Women's Golf Equality

Women have been trying for years to be viewed as equal

competition for men, especially in sports. Unfortunately,

society fails to measure women's abilities on the same scale as

men's abilities. Golf is one of few sports that show great

potential for women and men to compete on the same level.

Recently, there have been many developments in the world of

women's golf.



Women's golf has been become extremely popular over the past few

years and there are currently as many professional women golfers

as there are men.



Golf equipment companies have also recognized

the amount of women interested in the sport and have customized

many pieces of golf equipment including golf clubs, drivers and

golf bags to be more comfortable for women. You can also have

your own golf equipment custom-made; making golfing more

comfortable and efficient for women since men's clubs were often

to big. These are just a few of the steps which have been taken

to welcome women into the world of golf and ensure that they are

comfortable and treated as equally as possible.



Women's golf associations such as the LPGA have also contributed

to the popularity of women's golf and given women the respect

they deserve. Women golfers are now featured in Golf Digest

magazine, Golf for Women and a number of other magazines

dedicated strictly to women's golf. Videos and TV shows are also

contributing to the popularity of this sport and giving women

the "drive" they need to pursue careers in this field.



It was not until earlier this year, that women's golf took a

leaping step in the right direction when professional golfer and

top LPGA player, Annika Sorenstam was told she could play

against the men in a PGA tournament.



Many people predicted how

they thought Sorenstam would do when she teed-off against some

of the best male golfers in the world. Some people had positive

encouragement to contribute while others were chauvinistic and

down-right rude.



Phil Mickelson, 2nd in the overall moneymaking standings last

year, had no problem playing against a woman and claimed that he

thought Sorenstam would end up 20th overall, when she predicted

herself to be 28th. Other golf professionals were not so eager

to give Sorenstam the benefit of the doubt.



Vijah Singh actually

resigned from the tournament because he felt he could not play

with a women. He claimed that Sorenstam simply "did not belong"

in a men's tournament.



Nonetheless, having a woman play in the PGA, even for a short

while, was a huge accomplishment which could potentially pave

the road for future development in women's golf.