Pinehurst Double Duty Misses the Point

Repeat after me, the LPGA Tour is not the PGA Tour, not now nor will it be at any point for the forseeable future unless the American competitive sports landscape drastically changes. Even after Tiger Woods has moved on to the Champions Tour or accepts an offer from the 46th President of the United States to become a goodwill ambassador for our nation, the LPGA will not exceed the PGA in popularity, watchability or bankability.

With that said, I found the announcement earlier this week that the No. 2 Course at Pinehurst Resort in the Sandhills region of North Carolina would be the first ever venue to host both the Men's and Women's U.S. Open Championships in the same calendar year (2014) and would do so in consecutive weeks to be a bit disconcerting.

As a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, which has strong ties to the Pinehurst area, and someone who resided in the Research Triangle area for a number of years, I think that this development is great news for the area and the state of North Carolina, both of which I consider to be phenomenal places to live and visit. Hosting premier USGA events back-to-back will greatly benefit the local economy and serve to showcase the Sandhills, Triangle and the state as a whole, but in my opinion one venue does not deserve such an honor.

And as far as women's golf potentially benefitting from the added exposure the Women's Open will gain from following just days after the men, I couldn't disagree more with that premise.

I've only written specifically about golf for about a year and a half now, but even before this great game became a bigger part of my life, I remember looking forward to the U.S. Open more than any other major every summer. That's due in large part to the basic philosophy of the tournament. The U.S. Open at its core is an event that celebrates the venue and the game as much as it does the players competiting that particular week, and this is partly true of all major championships.

This week Bethpage Black is just as big a star as Tiger Woods. This grand old municipal course is beloved by the public golfer who sleeps in his car just to have a shot at gaining access to the course as a new dawn breaks. Even if the U.S. Open venue isn't a public-access course, our national championship celebrates the unique history of its host, whether it be Oakmont, Winged Foot or Olympic Club and the cities surrounding those clubs.

Some great old layouts that can't be modified to match the length displayed by today's PGA Tour players are perfect venues for the LPGA Tour, and give the women an opportunity to put on their own distinct event and bring a national championship to a forgotten but deserving golf course. In the next few years, the ladies will visit a few of these classic old layouts such as Saucon Valley Country Club, Sebonack Golf Club and Lancaster Country Club; courses ideal for the women's game but overpowered by the men.

Anyone with an adequate handicap is eligible to participate in the qualifying process for the U.S. Open, giving a great number of golfers across the country a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream. Shouldn't a golf course be given the same consideration. Isn't pulling Pinehurst's name out of the hat twice a bit selfish, or better yet shortsighted?

After all, we only have one women's and men's open national championship each year, so why spoil one course with all of those riches?

As a resort course, and a course that hasn't been stretched to gargantuine lengths like its Open peers, Pinehurst was perhaps the only choice that made sense for double duty. I don't blame the resort at all for it's ambition.

"It's the perfect facility to do so," said USGA Executive Director David Fay. "The ownership is eager to do it. The local government supports it."

But not everyone in North Carolina gave the move an overwhelmning stamp of approval.

"It's good news for the village of Pinehurst, the Triangle and the state of North Carolina, all of which will get a double economic boost from the twin tournaments," wrote the Charlotte Observer's Luke DeCock.

"But it's not good news for Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, which was hoping to host the Women's Open for the fourth time in 2016. And it might not be a slam dunk for women's golf, although that will be debated for the next five years and perhaps beyond."

Two points that were made to defend the women following up the men were:

a.) added exposure

b.) a chance for someone to qualify for both tournaments

First, correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the U.S. Women's Open one of the few LPGA events of the year that can stand on its own in terms of drumming up fan interest and getting decent media coverage. Wouldn't it make more sense to pair two regular season events if the real goal was added exposure.

The LPGA won't always have the luxury of following the PGA Tour, so I think it's a bit of a disservice and sends the message the the LPGA product isn't good enough to stand on its own. Furthermore, it attempts to capture an audience that won't necessarily follow the women's game for the remainder of the year.

It's kind of like Fox trying to gain interest in a new show by running it after the Super Bowl.

There have even been a few suggestions that a player could qualify for both events. And who exactly would that be, Michelle Wie? The same Michelle Wie who has yet to win a professional event and failed to qualify for the Women's Open this week?

Paula Creamer greeted the news with great excitement at the LPGA McDonald's Championship last week, but some of her words echoed my sentiment that the LPGA needs to play it's own game.

"That's unbelievable," she said. "I'm about speechless, this is such great news. Men's golf and women's golf is so much different, but there will be a lot of comparisons, and that's great for golf fans.

"We just have to remember to play our own game," she added. "We aren't playing the men that week. I think this is a huge step for women's golf."

It's a step, but in which direction. The LPGA and each respective national championship would be better served playing its own game.

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