she peaked a little early. now, she has to sustain the buzz (which is waning because of all the other young players) and come out even better than before, which i think she can do, but it's a lot of pressure.

 

if she played in more amateurs tourneys, slowly built up her marketing presence, kept her am status and went to stanford on a golf scholarship, then left early, it would be wiemania... now, she's being forced to show her hand, turn pro to get the tiger-money before the buzz wears out, and then forego her amateur status, and then why would stanford offer her a scholarship if she can't play for them? i feel like due to timing and the new environment on the lpga (gulbis, creamer, pressel, etc.), MW is rushed to turn pro just a little before her time...

 

does it matter? who knows, i think she'll have plenty of mentors/support... but just a little bit of conservatism and a more gradual coming-out party would have really made it perfect... just my opinion on a really interesting situation.. there is no right answer, just gotta have faith that she'll keep firing away...

[Debit]

There were two young men a year or two ago that tried to force either the NBA or NFL to let them participate in the draft. They lost! As far as the courts are concerned, the Tours/professional sports organizations are "private" entities or clubs and as such may determine minimal membership qualifications. It's basically the same arguement that Augusta National uses. The membership of a private organization is determined by the membership. Certainly, clubs and courses and organizations have been forced to open their membership by various and different rulings and pressures. Obviously, the courts didn't think that an age requirement was sufficiently prohibitive as to constitute discrimatation. Like, boys, grow up. The age discrimination clauses are generally applied to individuals over the age of 40 who may be discriminated against because some employer is seeking a younger image. The antitrust arguement doesn't work either as there are other venues under which she could play as a professional AND, unlike general employees, there is no guaranteed income that she is being denied. It's too late now to bemoan or criticize her lack of amateur success. The LPGA is between a rock and a hard place. However, neither tour is exactly going to invite her in before her 18th birthday -- even if she were to meet any other requirements/qualifications.

[tpgrrr1]

If Greg Johnston is going to caddie for Michelle Wie and she turns pro with a limited LPGA schedule, how is he going to make money if she plays only 7 times next year?:D

:D :clapping: :cheesy: :D