Morgan Pressel, Michelle Wie, Se Ri Pak

Assorted golf notes

* According to the Palm Beach Post 17-year old Morgan Pressel has petitioned the LPGA to be allowed to play in the tour's qualifying school this fall. The sport has a rule allowing only women 18 years or older to play the tour full-time unless an exception is made by the LPGA commissioner. These have been done in the past on a case by case basis.

There is no doubt Pressel has the ability to play the ladies' golf tour. She finished 2nd at the US Open only two weeks ago.

I wish Morgan good luck in her quest. My only reservation is I feel she should finish high school and then qualify in 2006 instead. Why? She won't be able to devote full-time attention to golf till Morgan is out of school so half of the 2006 season will pretty much be wasted. This would her in a hole as far as keeping her exempt status for 2007 and put her under a lot of pressure when she comes out full-time next summer.

On a side note, I believe the PB Post headline is incorrect. Ms. Pressel by asking the LPGA to allow her to qualify for the tour would be considered giving up her amateur status. So she is turning pro this year, not in 2006.

Second side note- Morgan is playing in this week's Jamie Farr Classic in Toledo Ohio.

* Michelle Wie is playing in this week's PGA Tour John Deere Classic in Illinois which begins today. This will be her third try at playing with the men.

I will be rooting for Michelle but still feel she should concentrate on the LPGA not the PGA. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think she'll ever stand out on the PGA tour.

* Se Ri Pak and her continuing struggles. What has happened to the queen of Korean golf? From her rookie year on the LPGA tour in 1998 through early 2004 she was considered one of the three best women golfers in the world with Annika Sorrenstam and Karrie Webb. Many put her second only to Annika.

Then mother's day weekend of 2004 Se Ri won the Michelob Championship in Virginia. This gave her enough qualifying points for the LPGA Hall of Fame(Though she would have to finish 10 full years on tour before being inducted). Se Ri was 26 and so much golf seemed to be ahead of her still.

Se Ri crashed immediately after that win. Missing cuts, rarely playing well and herself sinking into depression. What had happened to the #2 woman golfer in the World.

Early 2005 has been even worse than late 2004 for Se Ri. She has no top 20 finishes for the year.

I have hope for Se Ri this week. The Jamie Farr Classic has been like a second home for her over the years. Beginning in 1998

1998- Se Ri shot a 61 in the second round of the JFC on her way to winning. The 61 was the lowest round in LPGA history at that point.

1999- Se Ri won the biggest playoff(6 players) in LPGA history with a birdie on the first hole of sudden death.

2000- Se Ri finished 3rd, one shot out of a playoff.

2001- Se Ri won the JFC for the 3rd time leading Jamie Farr to say "Se Ri owns this golf course."

2002- A tie for 7th, Se Ri's worst finish since 1998.

2003- A fourth JFC triumph for Se Ri.

2004- Se Ri finishes tied for 2nd, one shot behind Meg Mallon. This was her only top 10 finish since the 2004 Michelob.

If Se Ri is to get out of her doldrums, this looks like the week to do it. Go Se Ri.