PRESSEL IS NOW A FULL LPGA MEMBER

[Golfbum]

The LPGA made this announcement yesterday.

Pressel gets early entry into LPGA

The LPGA decided to allow Bocan Raton's Morgan Pressel, 17, to have full membership before her 18th birthday.

BY JEFF SHAIN, MIAMI HERALD


You're in, kid -- from the start.

Morgan Pressel got the news she had been hoping for Monday, receiving word the LPGA will grant her full membership for the entire 2006 season instead of making her wait until her 18th birthday.

LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens delivered the information herself, dialing up Pressel as the Boca Raton teen was being driven to classes at St. Andrew's School.

''She was a pretty happy young lady,'' Bivens said. ``She responded to it a little bit like an early Christmas gift. It's always nice to be able to give somebody nice news.''

Pressel called the change ``a dream come true.''

''My initial thoughts? Just relief,'' the U.S. Women's Amateur champion said. ``It's been a little stressful. I'd played well, thought I deserved it and now I'm very happy.''

Pressel tied for sixth at this month's LPGA qualifying tournament, easily earning her card. But an earlier ruling barred her from playing as an LPGA member until turning 18 in May.

She could have played up to six sponsor exemptions, but any money won would be unofficial and she could not earn points toward Rookie of the Year, the season-ending LPGA Playoffs and other elite opportunities.

After securing her card, Pressel wrote Bivens the next day asking that she reconsider.

''I just told her how I was going to finish high school, that it's not much of an issue,'' Pressel said. ``I just tried to reassure her that graduation was still in the plans either way, and how much it would hurt not [getting to play] the beginning of the season.''

Pressel, a senior, kept a 3.9 grade-point average while balancing college-level courses and a golf itinerary that took her away from the classroom for more than 10 weeks in 2005.

She played seven LPGA events this year, never finishing lower than 25th. She had a chance to win the U.S. Women's Open, tying for second after Birdie Kim's bunker hole-out on the 72nd green.

Pressel also tied for fifth at the State Farm Classic, her second top-10 after petitioning for early entry.

Bivens also came away impressed with Pressel's performance at the Junior Solheim Cup, where she helped the United States beat Europe's best female juniors.

CHEERING FOR U.S.

Afterward, Pressel joined teammates in cheering on the victorious U.S. Solheim squad. ''Morgan was a leader in that,'' Bivens said.

Bivens also noted the tour had received ''numerous'' letters on Pressel's behalf, including one from St. Andrew's headmaster George Andrews.

In addition to lauding Pressel's academic record, Andrews pointed out that she'd been selected to deliver the keynote address to a gathering of the school's VIP benefactors.

''He could give Carolyn a good view on what kind of person she is, as well as her academic achievements,'' said Herb Krickstein, Pressel's grandfather and advisor.

After consulting with former commissioner Ty Votaw, who authored the first decision, Bivens lifted the restrictions.

`A GREAT THING'

''It's a great thing,'' Pressel said. ``I'm so excited to go [play] from the beginning.''

Pressel figures to play five LPGA events before graduation, including the new Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open set for April 27-30 in Orlando. The tour's opening two events in Hawaii also becomes an option.

''If she can get her schoolwork under control, she might consider going there,'' Krickstein said.

Otherwise, Pressel will begin her season March 16-19 at the Safeway International near Phoenix.

[EDSGolf]

Bravo for her, I know I'll probably watch a bit more than I used too if I hear she's in the final group on Sunday.

[Bellyhungry]

I like the competetiveness displayed by Pressel, Creamer, and Wie. I think Wie is too busy putting up a 'happy to be here' face currently, and she will get her butt kicked by Pressel and Creamer at the beginning, but will eventually show us her mean streak and play with a purpose. I hope they don't turn into 'friends'.


This is better than seeing those old foggies like Inkster, Mellon, Jones, Daniels, etc treating the LPGA like a fratenity and being nice to each other all the time.

Plus, I am excited to follow the progress of Alena Sharp.

[AnnikaFan]

i'm glad they finally let her do it..

if wie got allowed, pressel should too

[iyell4]

but wie is a better player.

[Gligster The Amatuer]

pressel is good but creamer is the next annika.

[el tigre]

i'm glad they finally let her do it..

if wie got allowed, pressel should tooWie was not allowed - in fact she has not even asked. Wie simply turned pro - it'll be at least a year or two before she asks to be a member of the LPGA Tour (assuming she qualifies).

[Golfbum]

but wie is a better player.
Not to sound rude but how do you figure Wie is a better player than Pressel? What has Wie done to compare to Pressel's Amateur record? Show us the stats to back up the fact why you think Wie is better. No arguement she was better in LPGA events, simply because Pressel did not play in the events Wie did. Pressel came out way ahead of Wie in the Women's US Open at Cherry Hills.

Here is what Morgan did this past year

Lost North & South in Playoff
Won the U.S. Women's Amateur title
Finished 2nd at the U.S. Women's Open in June
Made the cut in three other LPGA events
Won four Junior events
Won the state high school championship

She also qualified for the LPGA by obtaining her card through Q School, while Wie made no attempt to do so. Pressel also qualified for the USGA Women's Open when she was 12, she was not handed an exemption, she went through the sectionals to qualify.

Wie might have more star power and hit the ball further, however in my mind and a lot of others Wie has not proven herself a winner. One Junior Girls event does not stack up to Pressel's junior amateur record.

