Golf and Sexual Discrimination

So, as Michelle Wie finally decides to go back and compete against women golfers, it is interesting to address another oddity in women's golf, one that Wie partially exemplifies. Very rarely do young men (early 20's) get a large expectation when they play in a PGA event. Can you name one male teen golfer playing on the PGA Tour? However, that is not the same on the LPGA. With the exception of the senior ladies, how many women are in their mid-to late 30's playing on the LPGA Tour? 2? 3? Maybe? Probably a few more, but nothing spectacular.

You see, the LPGA Tour is filled with young women and even teenagers. Wie is 17 now, but has been playing for a good number of years. Many times, young golfers have to petition the LPGA to have an exemption to join before turning 18. Do you think the same thing is happening on the men's side? Nope.

Now, why? Is it sexism? I can't see that one standing up to scrutiny. However, the men also have, how to say this, not really higher standards, but stricter sort of. See, there is a triple-A league for the PGA Tour, the Nationwide. (Ignore college as both men and women play there.) Thus, unless a teen boy was a phenom, he would be relegated to the Nationwide Tour. But without the minor leagues, many teen girls can only play on the LPGA or they don't play. Now, would that be sexism because there isn't a female minor league? I don't think so. What it does say is that there aren't many high-quality middle age female golfers.

As somewhat proof of my idea, think about it this way. Michelle Wie has no chance to qualify on the men's tour, not because she is such a bad golfer, but because the PGA Tour has a stricter standard because there are so many people who want to play. To put it in other terms, think of it this way. The PGA Tour is harder because it is like a bidding war; the price is essentially skill level and like any bidding war in an auction, the price is higher than if there were more items than buyers. Supply and demand. Hehe. But it is the truth though, supply and demand, rather than discrimination of any kind.