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Controversy Envelops Samsung
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Annika declines, Michelle is back, and controversy again ensues between the two at this week’s Samsung World Championship.
The Samsung World Championship was meant to bring the 20 best women golfers in the world together, but heads began to turn when the field was formally announced earlier this week. Michellie Wie who has only broken par once this entire season while fighting injuries was granted a sponsor’s exemption despite her lackluster performance in 2007. This has left Natalie Gulbis on the outside looking in although she rightfully qualified. Another notable "qualifier" was Annika Sorenstam who has missed much of the ‘07 season with an injured neck but was invited into the tournament. Yet, Annika has declined so another player who deserved the spot can compete.
Much of the controversy stems more from the shifting rules the tournament officials at Samsung amend every year to include the most popular women golfers in the world rather than identify them. Sorenstam’s invitation was extended due to a change which extendeds an automatic invitation to any active member of the LPGA Hall of Fame. The rule was previously worded to provide an exemption to the U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion. Annika’s move garnered tremendous respect from her peers. Lorena Ocha said, "What Annika decided to do, that’s something that I admire very much, I respect. She thought they were wrong to do it," Ochoa said. "That just shows how much class she has and how professional she is." Annika’s actions are even more admirable considering the fact that her management team at IMG runs the Samsung tournament.
Annika’s shining example also stands in stark contrast to Michelle Wie who is yet again in the field of an exclusive tournament despite her peers outperforming her throughout the season. Wie has slipped to 56th on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Even with a last place finish in this tournament, Wie will more than double her meager season winnings of $9,000. Her 2007 season has included a suspcious withdrawl due to injury to seemingly prevent carding an 88 that would have disqualified her for the year. More controversey ensued after Wie’s withdrawl from Annika’s tournament due to injury only to be seen a day later practicing at the next tournament site. Wie has slowly begun losing the respect of her peers and the public. Once again her decision to continue with her sponsor’s exemption hasn’t endeared her to her peers.
Yet Samsung is far from the only sponsor to bend over backwards to accommodate Wie. The McDonald’s LPGA Championship spent 51 years without allowing an amateur into the field until 2005 when it allowed Michellie Wie an exemption inot the tournament. Fast forward a year later, the rules to the McDonald’s LPGA are again changed to provide an exemption to any professional that finished in the top five in any major – any guesses as to who got into the field with that? Even the staunch USGA wilted like a dead flower, allowing Wie exemptions into the U.S. Open rather than forcing her to qualify like all other competitiors. The examples are numerous and her performances are lackluster to say the least. What started out as an incredibly talented teenager attracting huge numbers of fans has quickly regressed to people gathering around to wait for the next train wreck.
So it’s time to play the blame game – who deserves the lion’s share? As easy (and entertaining) as it would be to place the blame solely on Wie, the Samsung officials should be stepping up to the firing line for their nonsense entry rules and unfair application. While the Samsung officials extended an "invitation" to active LPGA Hall of Famers, neither Julie Inkster nor Karrie Webb (both active LPGA Hall of Famers) were ever offered entry into the tournament. One can only imagine what permutation the rules will take on before next year’s event. Although no one could expect Samsung to retract the Wie’s invitation. One can only hope that no matter what the outcome of this week, they would be far more thoughtful in awarding their exemptions in the future. Yet why stop there? Why not simply increase the size of the field by five players allowing Wie, Sorenstam, Webb, Inkseter and Gulbis all into the field. That would barely dent the winnings per player and allow for a more competitive and exciting field for the players and fans. Samsung has already rewritten the rules each year to tailor the field, why not simply expand the field and stick to them?
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GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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SuperStroke announced today its purchase of 100-year-old grip maker Lamkin Grips, citing the company’s “heritage of innovation and quality.”
“It is with pride and great gratitude that we announce Lamkin, a golf club grip brand with a 100-year history of breakthrough design and trusted products, is now a part of the SuperStroke brand,” says SuperStroke CEO Dean Dingman. “We have always had the utmost respect for how the Lamkin family has put the needs and benefits of the golfer first in their grip designs. If there is a grip company that is most aligned with SuperStroke’s commitment to uncompromised research, design, and development to put the most useful performance tools in the hands of golfers, Lamkin has been that brand. It is an honor to bring Lamkin’s wealth of product innovation into the SuperStroke family.”
Elver B. Lamkin founded the company in 1925 and produced golf’s first leather grips. The company had been family-owned and operated since that point, producing a wide array of styles, such as the iconic Crossline.
