Questions For The Commissioner
If you haven't read Eric Adelson's account of the disturbing antics that took place with Michelle Wie's Ginn/Annika withdrawal, you must. While Adelson clearly observed some disturbing behavior on the part of B.J. Wie and agent Greg Nared while making some sad observations about Michelle's state of mind, left unanswered are bigger questions about the LPGA Tour's behavior.
According to Adelson, both LPGA Chief Operations Officer Chris Higgs and Commissioner Carolyn Bivens were present at various points in the round, particularly Higgs just before the crucial moment when Wie's wrist magically became unbearable, coincidentally after Nared happened to have spoken to her!
Reader Four-putt brings up an innocent but vital question, namely, why was agent Greg Nared on a cell phone when they are not allowed? That leads to other more vital questions. Was Nared on the phone with someone clarifying the LPGA's rule Rule of 88 rendering 88 shooter's and higher ineligible for the rest of the year? Adelson writes:
Chris Higgs, the LPGA Chief Operations Officer, soon drove up in a cart and spoke with Nared. Higgs had been talking about the Rule of 88 in the media tent, but he said he came out to Wie's ropeline for "no particular reason."
Was Higgs informing Nared that he could not use a cell phone, or was he explaining the Rule of 88?
"No particular reason" doesn't cut it.
Furthermore, let's say Higgs was explaining the Rule of 88 ramifications, did he suggest that Wie should withdraw if she would like to play in LPGA events later in the year? And if so, was Commissioner Carolyn Bivens, who was on the course at points in her round, involved in this discussion?
There have been questions for some time about Carolyn Bivens' regard for the rules of tournament player, dating back to the events that led to Barb Trammell's ouster and to that bizarre Annika-Paula Creamer incident. But this episode may have more significant ramifications because Bivens and here COO were directly involved in the decision and were directly or indirectly communicating with a player on the course through her agent.
And were LPGA officials involved in the decision to explain the reason for the withdrawal so that Wie would not have to in the post round press conference?
This is of course why Tim Finchem gets the big bucks. He wouldn't have been caught dead within three states of such a debacle.
Anyway, I'm sure you all have more questions for the Commissioner, so please post them. Not that she'll likely step into the press tent to answer any.
Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 08:06 PM
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Reader Comments (17)
This is just a Wie, wie, wie bit too coincidental.
So it has gone from missing the cut by one shot in her PGA Tour debut at the Sony to walking off the course in order to duck a rule created to guard against impostors. Upon learning the consequences of posting an 88, wouldn't a fearless young player with a lot to prove to colleagues, critics and fans use that as motivation to bear down and make a couple of pars?
The LPGA Championship and John Deere tourney directors certainly have some decisions to make, as does Michelle:
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/drama/
http://math.stanford.edu/
http://psychiatry.stanford.edu/
http://www.stacksandstacks.com/image/8264.jpg
Females mature more quickly, and there's no guarantee she will be a better golfer at 25 than she was at 15, so she'd better right the ship before she starts, uh, taking on water. I really think her father may be hindering her progress.
On a more serious note: it seems clear that Bivens is willing to turn a blind eye to on-course shenanigans for the sake of a possible LPGA Tiger Woods popping up. I doubt anyone could imagine someone like Paula Creamer a few years back being given this much deference on just about everything.
As for a question, how's this: does the commish believe that the on-course presence of Wie's family and agent and their behaviour contribute to the LPGA brand?
Hopefully that's MBAish enough for her to answer.
Geoff, any idea if Leadbetter will be teaching her the start from the TOP swing?
On the one hand we've got the agent on a cellphone 'allegedly' asking about the '88 rule' which, according to the rule, is ok (except for the fact that he's on a cellphone!) because under 'advice' it states:
Information on the Rules or on matters of public information, such as the position of hazards or the flagstick on the putting green, is not advice.
