Not sure the golf world was all that jazzed about the Women’s U.S. Open that got off to a nice start Thursday at the ritzy Country Club of Charleston.
We were pretty jazzed about the ladies taking on a really cool old-school Seth Raynor-design golf course. It will make for some good watching.
But as is typical, there was a heckuva lot more attention focused on Columbus, Ohio and what’s going on there — Jack’s tournament at Jack’s place with Tiger You-Know-Who on hand to hog the golf world’s attention.
Ah, then enter good old Hank Haney.
Haney pooped the bed Wednesday morning on Sirius Radio. He was on the PGA Tour’s network and man did he bash a hornet’s nest with a three-iron.
Get a load of this Haney screw-up when he was asked to talk about this ladies U.S. Open, one that offers a whopping $1 million to the winner:
“I’m gonna predict a Korean. That’s gonna be my prediction. I couldn’t name you, like, six players on the LPGA Tour… Nah, maybe I could. Well, I’d go with Lee. If I didn’t have to name a first name, I’d get a bunch of them right. I don’t know… Lexi Thompson… Michelle Wie’s hurt. I don’t know that many. Where are they playing, by the way?”
Way to poop the bed, Hank.
Well folks, the golf world erupted after that. Time to heap on Hank.
Michelle Wie’s not in the field this week, still recovering from her wrist injury, but she was pissed off, along with everyone else:
“As a Korean American female golfer, these comments that @HankHaney made disappoint and anger me on so many different levels. Racism and sexism are no laughing matter Hank….shame on you. I don’t ever do this, but this must be called out.”
Thanks Michelle, I think you put that in context for all of us.
So now everyone’s talking about women’s golf and this is perhaps their major of majors.
Yes, South Korea has been a dominant force in women’s golf but anyone with half a brain knows that the LPGA Tour is a VERY international tour. Can’t help the fact that there aren’t professional sports in South Korea like the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball. The folks there love golf, love to play it, love to follow it. The LPGA Tour was ripe for an influx of foreign talent 10 years ago and South Korea filled that bill along with Japan and today, Thailand.
Hank forgot about Ariya Jutanugarn, who dominated that tour like no one a year ago. She’s pleasant and man can she move a golf ball. If you look at the Rolex Women’s World Rankings today, you’ll see Jin-Young Ko of South Korea at No. 1. Note to Hank — it’s not a Lee. Minjee Lee, she is a Lee, but sorry Hank, she’s from Australia and she’s No. 2. Sung Hyun Park is third, she’s South Korean, Ariya is fourth and then there’s Japan’s Nasa Hataoka in at No. 5. Who doesn’t love Canada’s golfing sweetheart — Brooke Henderson? She’s sixth while Inbee Park, a Hall Of Famer, is in there at No. 7. Part-time golfer Lexi Thompson, an American, is eighth followed by South Korean Sei Young Kim then Carlota Ciganda, who by the way Hank, is from Spain.
Didn’t take long for the world to jump on Haney. Although a few years ago, the most famous South Korean on the PGA Tour — K.J. Choi — was asked if he followed women’s golf seeing as there were a lot of South Koreans making names for themselves, to which Choi politely replied: “No, too many Kims and Lees.”
K.J. got away with that because he wasn’t on a national show, he’s South Korean and he’s not that high-profile.
As for Hank, it’s the talk of the town everywhere, especially in Charleston, where a lot of great golf will be played the next few days.
Now it might actually come as a shocker to Hank but there’s a Japanese player with the lead. Mamiko Higa shot a nifty six-under par 65.
Don’t tell Hank but Germany’s Esther Heneseleit was sitting solo second after day one thanks to a five-under 66.
And Hank, don’t look now but Celine Boutier was sitting there with a four-under 67 — and she’s from (drum roll please) — France.
Oh yeah, Hank, there is a Lee up there but it’s American Andrea Lee, a Stanford University student (and an amateur). She’s in at 69 and yeah, she’s a Korean-American. Not sure Hank differentiates.
It’s shocking that Hank never heard of the Korda sisters — Nelly and Jessica. Nelly’s having a heckuva year. She’s right in the hunt with a 69, older sis Jessica finished late and equaled Nelly’s effort.
Hank does know who Lexi Thompson is and Lexi was grinding it out, declaring “It’s hard to stay patient out there.” She stayed patient and put a nice 70 on her card.
So Hank’s Korean-phobia is the talk, sadly.
But look at the top of the leaderboard and once again, you can see the LPGA Tour is a very diversified, world-wide tour.
Don’t tell Hank that.
