she's too young to drive
Lucy Li
- Thread starter JCW
- Start date
she's too young to drive
6inchcup
Journeyman Pro
i do not think amateurs should be allowed to enter professional tournaments at all,if you wish to enter turn pro and try and make a living,there are plenty of top world class amateur comps to enter.
So that takes out the Silver Medal in the Open. Only been going since 1949. These players earn their right through a long qualification process in the same way as the pros. Why shouldn't they be there
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
Why do you think amateurs shouldn't be allowed ?
Do you think non league clubs shouldn't be allowed in the FA Cup also ?
6inchcup
Journeyman Pro
just because it has been going for 65 years does not mean things can not change.
You have to remember being an amateur in those days was that an amateur,normally someone who worked and played golf for fun.
The new breed of amateur are pros in waiting,they are sponsored by the manufacturer,have the same teaching pros and some have full time caddys,the only difference is they dont get winnings as such.
As soon as they do well in a top amateur comp they turn pro,and most have their agents holding a contract when they finish,only one stood by the principle of being an amateur for decades and that was WOLSTENHOLME,my point is turn pro and then enter pro comps,and have the pressure those earning a living have.
6inchcup
Journeyman Pro
should LIVERPOOL be able to field a team in the local Sunday league.
the_coach
Journeyman Pro
There's a reason they're called "The 'Open'" & "The US 'Open'".
It's also to encourages Ams to strive for excellence & give the Top elite ams something to aim at that's part of golf's heritage, a place in the "Opens", & in the mens case the Masters too, the women the Kraft Nabisco.
Also it encourages youngsters looking at achievements like this (Lucy in 2014, not just a new thing at all as Judy Rankin was the low am in the US Open aged 14 in 1960) to maybes fire their imagination to start to take up this great game.
The Ams that qualify are not taking any Pro's places as there is a number of places set for the Pro's that meet the qualifications necessary.
Lucy Li aged 11 finished tied 120 out of 154 competitors, many of the Pro's had one round of 80+, against Li's 78, 78.
It's also to encourages Ams to strive for excellence & give the Top elite ams something to aim at that's part of golf's heritage, a place in the "Opens", & in the mens case the Masters too, the women the Kraft Nabisco.
Also it encourages youngsters looking at achievements like this (Lucy in 2014, not just a new thing at all as Judy Rankin was the low am in the US Open aged 14 in 1960) to maybes fire their imagination to start to take up this great game.
The Ams that qualify are not taking any Pro's places as there is a number of places set for the Pro's that meet the qualifications necessary.
Lucy Li aged 11 finished tied 120 out of 154 competitors, many of the Pro's had one round of 80+, against Li's 78, 78.
londonlewis
Tour Rookie
1- Amateurs should definitely be allowed to enter professional tournaments as it is an excellent way to continue to grow the game.
2- Before turning professional amateurs should know what the pressures are of playing in these events. This will prepare them to be a successful pro (no point in having every amateur fail as no one would then turn professional) and it will make them aware of whether they can actually withstand the pressure.
3- It is a tradition (this has been covered I know but it is still important)
4- They are there on merit. So what if they have the same coaching as the professionals, they still have to play the shots
5- Amateurs don't get paid any tournament winnings so it will only affect a very small number of professionals that don't make the cut ahead of an amateur. Case in point - Shane Lowry won the Irish Open as an amateur but Robert Rock took home the 1st place winners prize
6- If you are a professional but you can't beat an amateur, maybe you should reconsider your chosen profession
londonlewis
Tour Rookie
6inchcup
Journeyman Pro
i dont get some of your points,let them play in a pro comp to see if they can handle the pressure before turning pro,WHY !!
Your missing my point,ALL the top am players are professional amateurs,as in they are sponsored and paid in one way or another,golf is their full time occupation.
there are a few roads to playing on the main tour,so like the football leagues you move up like they do on the euro pro tour.
Was Shane lowry as good as the pros,what did he do the same day he won he turned pro,contract done and dusted sponsor in place,schedule sorted,he was a pro in all but name
Look at the am trying to get into the open how many dq'd or nr'd or wd not a good advert is it.
Think you should look at regional and final qualifying. Plenty of pros rock up there and then W/D or N/R. Not just the remit of amatuers
6inchcup
Journeyman Pro
i never said it was homer,but how many places are taken by amateurs with no hope in hell of ever getting through,but only realise when they are 15 over then W.D after a few holes on the second round,not a good advert,and they do take places from club pros trying to get further up the ladder.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
Sorry but you are talking nonsense
Its called The "Open" for a reason - because its an Open competition and anyone can attempt to play in it - no one is "taking" a place from anyone
Hold the back page. I agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rickg
Money List Winner
Not quite anyone.....you have to be off scratch or lower when you enter........mate of mine played in it last year...didn't do too well, but he said it was the best experience he has ever had...
Of course the Open should be open to amateurs....it's one of the greatest things about our game.....we would have been robbed of that magical shot by Justin Rose and by Tom Lewis's round with Tom Watson........fantastic memories...
londonlewis
Tour Rookie
I explained the reason for amateurs being able to see if they can handle the pressure. Not entirely sure why you don't get it.
We understand what you are saying - you have one argument for not letting amateurs play in pro events. That argument is effectively; they are pretty much professionals anyway because of their coaching and sponsorships.
What you don't seem to either understand or even give a s$&* about is the fact that amateurs do not get paid any tournament winnings and are there based on their merit.
Justin Rose played in the open as an amateur and went pro based on his performance. Would he have ever gone pro if he hadn't played in the Open?
If he had turned pro, would he have stuck at it for the first few years when his results were so poor if he hadn't had the result in the Open as an amateur (as this would have given him the belief that he could do it on the tour)?
Would England therefore still still be waiting for a recent English winner of the US Open?
Doh
Journeyman Pro
Just playing devils advocate here i have no ax to grind either way, but 6inch has a point. He did not state that they should not play in the open he said Am's should not play in professional tournaments. And i would agree with that.maybe the point that was missed was that the Open is just that Open.
londonlewis
Tour Rookie
Just playing devils advocate here i have no ax to grind either way, but 6inch has a point. He did not state that they should not play in the open he said Am's should not play in professional tournaments. And i would agree with that.maybe the point that was missed was that the Open is just that Open.
Clarification or not, I still stand by the decision to allow amateurs to play in professional events. I think it is good for the game of golf.
Bobby Jones would not be reverred the way he is, had amateurs never been allowed to play in professional events.
He used to say; the word amateur comes from the latin 'to love', being an amateur means you truly love the game. Playing for money means you can not call it love anymore.
I got the impression of a bright and well balanced young lady doing something that she enjoys and is obviously very good at. Good luck to her! 
6inchcup
Journeyman Pro
why do you keep mentioning Bobby Jones in your posts.
He came from a rich family and had a well paid law practice,he did not wish or need to turn pro.
How many millionaire amateurs are there trying to get into a pro tour event.
You also infer that Rose and Lowry etc would not have turned pro how do you know,look at what Rose did after the open,did he turn pro to soon.
can you tell me what is wrong in having a tiered system and working your way onto the main tour,this way they could learn the pressure in earning a living.
Do you think it good to watch an amateur hacking around with the pros because his bottle has gone i for one dont.
