Mike Whan Says What Everyone is Thinking

First, let's all agree on something; end of the year awards are always subjective. There is absolutely no rhyme or reason for most, and most are filler pieces to get golf writers and bloggers through the cold winter until Hawaii rolls around and our faded golf shirts are once again tossed into a suitcase. But when Golf Magazine, a great publication with a ton of talented people behind it, named Rory McIlroy (two worldwide wins in 2011 including a major) their Player of the Year over Yani Tseng (11 worldwide wins, two majors) it had a lot of people baffled (made even funnier that their own poll on their site had Yani win with 96 percent of the vote).

So leave it up to one of my favorite people in golf, LPGA commish Mike Whan, to give it to Golf Magazine in their latest edition.

“I am surprised and disappointed that the editors of Golf Magazine overlooked the 11 worldwide victories and two major championships that Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng has compiled as of November 1 when choosing Golf Magazine’s Player of the Year.” 


“This season, she [Tseng] became the youngest player in history—male or female—to win five major championships at the age of 22. It’s unfortunate I have to write this letter."


“... total wins, total majors, records that transcend sport, and leadership in nearly every statistical category should have been more than enough for Golf Magazine to reach a very obvious conclusion.”

Good on Mike. You know what players want from a commissioner or a manager or a coach? Someone that will stand up for them when they get trashed or left out. That makes them feel wanted, and as most of us know, athletes are insecure individuals.

I applaud Mike for standing up and writing this. Someone really needed to call Golf Mag out on such an omission.

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