Here is Wie's Amateur Record
U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links.2003

If Wie did not have invitations handed to her she would not have been in any of the Pro events she played in, including the Women's USGA Open. She did not qualify for any events.

I'll stick with Pressel for now, until Wie can prove to the golfing world that she has what it takes to win.

[AnnikaFan]

Wie was not allowed - in fact she has not even asked. Wie simply turned pro - it'll be at least a year or two before she asks to be a member of the LPGA Tour (assuming she qualifies).hmm..i think i meant that if wie got to turn pro, then pressel should too..

cuz that's basically why pressel was not allowed to be full member on the tour..is because she couldn't turn pro until she's 18....while wie got the lone exemption..

no?

[Golfbum]

hmm..i think i meant that if wie got to turn pro, then pressel should too..

cuz that's basically why pressel was not allowed to be full member on the tour..is because she couldn't turn pro until she's 18....while wie got the lone exemption..

no?NO, anyone can turn Pro. Bernhard Langer did it when he was 15. However declaring yourself a Pro does not mean automatic entry onto any tour.

What the LPGA orginally said was they would not allow anyone under the age of 18 to be allowed full status on their tour. Meaning any money earned would not count towards the official LPGA Money List.

Pressel could have turned Pro at age 16 if she had wanted to. However she wanted to compete as an Amateur.

Wie decided to turn Pro because she felt she could compete at that level. Plus I am pretty sure she had 10 million other reasons to do so. She has no official tour to call home, while Pressel does.

Now what the LPGA said this week was any money Pressel earns from now to her 18th birthday will count towards her official money. If Wie gets exemptions or qualifies for LPGA events her money will count too.

As I said anyone can declare themselves a PRO, you give up your Amateur status. You can no longer play in your club championship:D

Here is the link from the article regarding Morgan that is on TGC website
http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=15100&select=18282

[Queen of the Beach]

I read the article today too about Pressel. The pros are starting younger and younger these days. I guess eventually a few years down the road you'll have someone under 18 winning a Major and breaking Tiger's record and Creamer's!

[TourIQ]

but wie is a better player.
Hi iyell4

So what has Michelle Wie won in the last 2 years?
She did make headlines with the DQ though. :help:

[Bellyhungry]

LPGA Career Money List...

With the 10 M endorsement money Wie signed with Sony and Nike plus appearance fees, she is already second on the money list before even making a dime on the LPGA.

Not to mention she will be playing a reduced schdule given that she has no status on any tour.

1Annika Sorenstam$18,332,764.00

2Karrie Webb$10,736,871.003Juli Inkster$9,929,227.004Meg Mallon$8,767,439.005Beth Daniel$8,503,533.006Rosie Jones$8,306,013.007Se Ri Pak$8,081,987.008Betsy King$7,637,621.509Laura Davies$7,352,195.0010Dottie Pepper$6,827,284.00

[openflows]

Yay for Morgan! Congrats to her. Smart move on the LPGA's part. Hopefully their fortunes will steadily improve over the next few months/years.

[Focker Singh]

She immediately inked a sponsor deal with Callaway Golf, now she's an instant millionnaire! Way to go Morgan. Seeing Creamer and Pressel come up the last two years has made Wei look like she maybe should have reconsidered her career path. Creamer has already learned how to win an LPGA event and played a key role in the Solheim Cup. I think Creamer is going to have way better stats than Wei and Pressel in the 06 season.

[hogannut]

This girl has game. She will be dominent. Her mental game is superior to most of the other women out there including Michelle Wie.

[Golfbum]

This girl has game. She will be dominent. Her mental game is superior to most of the other women out there including Michelle Wie.
Well said. Look at Wie's record when she had a chance to make the cut in a couple of Men's events. She tossed it away with mental errors on the final holes, going for birdies when pars would have got her into the weekends. Instead of birdies she made boogies and missed the cuts. Poor course and game management.

Pressel on the other hand, she has had the taste of victory, she knows how to close the deal. Say what you want, someone who has learned how to win, no matter what level they were playing at is mentally prepared to do so again at the next level.

Will Pressel win an LPGA event in 2006? Hard to predict, but if she is as tough as Creamer is, (and I think she is) then she has a good chance of winning.

She reminds me of Dottie Pepper! But with more talent.

[hogannut]

With all things being equal Pressel should alrady have a major. The last time I remember someone steeling a major with a holed out bunker shot it was Larry Mize against Greg Norman. Pressel looks like a veteran out there as a teenager, and Wie is still showing the signs of the stress of the moment. I think Wie will outgrow that and she too is very young, but mental toughness (in my opinion) is more instincitive than any other element of the game. I back up this opinion by pointing out the super stars and how they achieved success at a young age, but more so how they did it. Look at Jack Niclaus when he was young, he looked like a veteran at 20, same with Tiger Woods. They were just showing his 1994 & 95 amatuer victories and he looks the same then as now. I mean he was skinnier and younger in the face, but his focus and intensity were the same at 15 as it is at 30. I think Pressel (and Creamer) fall into this category. The LPGA is exciting golf and with these new young players (that already understand it's good for their tour to look and act like women) I think their tour will be the one with the highest percentage increase in viewership over the next decade, and it will be due to players like Creamer, Gulbis, Pressel and not necessarily just Michell Wie.