Remember when a 10-year-old Michelle Wie said she hoped to play in the Masters someday?
Well, if Paula Creamer has her way, the best women golfers in the world will get to play a tournament on the most famous course in the world.
It might not be exactly what Wie had in mind, as she wanted to play against the men (and famously did in some other tournaments, as a teenager).
But why shouldn’t the top women have their shot at Augusta National, in a tournament of their own at least? I certainly can’t think of a reason.
Like Creamer said, "It is 2015."
Creamer is tied for fourth at 6 under after the first two rounds of the Lotte Championship at Ko Olina.
On Tuesday, she posted the following on Twitter: "I hope the Masters will consider a Women’s Masters soon. They do so much to grow the game. Fastest area of golf growth is women"
Following her second consecutive 3-under 69 on Thursday she expounded on the topic.
She said it just makes sense to increase exposure for the game.
"I think it’s time that we can do something with that. the Masters does such a great job growing the game. In Augusta, just in that area, they’re so big with making golf bigger in all genres, whether it’s junior golf, … just the excitement of it.
"There is no reason why we can’t use that to grow women’s golf. We’re just as much a part of it as the men are," she said. "That would be awesome. I’ve played there. I’ve been there. I’ve stayed at Butler Cabin.
"I think a lot of patrons would enjoy two weeks there. You know, get to go back to Augusta and have the pimento cheese sandwiches again."
Creamer — with 10 career victories including the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open in her 10-year pro career — has the credibility to lead such a movement. Maybe she can meet with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to discuss it; Rice was one of the two women who were the first females to become members of Augusta National, in 2012.
For the immediate future, Creamer will concern herself with trying to catch three South Koreans ahead of her on the leaderboard; Sei Young Kim and I.K. Kim are tied for first at 10 under, with Inbee Park alone in third a stroke ahead of Creamer at 7 under.
Two more South Koreans, Mirim Lee and Jenny Shin, are tied with Creamer.
Many of the leaders talked about not playing too aggressively in the early rounds, taking what the course and the wind will give them.
"I played really safe today," said I.K. Kim, who led after the first round at 7 under and shot 69 on Thursday. "I pick the conservative targets."
Kim admits she’s not much of a gambler, referring to the roulette wheel as "Russian roulette" on a trip to Las Vegas last week.
"I bet a hundred bucks and lost a hundred bucks," she said. "Maybe next time I’ll gamble smaller."
She and the other leaders might have to take bigger chances Friday and Saturday in order to win.
As for Augusta National, allowing the women to have their version of the Masters would be a sure bet.
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Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.