According to a press release, “The acquisition of Lamkin grows and diversifies SuperStroke’s proven and popular array of grip offerings with technology grounded in providing golfers optimal feel and performance through cutting-edge design and use of materials, surface texture and shape.”
CEO Bob Lamkin will stay on as a board member and will continue to be involved with the company.
“SuperStroke has become one of the most proven, well-operated, and pioneering brands in golf grips and we could not be more confident that the Lamkin legacy, brand, and technology is in the best of hands to continue to innovate and lead under the guidance of Dean Dingman and his remarkably capable team,” Lamkin said.
Related: Check out our 2014 conversation with Bob Lamkin, here: Bob Lamkin on the wrap grip reborn, 90 years of history
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Take it from a fellow who coaches high school golf in metro Toronto: there’s plenty of great golf played in the land of the maple leaf. All the greats have designed courses over the USA border: Colt, Whitman, Ross, Coore, Mackenzie, Doak, as well as the greatest of the land, Stanley Thompson. I’m partial to him, because he wore my middle name with grandeur. Enough about the architecture, because this week’s Tour Rundown begins with a newly-minted, Canadian champion on the PGA Tour. Something else that the great white north is known for, is weather. It impacted play on three of the world’s tours, forcing final-round cancellations on two of them.
It was an odd week in the golf world. The LPGA and the Korn Ferry were on a break, and only 13/15 of the rounds slated, were played. In the end, we have four champions to recognize, so let’s not delay any longer with minutiae about the game that we love. Let’s run it all down with this week’s Tour Rundown.
PGA Tour: TP takes TS at Byron’s place
The 1980s was a decade when a Canadian emergence was anticipated on the PGA Tour. It failed to materialize, but a path was carved for the next generation. Mike Weir captured the Masters in 2003, but no other countrymen joined him in his quest for PGA Tour conquest. 2024 may herald the long-awaited arrival of a Canadian squad of tour winners. Over the past few years, we’ve seen Nick Taylor break the fifty-plus year dearth of homebred champions at the Canadian Open, and players like Adam Hadwin, Corey Conners, Adam Svennson, and Mackenzie Hughes have etched their names into the PGA Tour’s annals of winners.
This week, Taylor Pendrith joined his mates with a one-shot win at TPC Craig Ranch, the home of the Byron Nelson Classic. Pendrith took a lead into the final round and, while the USA’s Jake Knapp faltered, held on for the slimmest of victories. Sweden’s Alex Noren posted six-under 65 on Sunday to move into third position, at 21-under par. Ben Kohles, a Texan, looked to break through for his first win in his home state. He took the lead from Pendrith at the 71st hole, on the strength of a second-consecutive birdie.
With victory in site, Kohles found a way to make bogey at the last, without submerging in the fronting water. His second shot was greenside, but he could not move his third to the putting surface. His fourth was five feet from par and a playoff, but his fifth failed to drop. Meanwhile, Pendrith was on the froghair in two, and calmly took two putts from 40 feet, for birdie. When Kohles missed for par, Pendrith had, at last, a PGA Tour title.
360° and in!
A nervy par save by @TaylorPendrith to remain one back as he seeks his first PGA TOUR victory @CJByronNelson. pic.twitter.com/LVFXUSidSg
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 5, 2024
DP World Tour: China Open in Otaegui’s hands after canceled day four
It wasn’t the fourth round that was canceled in Shenzhen, but the third. Rains came on Saturday to Hidden Grace Golf Club, ensuring that momentum would cease. Sunday would instead be akin to a motorsports restart, with no sense of who might claim victory. Sebastian Soderberg, the hottest golfer on the Asian Swing, held the lead, but he would slip to a 72 on Sunday, and tie for third with Paul Waring and Joel Girrbach. Italy’s Guido Migliozzi completed play in 67 strokes on day three, moving one shot past the triumvirate, to 17-under par.
It was Spain’s Adrian Otaegui who persevered the best and played the purest. Otaegui was clean on the day, with seven birdies for 65. Even when Migliozzi ceased the lead at the 10th, Otaegui remained calm. With everything on the line, Migliozzi made bogey at the par-five 17th, as his principal competitor finished in birdie. To the Italian’s credit, he bounced back with birdie at the last, to claim solo second. The victory was Otaegui’s fifth on the DP World Tour, and first since October of 2022.
