[ PGA TOUR ]
Norman says Wie,
women, hurting
PGA Tour
MELBOURNE, Australia >> Greg Norman made it clear yesterday that he believes women have no place in men's golf events.
The Australian star dismissed women in men's events as a marketing ploy, and said men's tours should consider changing their bylaws to prevent it.
"I think the situation is more of a marketing ploy than anything else," Norman said. "If the girls come out and think they can play against the guys and fail every time, that can't be very positive."
Norman's comments came three weeks after 14-year-old Michelle Wie missed the cut by a stroke in the Sony Open, a stunning effort that prompted seven other PGA Tour events to offer her exemptions.
Last year, Annika Sorenstam became the first woman in 58 years to compete on the PGA Tour, missing the cut by five shots in the Colonial.
"I'm very impressed with her game, very impressed with her attitude and demeanor at such a young age," Norman said about Wie.
"But I think the rightful place is that women play on their tour and we play on ours. It all started with Annika to promote herself and promote women's golf, but at the end of the day, it can be very detrimental."
LPGA drivers to be tested: The pendulum tester that measures springlike effect in drivers is available on all the major tours in the United States except the LPGA Tour.
That could change by the end of the year.
"We're looking at it," LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw said. "The odds are pretty good we'll see it at some point."
Driving distance is a bigger issue on the PGA Tour, where last year nine players averaged more than 300 yards off the tee. Spurred by innuendoes from Tiger Woods that some players were using nonconforming drivers, the PGA Tour rolled out the pendulum tester in January.
Only about 15 percent of the players have voluntarily submitted their drivers for testing, although manufacturers are testing the clubs before players get to an event.
The portable test also is available on the Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour.
So far, the long ball hasn't been an issue in women's golf.
"We don't see the statistical anomalies of players who were hitting it one distance, then going 20 to 30 yards farther," Votaw said. "We don't have a buzz, a lot of players whispering, 'Gee, no way she's hitting it that far.' There may be whispers, we just haven't heard them."