Wie tells '60 Minutes' women can play PGA
Advertiser Staff
Michelle Wie says the skeptics who doubt women can compete with men on the PGA Tour are "truly afraid" of losing to a woman. The 14-year-old golfing sensation, who has already beaten scores of professional men by shooting even par in a PGA event earlier this year, is profiled by Steve Kroft on "60 Minutes" Sunday on CBS, Ch. 9 (7).
"I think the reason (the skeptics) are saying that women can't compete is because they're truly afraid. I mean, men's egos can be easily brought down and I don't think they want that to happen," she tells Kroft.
Wie believes playing against men is the only way to meet the challenges she has set for herself; she wants to be the first woman to play regularly on the PGA Tour and to be the best golfer.
"I like challenges, and I have to be the first to do everything and I just want to be the best," she says.
One of the most respected golf instructors, David Leadbetter, thinks she has the right stuff to play on the PGA Tour in the future.
"If she continues at the present rate, I'd have to say yes ... potentially she could do it and I wouldn't put it past her. She's a very, very competitive girl," says Leadbetter, who is now instructing Wie.
Wie told Kroft she prefers shopping to golf and that she would like to go to college before turning pro.
"I think I'd like to go through the basic steps of life (first). Go to high school and then go to college and be in a dorm and stuff like that ... and then I think I'd be fine from then," she says.
Pearl Country Club open daily
For the first time beginning tomorrow, the fairways at the Pearl Country Club will be open for everyday play, weather permitting, with golf carts allowed to enter from 90 degrees.
Kama'aina rates remain the same: $42 on Mondays and Tuesdays, $45 Wednesdays through Fridays and $52 for weekends and holidays.
Open sectional volunteers needed
Anyone interested in volunteering to staff the U.S. Men's and Women's Open local and sectional qualifying rounds can call the Hawai'i State Golf Association office at 589-2909.
The men's local qualifying will be held at the Ka'anapali North Course on May 15, the Po'ipu Bay Golf Course on May 18 and the Turtle Bay Resort's Palmer Course on May 20. The sectional will be held at the Palmer Course on June 7.
The women's open local qualifying is set for May 25 at the Ko Olina Golf Club and the sectional June 15, also at Ko Olina.
Male section medalist(s) will advance to the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southampton, N.Y., June 17 to 20. The women's sectional medalist will advance to the U.S. Women's Open at the Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, Mass., July 1 to 4.
Westfield Jr. PGA qualifying set
The Aloha Section PGA is accepting local qualifying entries for the Westfield Jr. PGA Championships July 14 to 17 in Westfield Center, Ohio.
The local qualifying for youngsters 13 to 15 and 16 to 17 will be held at the Turtle Bay Resort's Fazio Course June 17 to 18 with the medalists going to the nationals.
Youngsters 12-and-under will compete in the Aloha Section PGA Junior Championships at the Naniloa Golf Course in Hilo, also on June 17 to 18.
For more information, call the Aloha Section PGA office at 593-2230.