.@adrianotaegui birdies the 16th to tie the lead at -17 ?#VolvoChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/p4tfE5DRJa
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 5, 2024
PGA Tour Americas: Quito’s rains gift title to Longbella
Across the world, superintendents and their staffs will do anything to prepare a course for play. Even after fierce, nightime rains, the Quito TG Club greeted the first four groups on Sunday. The rains worsened after 7 am, however, and the tour was forced to abort the final round of play. With scores reverting to Saturday’s numbers, Thomas Longbella’s one-shot advantage over Gunn Yang turned into a Tour Americas victory.
64 held the opening-day lead, and Longbella was not far off, with 66. Yang jumped to the top on day two, following a67 with 66. He posted 68 on day three, and anticipated a fierce, final-round duel for the title. As for Longbella, he fought off a ninth-hole bogey on Saturday with six birdies and a 17th-hole eagle. That rare bird proved to be the winning stroke, allowing Longbella to edge past Yang, and secure ultimate victory.
.@TBalla21 eagles 17, shoots 65 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the KIA Open. pic.twitter.com/TTOL2LxSdh
— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) May 4, 2024
PGA Tour Champions: Dunlap survives Saturday stumble for win
Scott Dunlap did not finish Saturday as well as he might have liked. After beginning play near Houston with 65, Dunlap made two bogeys in his final found holes on day two, to finish at nine-under par. Hot on his heels was Joe Durant, owner of a March 2024 win on PGA Tour Champions. Just behind Durant was Stuart Appleby, perhaps vibing from his Sunday 59 at Greenbrier on this day in 2010. Neither would have a chance to track Dunlap down.
The rains that have forced emergency responders into action, to save hundreds of lives in the metro Houston area, ended hopes for a third day of play at The Woodlands. Dunlap had won once previously on Tour Champions, in 2014 in Washington state. Ten years later, Dunlap was the fortunate recipient of a canceled final round, and his two days of play were enough to earn him TC victory number two.
Off the green? No worries for @ScottDu12500063
8-under solo leader @InsperityInvtnl pic.twitter.com/hoj5OujL5C
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 4, 2024
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Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
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Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
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Mike K.
Oct 15, 2007 at 8:11 am
Wie should have bowed out. Annika once again shows why she is so highly respected. Wie is becoming a farce, and only watch-able to see how bad she does, instead of for her “great” ability. She need to face reality and act accordingly.
I think if tournaments are going to offer exemptions, then those exemptions should not take a slot away from a player that actually QUALIFIED to play. That way nobody loses face. Nobody will give a hoot about Michele Wie after a few more debacles like this last. She will become a has been before she reaches 20. Really sad actually.
Todd Poston
Oct 15, 2007 at 7:36 am
The comparison to Britney is unfounded as she has had a lot of success. Even with the current train wreck that she is experiencing, her latest single is doing pretty good on the charts. What has Wie ever done except show that she may have had potential?
Samsung was wrong to invite Wie, but I lay just as much blame on Wie for accepting the invite. She knows that her game is garbage and she should have been a professional and said “Thank you, but I need to work my game out before accepting this”. Tough decisions reveal character, and this has revealed the Wie’s for what they are – self centered disrespectful buffoons without any class whatsoever.
But what do I know – I hear it is a fine line between 88 and 68.
Jason Broan
Oct 14, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Michelle needs to learn from Annika’s example. If Michelle can’t qualify like everyone else, she needs to show some maturity and wait until her game earns her a spot.
Michelle has become the Britney Spears of the LPGA.
John Stovall
Oct 14, 2007 at 11:54 am
“20th Michelle Wie Th 79. Fr 79, Sat 77, +19 235”
Nice choice Samsung & LPGA. You have succeded in exposing this tournament as a farce. Your choice of allowing Wie to participate in this even really devalues the other player accomplishments.
You’ve sunk to an all-time low.
Congrats to Annika for her difficult decision to allow a more deserving player to compete.
Andy Brown
Oct 13, 2007 at 1:40 pm
I think a lot has been said and written about Michelle Wie accepting the invitation but one thing is for sure whatever happens I am definitely not going to hold her responsible for someone else’s mistake. If the main intention of the tournament was to have a limited field event where the best of the best through the year were to compete then it was completely wrong on their part to dole out any special exemptions in the first place. If they wanted to make the field more exciting then they might as well have increased the field strength like you have rightly suggested but what really bothers me is people looking to criticize Wie for her decision to accept the invitation.
Considering the sort of year that she has had it is not a surprise that she well try and latch on to every opportunity she is handed out and even though she may have not performed the way she might have wanted to I definitely don’t blame her for giving it a shot. Those who have an issue with talented players missing out definitely need to question the policy of these tournament organizers. It’s about time we cut the young Michelle Wie some slack and also hope that she recaptures some of her form.
Andy Brown