Morgan Pressel is temporarily Kraftier than Michelle Wie
Commissioner Carolyn Bivens has done her part to get the ball rolling by granting Morgan Pressel full LPGA Tour membership at the beginning of the golf year. Now 2 of the big 3 rookies (Pressel & Ai Miyazato) have secured entry into the Kraft Nabisco, the 1st Major tournament on the 2006 LPGA schedule. However, the biggest professional rookie has an entry problem. Michelle Wie does not have full LPGA Tour membership – she hasn’t even applied – and the Kraft Nabisco does not extend sponsor’s exemptions to non-LPGA member pros.
Michelle Wie has crossover appeal which the LPGA hasn’t had in over 60 years – since the days of Babe Didrickson. And that increased interest equates to more for everyone, a financial bonanza, if you will. Higher tv ratings means more ad revenue which means higher purses. More people want to see this whiz kid in person and ticket sales will go up, concessions will go up and, again, purses will increase. All of the LPGA Tour members already know that they stand a chance to ride this swelling tide. If they have any sense at all, they’re saying prayers every night for Michelle Wie’s continued good health.
Ms. Bivens is undoubtedly on the phone to the Kraft people right now, inquiring as to the status of the tournament rules update. You know, the update that will allow at least one exemption to a non-LPGA member pro. Especially that one special pro that may exponentially drive up the interest in womens golf.
Source – TravelGolf.com