LPGA Championship - Professional-amateur Controversy

Professional-amateur Controversy

Prior to 2005, the LPGA Championship had a "professionals only" rule. This is similar to the men's PGA Championship, but contrasts with the U.S. and British Opens, which have long had both amateur and professional entrants through qualifying. The LPGA Championship is the LPGA's own event, and the LPGA was created specifically to provide opportunities for women in professional golf. In 2005 this rule was revoked, effectively to allow then-amateur Michelle Wie of the U.S. to compete, in order to attract more media coverage and sell more tickets, though this was not publicly acknowledged by the LPGA. Some professionals objected to this move, as they felt that places given to amateurs would come at the expense of the LPGA Tour's less successful professionals, who need to play regularly to make a living. One of the leading professionals, Laura Davies, stated objections to the change were shortsighted. In 2006, the LPGA Championship reverted to its "professionals only" status, with only pros in the field. Michelle Wie participated that year as a professional, having turned pro the previous October upon signing multi-million dollar endorsement contracts with Nike, Sony, and other sponsors.