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sports Wednesday 18 OctOber 2023

There's a place for women to play golf with men, not against them

By DOUG FERGUSON It's not about how many Thompson was among the
AP Golf Writer men Thompson beat over few women who played in
Lexi Thompson missed the 36 holes. That's not how that version.
cut by three shots on the to keep score in golf, and The Grant Thornton is the
PGA Tour in Las Vegas, and it misses the point. It's also first mixed-team event on
expectations are only go- nothing new. the PGA Tour since the old
ing to get bigger the next Michelle Wie, the clos- JC Penney Classic ended
time she plays. est any female player has in 1999, the last edition won
Not against the men, but come to making the cut on by John Daly and Laura
on the LPGA Tour. the PGA Tour since 1945, Davies.
While she played remark- shot a 68 in the Sony Open The Australian Open and
ably well in the Shriners Chil- when she was in the ninth Women's Australian Open
dren's Open — especially grade. She missed the cut now are held on the same
her 69 in the second round by one shot. Among the course at the same time
when she had social me- Lexi Thompson follows through with her tee shot on the eighth players who finished behind for equal prize money. In
dia buzzing about whether hole during the first day of the Shriners Children's Open golf tour- her was Adam Scott. A few Europe, the Scandinavian
nament, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in Las Vegas.
Thompson might make the Associated Press weeks later, swing coach Mixed in Sweden is sanc-
cut — it raised one ques- Butch Harmon taped a pic- tioned by the European
tion about the state of her finishes after the Solheim her messaging was even ture of Wie in Scott's locker. tour, Ladies European Tour
game. How can someone Cup — and will need to better. Thompson spoke all Golf is one of the few sports and LPGA. Men and wom-
that talented go more than finish fourth or better at week about the chance to that allows for men and en compete for one prize
four years without winning The Annika tournament on inspire young children to women playing together, (the women play from a
on the LPGA Tour? Nov. 9-12 to qualify for the chase any dream no mat- and the PGA Tour is just shorter set of tees). Linn
Perhaps her inspiring week season-ending CME Group ter the challenge or the now getting up to speed. Grant won last year, be-
in Las Vegas will provide Tour Championship. doubters. Even through tur- The tour was trying to make coming the first female to
the spark she needs. It was If she doesn't make it, that moil — and Thompson has the World Cup of Golf win an official European
all the more amazing that certainly won't take the endured plenty of that — mixed teams until the CO- tour event. Surely there is
Thompson could handle shine off a year that will her interaction with kids is a VID-19 pandemic halted room for something similar
the spotlight and the TPC be remembered for her re- priority. those plans. on the PGA Tour.
Summerlin course amid a spectable showing in Las What also emerged from The focus shifted to what is There was chatter several
season so difficult she might Vegas, where she drove her short week in Las Vegas now the Grant Thornton In- years ago about com-
have only one tournament the par-4 15th green and is the missed opportunity to vitational in December for bining the Tournament of
left. rolled in a pair of long bird- get men and women to- PGA Tour and LPGA play- Champions at Kapalua for
Thompson is No. 87 in the ie putts to temporarily get gether more often. ers (Thompson will be play- winners from the PGA Tour
CME Race to the Globe inside the cut line Friday This is not about women ing with Rickie Fowler). The and LPGA Tour. But then the
— she was outside the top morning. playing against the men, event used to be known LPGA found a sponsor for its
150 until a pair of top-10 The golf was good, and but playing with them. as the Shark Shootout, and own edition in Florida.q

Steph Curry to receive Charlie Sifford

Award for advancing diversity in golf

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. vision I level. Howard had personifies Sifford's ground-
(AP) — Golden State War- not had a golf team since breaking achievements
riors star Stephen Curry has the 1970s. through perseverance,
been selected to receive Curry will receive the award confidence, respect, and
the Charlie Sifford Award at the World Golf Hall of adaptability. "I'm incredibly
for his work in advancing Fame ceremony at Pinehu- honored to be chosen as
diversity in golf. Curry two rst, North Carolina, on June the recipient of this year's
years ago launched "Un- 10, the Monday before the Charlie Sifford Award and
derrated Golf" that com- U.S. Open. am grateful to the World
mits to providing equity, Sifford was the first Black Golf Hall of Fame for the
access and opportunity to player to become a PGA recognition in this sport that Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry cheers after a War-
high school athletes from Tour member in 1961. He I am so passionate about," rior basket in the second half in a preseason NBA basketball
all communities. He also was inducted into the Curry said. "I believe that game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Sun-
funded the Howard Univer- World Golf Hall of Fame in we have the opportunity to day, Oct. 15, 2023.
sity golf team for six years to 2004. The Charlie Sifford grow the game of golf by Associated Press
help the historically Black Award was created in 2021 providing equity, access golfers who have that same determination as so many
school compete on the Di- to honor an individual who and opportunity to young passion, dedication and of us out on the green."q