Michelle Wie Advances

Cincinnati is hosting this year's USGA Amateur Public Links Championship. The championship was last held in Cincinnati in 1987 when it was played at Glenview Golf Course (ref).

What is more exciting than the tournament's return to Cincinnati? I'll tell you: Michelle Wie playing in that very tournament. Along with Anika Sorenstam, Wie is helping women break through gender barriers on the professional golf circuit. This time, she is competing with the men for the title of Amateur Public Links Champion and a place in next year's Masters.

She played just well enough on Monday to qualify for the match play, or head-to-head, portion of the tournament. In her first round match, she barely beat a recent Auburn graduate Will Claxton.

But, in the second round of match play, Wie dispensed with her competition quickly. Winning 6 and 5 over C.D. Hockersmith, Wie showed her ability to play with the men.

Note: Winning 6 and 5 means that Wie was leading the match by 6 holes with 5 holes remaining. In match play, you win a hole when your score is strictly less than your opponents. In the case of matching scores, the hole is halved.

Once and for all, her play today and Anika's play in the past should make it fairly evident that girls can play with the guys. If there is anyone left who doubts that, they are just worried about being beaten by a girl. Suck it up fellas.

Update: I fixed the typo in the opening line.

Update 2: Wie played her 3rd round match this afternoon. She continued her domination of male players by winning 3 and 1 win over Jim Renner. She is now only three match play victories away from a likely invitation to the Masters. She will play again tomorrow morning. More about the controversy of such an invitation if and when she wins the tournament.

Update 3: Wie will not be advancing any further. This morning Clay Ogden defeated Michelle Wie 5 and 4. Despite the loss, Wie has demonstrated that she can play with anyone. This was an open tournament. To gain her spot she competed on the same course, under the same conditions as everyone else. There were no sponsor's exemptions. What's your excuse now Mark Hensby?