How Dare You Sully Our Tournament With Amateurs

Golf gals of the LPGA had been griping about a rules change for their annual championship that was made to assuage the sponsor, McDonalds. Which didn't sit well with those who apparently prefer to play without anyone watching:

Since its inception in 1955, the LPGA Championship has been a gathering for pros only, a place where amateurs need not apply, much less receive a sponsor's exemption.

That changes Thursday, when 15-year-old Michelle Wie makes history, albeit controversial, by teeing it up at Bulle Rock Golf Course.

...."I don't necessarily agree giving an exemption into any major tournament. Unless you have a precedent, stick to the history behind it," Cristie Kerr said Tuesday.

"Once you open Pandora's box, where do you draw the line? This is the kind of tournament you should have to earn your way into. If we have to resort to those kind of things for publicity, maybe we should look at other ways we can do it."

Here's a way, look at the results:

1. Annika Sorenstam, $270,000 68-67-69-73-277 -11
2 Michelle Wie [amateur] 69-71-71-69-280 -8
3 Paula Creamer, $140,517 68-73-74-67-282 -6
3 Laura Davies, $140,517 67-70-74-71-282 -6
5 Lorena Ochoa, $82,486 72-72-68-72-284 -4
5 Natalie Gulbis, $82,486 67-71-73-73-284 -4
....
25 Cristie Kerr, $11,225 74-72-67-78-291 +3