How does Michelle Wie keep getting Sponsors Exemptions to play in Golf Tournaments?

Question

I have absolutely nothing against her , I wanted to see her succeed , but come on , she just got another Sponsors Exemption , isnt she just taking a spot from someone who is more talented and deserving ? Your thoughts , Best Answer 10 Points

Answer 1

miracles happen in mysterious ways and this is one that we will proabally never know.

Answer 2

I dunno, but I'm tired of seeing her. She will never live up to the hype surrounding her, and will be remembered for her downfall than her glory.

Answer 3

Michelle Wie has drawing power caused by an over zealous press. She blew her chances when as a teen ager fell for the "hit the ball longer than the pros." garbage and has failed to produce. The old man settled for 10 mil paid by some foolish company and this may be the pressure to get " sponsor's exemptions".

Answer 4

The LPGA needs a player who can put people in the stands and that's Big Wiesy - she has a lingering wrist injury and a lack of confidence.  When she's 100 %, she'll have the same effect on the tour that Tiger did, more fans bigger payouts and everybody is happy.

Answer 5

The same way John Daly does.  The sponsors want people to buy tickets and come to the tournament and spend money.  Therefore, they give their exemptions to people like Michelle because they know she will draw people in, it's a business decision.

And I don't understand the argument about taking a spot away from someone more deserving.  Every sponsors exemption does that, regardless of who they pick.

Answer 6

Talent and "deserving" have nothing to do with sponsor's exemptions; each tournament gets a fixed number (usually anywhere from 4-6, maybe 8) depending on the tournament.  They aren't for qualifiers...they are solely for the tournament director to use at their fancy (it's a bargaining chip with the LPGA tour)- by the way the PGA Tour operates the same way.

She draws fans (who buy tickets, refreshments, and merchandise) to the course, and tv ratings spike as well (nothing like Woods, mind), which drive ad dollars.  Look at how tournament directors killed themselves to offer Woods exemptions back in 1996 when he had no status; it worked for both parties (Woods got into tournaments he otherwise wouldn't have, the directors got the big name draw card)- the only exception is Woods won a tournament (and a 2-year exemption that came with it).

Put it this way- if I was running a tournament, I'd offer her an exemption in a second; nothing to do with her ability as a golfer, but she's a name that people know.  You hope she does well (even wins); if so, your tournament will be getting tons of media attention and all that comes with it.  

You're either going with a "name" that isn't otherwise in the tournament, or a local talent (i.e. local college/amateur star, young prodigy, name player on a comeback, etc.).

Is it fair?  Probably not, but this is how sponsor exemptions work.  It's how Annika Sorenstam got into the Colonial a few years back (and if you're the Colonial, you saw a massive spike in ratings, ticket sales, merchandise sales...exactly what you hope for).

So to answer your question...she really isn't taking a spot away from a player holding a Tour Card (comparitively speaking, tennis operates in much the same fashion).

Hope this helps.

Answer 7

$$$$$$$. She will bring people out to watch. This is why she gets the exemptions in the smaller tourneys.

Answer 8

Knee pads

Answer 9

Yes, she is taking a spot from someone who deserves more and who is more talented.  Not fair really.....

On the flip side, let's look at it from the sponsor's point of view...

They can do the "right" thing and invite some other player who actually made the cut, but can that other player bring in the media and that big of a gallery that Wie could?

.....hmmmm... probably not!

It's all business....

...........bigger gallery -> more tickets -> more $$$$$

If they sacrifice just one player in order to invite Wie, they can make so much money and get so much exposure of the tournament.....maybe even a TV coverage.

And can you really blame Wie for playing?  If Sony gives YOU a free invitation, would you turn it down just because you feel "guilty" for taking someone else's spot?  No, you play to win!!.... or in Wie's case... hope that you actually finish a round without getting heat exhaust, wrist injury or any other bs excuses.

Personally, I'm all wie'd out....  don't really care much.

Answer 10

That's about to end and is fading quicker than you think.  Unless she starts winning, which is highly unlikely, the exemptions would dry up.  If you'd notice, her publicity has gone down tremendously.  Nowadays, it is more Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam

Answer 11

some sponsors must think that she is a large enough draw in bringing in fans that they want her to play.  

Guiness's analysis is spot on by the way~!

Answer 12

Simple.  Just as Tiger gets paid millions of dollars (usually $2+ million) to appear at tournaments in Dubai every year (forget about what place he comes in) and John Daly gets exemptions at specific tournaments, Michelle Wie has the same draw.

Like everything else, it comes down to money.  Tournaments that have 150+ no-names playing in them draw very few spectators in relation to the big shows.  If a promoter manages to get Tiger in the mix however, ticket buyers increase 1,000%.  Prime-time TV coverage.  Sponsors and advertisers want to provide funds since they know more people will watch a tournament (and hope that those people see their product) with Tiger in the mix.

Well, certainly, Michelle Wie is no Tiger, but she is somewhat of a household name.  Without Michelle, a tournament might rake in (hypothetically) $2 million in sponsors, ticket sales, etc.  But WITH Michelle Wie, those earnings for the tournament might increase to $12 million.

It's all about promotion - and no matter if she deserves to play or not, the tournament will make much more money inviting her to play than not.