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and this is different from any other time she has "forgotten" to sign her card...

What an amazingly stupid rule! Another example of golf as an over dictated sport.

Disqualified from the tournament that's just stupid I know it's a rule, but just penalize her 2 strokes for not signing her card & move on. Plus the camera folks & LPGA folks have a card of her strokes anyway.

This rule would change in both the men's & women's if for ex. It was Annika Sorenstam going into the final rd of a major & the LPGA wanted the revenue dollars for Sorenstam on the lead on Saturday or Sunday & the same would be true if for instance Tiger forgot to sign his scorecard on Friday going into the weekend of a major. There would be someone or something that would scribble a signature on that card so that Tiger wouldn't be DQ'ed going into the last 2 days. If Michelle Wie hadn't had all this drama of playing w/the men, & then not signing her score card previously, & then not being 2 strokes from shooting a 90 & losing her sponsor exemption & then she pulls up w/her wrist injury as it looks as if she just might get there, this wouldn't be that big of a deal. But, she is a young phenom who is now just starting to grow up & relax & finally do well & she just lost her head by not signing the card. The caddie should be fired as well for not checking this "spoiled bratz card," just kidding about the caddie the responsibility is Michelle Wie & even I can't make excuses for her.

She has already fired two previous caddies, don't give her any idea's, besides, the caddy isn't in the tent when the cards are signed. Unfortunately this is another example that she isn't ready for the tour, her head has never really been in the game. Why change the rules, for Michelle? That makes no sense, let her learn the rules before she tee's off next time. And can we stop calling her a phenom, phenom's actually accomplish something!

1st, she should have notified rules officials as soon as the volunteers reminded her instead of signing it like if nothing ever happened.

2nd, because of terrible timing, tournament officials should have only given her a 1 or 2 stroke penalty. If she had already was in the middle of her round, then why disqualify her? Why punish her for not acting in a timely manner? Looks like someone had an agenda! Lets put Michele in a controversial situation instead of a competitive one.

3rd, I am sure that she knows the USGA rules and if not, she needs to buy one. They're only $3.00 at any proshop. She needs to have her coach test her over the rules that will arise in tournament situations.

Finally, all of these could have been avoided is Wie learns to keep her poise and control her composure when she plays to her potential. I'm sure she was thrilled about her play and the position that she was in. I agree that it is a stupid rule and she should know it at the same time. From the looks she was playing like the phenom that she is and I have the feeling that she will be one of the best players ever when is all said and done.

Between Wie and Daly - no wonder Golf ratings are at a all time low !!!

Most stupid rule ever.

I agree it is a stupid rule, but it is a rule. The penalty does not fit the crime. I have never felt as if the penalty fits the crime. Penalize her a couple strokes and move on. That would go for any golfer who has a signing infraction.

The penalty should be for not signing a scorecard: Penalizing the competitor 2 strokes

For signing an incorrect scorecard. If the players actual score was higher than the score they signed for, they need to take the correct score, plus a 2 stroke penalty. If they sign for a score higher than the actual score take the score they signed for plus 2 strokes.

The sponsors should pull all money out of golf until they lose this meaningless rule. Imagine they threw football players out for being off-side? Imagine they threw basketball players out on their FIRST foul of the game.

It's golfers that ruin golf, not the rules. By coming back and signing the card, she notified the officials... she had to get her card and resubmit it. This is as bad as the unemployed idiots who call into television networks to report even the most minor and unintended errors.

The LPGA is worse off for "enforcing" this rule. Having Michelle Wie in contention in the final round might have actually resulted in someone (desirable to the sponsors) tuning in. Instead, the casual fan turns his back again and says "LPGA? Who cares?"

"This rule would change in both the men's & women's if for ex. It was Annika Sorenstam going into the final rd of a major & the LPGA wanted the revenue dollars for Sorenstam on the lead on Saturday or Sunday & the same would be true if for instance Tiger forgot to sign his scorecard on Friday going into the weekend of a major. "
lendaleusc06 | 07/20/08, 02:58 PM

Because Ms. Wie continues to make stupd mistakes with her scorecard the rule needs to change? No the rule shouldn't change and doesn't need to change.

Tiger, Jack, Arnie, Hogan, Player, Trevino, Sorenstam, Singh, Nancy Lopez, Kathy Whitworth, Mickey Wright, Tom Watson, Phil Mickelson - the list goes on and on and on and on - have never in the thousands of rounds of golf they've played failed to sign their scorecards while in the scorers tent/booth/trailer.

She knew the rule, she broke the rule, she paid the price.

End of discussion!!

It took the LPGA a whole day to figure out now NOT to disqualify Wie, and realized there was no way to weasel around it, like they did last year with Wie's "withdrawals" in the middle of tournaments (at the LPGA's advice) to keep her from having too high a score to avoid a suspension.

They've cut this gal too many breaks as it is.

I have bashed her many times but I was sorry to see her DQed especially since she was very competitive.

Silly rule...yes.But,until they change it,it is the rule.Don't feel too sorry for Ms.Wie,she messed up...period.

It is just ridiculous that these players are responsible for keeping and reporting their scores. These golf touraments make boatloads of money and have officials all over the course. It would be like having Kevin Garnette and Kobe Bryant being responsible for keeping score during the NBA Finals. Too dumb.

But I see that this girl has agreed to play in another PGA event. Great idea! Who is advising this girl?

"It is just ridiculous that these players are responsible for keeping and reporting their scores. These golf touraments make boatloads of money and have officials all over the course. It would be like having Kevin Garnette and Kobe Bryant being responsible for keeping score during the NBA Finals. Too dumb."
Vikingfan | 07/21/08, 04:34 PM

You're mixing apples and oranges.

Golfers have ample time after the completion of each hole to record their scores. When would an NBA player record a basket, rebound, assist, blocked shot or free throw - as they're running back down to the other end of the court?

And, a tour player's official score is actually kept by his playing partner. It's that card he signs, not the one he carries tracking his own score. There's no need to change that 'tradition'.

I realize that they keep their playing partners score and that my example was a ridiculous extreme. But despite the fact that it is a tradition, it's time to let this one pass away. Their are millions of dollars at stake and they are relying on their opponents to keep their score? Just seems like something that could be changed without any real impact on the game.

"
Because Ms. Wie continues to make stupd mistakes with her scorecard the rule needs to change? No the rule shouldn't change and doesn't need to change.


She knew the rule, she broke the rule, she paid the price.

End of discussion!!
Dapper Dave | 07/21/08, 08:34 AM

Sorry Dapper Dave. You are 100% wrong.
End of discussion? LOL. Your three exclamation points do very little to convince the ones of us who actually use 'common sense' when evaluating an issue.
The fact is that this is an archaic and absolutely meaningless rule. The rule does nothing to influence the results of the match. Nothing.
The penalty does not fit the crime.
It over-penalizes the golfer. It penalizes the fans. And it penalizes the sport by upsetting their sponsors. NO current professional golfer supports the rule.
Do you have some reason that the rule should stay? (Other than most people remember to sign). Of course not. The only reason you think it's a good rule is because it IS a rule.

I am not a golfer so my question is very sincere and perhaps naive. But what is the purpose of this rule? How does signing or not signing the card affect the game or give one player an advantage or disadvantage?