But on the other hand we've got the above mentioned problem of the agent being on a cellphone, when cellphones are banned, and the fact that someone has 'advised' Michelle that she should WD from the tournament. It seems pretty obvious that she didn't make this decision on her own and also pretty obvious that neither her playing partner or either caddie 'advised' her to WD.
Anyways, it's all very messy....too bad for Michelle.
Other than Greg Nared, how many other agents are permitted to carry and use cellphones during a tournament?
What did Chris Higgs say to Greg Nared before he, in turn, spoke to Wie?
Did that conversation occur at your orders or with your prior knowledge?
Looking at the sequence of events, a reasonable person might conclude that the LPGA took action to protect Wie from the consequences of the 88 rule. Isn't the LPGA required to act with impartiality?
What message do you think those actions send to the other members?
What is the LPGA's interpretation of Rule 8.1?
If Wie had completed the round and her playing partners had pressed a complaint against BJ Wie, what would the ruling have been?
Does anyone from the LPGA intend to discuss possible rules violations with members of Wie's entourage?
Finally, please share your thoughts about Wie's questionable withdrawal in comparison to MacKinzie Kline's courageous completion of her round of 89.
Discreet, meaning it's all right to phone LPGA headquarters seeking advice on how to keep Michelle elgible for remainder of the year, but after we've had that conversation and offered our advice we're not going to drive out and offer said same advice to MacKenzie Kline.
Something smells rotten in
Denmark, dirty rat bastards to be percise.
Not really.
Any of the above who gets a special authorization sticker for his/her cellphone agrees that they understand that their phone maybe be turned on and used only in pre-designated cellphone areas, period.
There is no leeway for a person to make a "discreet" decision. The designated areas do NOT include the golf course or range or putting green for anyone. Most of the time, inside and in close proximity of the clubhouse, media center and media dining area. The only ones usually authorized are rules officials, and only when they have a problem with their communication radios, which can and has happened due to interference fron TV communications.
So the new question is: Why did Wie's handler bring a cellphone out to an area where he knew it was prohibited? [My guess: massive hubris, as in he's so important the rules don't apply to him] And if he allegedly did call Chris Higgs on his cellphone, how did he get Higgs number and why did he have it? The media don't get those numbers...
4p
I couldn't care less about Mackenzie Kline, but, I couldn't care more about the preferential treatment by the LPGA Commisioner and LPGA COO surrounding Michelle Wie.
The game of golf is not headed towards an all time low, it's there now.
Sportsmanship......NO
Integrity........NO
Honor.........Hell NO
Ethics.......F***ing Right, NO
etiquette........Ha hahaha NO
This sport has morphed into all the other sports, minus any real significance.
As for Wie, this is an incredibly sad story that has been building for a few years and has been fueled by much of the media. The media was a bit cynical about Tiger's arrival at pro golf and they felt like they missed the ball. They've been overly aggressive in hyping Michelle. Yes, both Morgan and Michelle qualified for the Women's Open as young teenagers. Brittany Lincicome's drives are as long or longer than Michelle's. Aree Song had high finishes in women's majors as an amateur. Annika has dominated the LPGA and Lorena looks to be walking her footsteps. Yet the press has fallen all over themselves to annoint Michelle -- who's amateur record is abysmal and who's professional record is severely limited -- as being greater than Tiger. And why has Michelle been annointed? Because of her forays into men's golf... at the heart of this fiasco is a major case of genderism. If a woman tees it up against the men, then she must be better than all the other women -- even though this young girl has never QUALIFIED for a men's event. It's time for the press to notice that there are very exciting things happening on the LPGA tour and Michelle is not one of them. She may eventually be but that is not the choice she has made at this time.
On a totally different topic: Have there been any thoughts or discussions on making the Michelob Ultra at Kingsmill (a magnificent tournament played on a fantastic course) the Ladies Players Championship, particularly since it always finishes on Mothers' Day (and notwithstanding the mens' Players has moved into the same date)?
Bindra.