The LPGA Tour has an age requirement that states that in order to compete full-time on the Tour, a player must be 18 years of age. There can be exceptions made to the rule by the LPGA Tour Commissioner (currently Ty Votaw) if the golfer demonstrates that they have the capacity and support structure to make it as a professional on the daily grind.
Enter Carmen Bandea. She wrote a letter last week to the LPGA Tour requesting an exemption from the age requirement. She would like to have an opportunity to turn pro and play the Tour by going through the qualifying school in the fall. Bandea, and her overzealous parents, feel that she is good enough to not only excel on the LPGA Tour, but could give the big boys a run on the PGA Tour. Oh, did I mention that she's 15-years-old?
Coincidentally, that is the same age as Michelle Wie, the female amateur golf phenom of current record. Wie has been playing on the LPGA Tour on sponsor's exemptions for a few years now with great results. She has contended many times for titles and almost won two majors. Bandea feels that Wie is taking a handout by remaining an amateur and playing on exemptions. Bandea feels that it is almost cheating to go Wie's route and would prefer to qualify on her own.
The problem is that Bandea, admittedly, does not have a complete game. She has a wayward driver and struggles with the short stick on the greens. From personal experience as a player and an observer, if you cannot get off the tee or the green, then you cannot make it as a professional. Bandea seems to believe that I am wrong.
But, is it Bandea that feels the critics and I are wrong? Or, is this entire situation motivated by a set of parents that have brainwashed their child into her mindset? Certainly, teenage arrogance is not a new idea. Teenagers feel invincible and that they can accomplish anything, especially when they are told they cannot. But, Bandea's request for exemption goes beyond youthful ego. It crosses the line into adolescent idiocy.
For Bandea to request an exemption to turn pro is like a man on crutches registering for the Boston Marathon. The man on crutches has no chance to finish the race. Bandea has absolutely no shot as a professional golfer. Sight unseen, I can assure you that Carmen does not have the game to make it on the LPGA Tour.
Look no further to prove my point than the fact that the U.S. Women's Open champion is a pro who had only one top-10 before this week. Perhaps you could also look a few more places down the leaderboard to see a 17-year-old girl who qualified for her first U.S. Women's Open at age 12. Michelle Wie has an outside shot to become the first woman to qualify for the Masters if she can win the U.S. Amateur Public Links. Need I continue?
What troubles me is not Carmen Bandea. It is healthy for a teenager to have very high self-esteem and confidence in their talents. What troubles me is the attitude of Mr. and Mrs. Bandea, who have said that if Commissioner Votaw does not grant their daughter an exemption, they will simply have Carmen try for the PGA Tour. After all, according to the Bandeas, if she can make the shots, the PGA Tour will take her as there is no age limit.
Reality check, Mr. and Mrs. Bandea — if your daughter cannot qualify for the LPGA Tour, what chance do you think your daughter has of becoming the first woman to qualify for a PGA Tour event? The two best female golfers in history, Babe Zaharias and Annika Sorenstam, could not make the cut in their attempts to make history.
Perhaps I am wrong. Maybe Carmen Bandea is equipped with enough game to blow out golfers of all genders. But, as a last ditch, Votaw should veto her request on one principle. Bandea is 15. If she becomes a professional now, she will miss out on the thrill of being a teenager. She will have to instantly become an adult in a body with a mind that are both still developing. No prom, no graduation, no college. Teenagers, no matter their talents, should be given the opportunity to go through a normal life.
Michelle Wie just got her learner's permit. Do you think she's excited about that? I sure think so. Bandea and her parents should slow down, think this one out, and recognize that it is the best decision on all levels to allow their daughter to live as a 15-year-old. She will have plenty of years to live like a 30-year-old.
June 27, 2005
A. Stephens:
I think it’s due to Michelle Wie’s accomplishments among her many attempts to play in the big leagues that prompted Carmen Bandea to believe that she too, could reach the same results, except with money as the primary motivation. Whatever people may say about Michelle Wie, she is still motivated to play for the scores and visibly thrilled about her learner’s permit. In her words, Wie enjoys school, friends, and the beach as much as she loves golf, it’s not an all-consuming task for her.
It’s obvious that for the Bandea, the LPGA/PGA purse is the prime motivation and not, golf. According to some news reports that Carmen also plans to play competitive tennis, if all fails with golf.
June 28, 2005
Dave Oshel:
Bandea’s entitled to ask. After all, differences of opinion make horse races. She’s not entitled to compare herself to Michelle Wie, whose grace and game makes the rest of us look like apes. Maybe the next Nicklaus-Palmer rivalry producing golf for the ages will be on the LPGA Tour — between Michelle Wie and Carmen Bandea, I think not. Wie’s form is so beautiful it strikes many as one of St. Thomas Aquinas’ natural proofs of the existence of God.
July 7, 2005
JFL:
“Carmen is going to be really competitive in men’s golf,” Becky Bandea said. “If they won’t let her play women’s golf, she’ll just play where she’s allowed to play.”
This sounds like a mildly worded threat. Sounds like the whole family has attitude problem.
September 29, 2005
NJG:
It’s quite apparent that Bandea’s parents are quite blind by the simple truth:
She’s not ready.
At 15, she may have some great talent, but I firmly believe that she is no where near the skill to compete against some of the best in the LPGA.
It’s time they let their daughter live the next 3 years while she can. She will probably fail, and drop out to go play tennis. If she does succeed, I guess I’ll be eating this post.
October 26, 2005
DSMulner:
Please keep in mind that Bandea is not an average 15 year old. Her golf game may need polishing but she’s a legitimate athletic phenom. Like Wei, she hits the ball 300 yards, and like Wei, her putter is the only thing holding her back. She can also bench press 225 pounds, has sprinters speed and will be turning pro on the WTA tennis circuite this year.
Golf is a currently a side hobby for her- so maybe it maybe makes sense to allow her to enter some events. I the LPGA does not let her, they may be the ones the lose while other sports gain.