Is an 11 year old girl too young to compete in the US Women's Open?

[LATB]

Originally Posted by Thomas

But lemme add this; don't grow up too quick kid. Enjoy being a kid.

Agree
Part of my position

[Chicago]

I think it's great. An 11 year old girl shot an 8 over par round in the biggest tourney there is, on an amazingly difficult golf course. Hopefully she can stay relaxed and be a kid for a few more years before worrying about the money and fame.

[Chicago]

Originally Posted by Silverspeed

From a money standpoint yes (thanks to Nike), but from a golfer's standpoint? She is the definition of not living up to expectations. She was going to be the female Tiger Woods, she has done anything but. I think a lot of that is due to pressure.

While that was true a few years ago, she's straightened up her game (her parents messed that up when she was young) and is now a top 15 golfer. Her style of putting is bizarre, but I guess it works for her just fine.

[Jobaka]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

If someone qualifies, they should be allowed to play.

On both points. However, if she's playing at or near a professional level by age 11, then I'm guessing she has not had anything close to what most of us would consider a "normal" childhood. It's not like she just picked up some clubs yesterday and suddenly became a world class golfer.

I say let her play because (again, I'm guessing) that's all she knows.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by Silverspeed

From a money standpoint yes (thanks to Nike), but from a golfer's standpoint? She is the definition of not living up to expectations. She was going to be the female Tiger Woods, she has done anything but. I think a lot of that is due to pressure.

That coin has 2 sides.

Maybe the pressure hurt her, maybe she never really was as good as the hype. If she had waited, there is a good chance that the realization would have been made that she wasn't the next Tiger Woods and she wouldn't have seen a dime from Nike or anybody else.

Very few of the people hailed as "The next..." actually turn out to be.