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American Morning

Interview with Suzy Whaley

Aired September 20, 2002 - 08:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it is there if she wants it. Suzy Whaley can go where no female golfer has ever gone before. This past week the Connecticut club pro became the first woman to qualify for a tournament on what has been to this point the all male PGA Tour. Now that she has earned the right to compete in next year's Greater Hartford Open, Suzy says she has not yet decided if she will break the barrier and tee it up against the guys.
She's live this morning in Hartford, Connecticut. Great to have you with us, Suzy. Congratulations to you and good morning.

SUZY WHALEY, GOLF PRO: Thank you very much.

Good morning.

HEMMER: Why would you not play?

WHALEY: You know, I think in the decision-making process a lot of things have to be considered and one of the things that I'm thinking about very strongly is the disadvantage to how far back I have to play against the best players in the world.

HEMMER: I read a quote from you, I'll read it to you again just to maintain accuracy. You say, "If I shoot an 85 or an 88 and I do it on national television, is that what I really want to do as the first woman to do this in an event like this? That's what I have to think about."

It sounds a bit protective. Are you?

WHALEY: Absolutely. I think I'm really more so protective, not just for myself, but for women's golf. You know, I certainly wouldn't want to play poorly and have it turned into a referendum on women's sports, male versus female.

HEMMER: Yes. Do you have a sense that it would be history or do you have a sense that it would be novelty?

WHALEY: No, I do have a sense that it would be history. As the first woman, I know that Babe did do it as an amateur and, but as the first woman on the PGA Tour, I think it has to be history.

HEMMER: Your husband is a club pro. What's he think?

WHALEY: He thinks I should do it.

HEMMER: Yes? WHALEY: Yes.

HEMMER: Is he going to talk you into it then?

WHALEY: I don't know. I have a long time to think about it.

HEMMER: Yes, are you feeling any pressure from women's groups? You know, we can talk about Augusta and the pressure that's been mounted against that club in Georgia. But for you specifically, do you feel those walls of pressure coming closer or not?

WHALEY: No. No, I haven't felt that at all. I have only received support. I'm a PGA member and the PGA of America is behind me in whatever decision I make. But I haven't received any pressure from women's groups.

HEMMER: You know, this story involving you kind of coincides right now with what we're hearing from some women's groups regarding Augusta. They essentially say no female members. In fact, they've gone to great lengths to protect themselves and their club. Do you have an opinion on that, Suzy, as to whether or not Augusta should continue to have its own private decision regarding its members or, indeed, it should open its doors to women?

WHALEY: I would love Augusta to open its doors to women. You know, as a female, I would love to be able to have the opportunity to be a member there, and more than one female to be a member there. But Augusta is a private country club and private country clubs do get to decide their own rules. But Augusta in time, I think, will make the right choice.

HEMMER: Yes, what about you and your choice? When will you make it?

WHALEY: I haven't put a time line on myself yet. You know, I think...

HEMMER: The tournament's when, then, Suzy?

WHALEY: The tournament's next summer. The date has not been scheduled yet, but it will be in the summer of 2003.

HEMMER: In the interests of fairness, you know, a man cannot play in the U.S. Women's Open. But a woman can play in the Men's U.S. Open.

WHALEY: I think that that's correct.

HEMMER: That is correct. Very good, Suzy. You avoided that very well.

WHALEY: Thank you.

HEMMER: Hey, listen, run that one by your husband when you get a chance, OK?

WHALEY: All right, I sure will.

HEMMER: Suzy Whaley, congratulations again. We'll track it next summer on whatever decision you make.

Best of luck to you and your family, OK?

WHALEY: Thank you so much.

HEMMER: Great deal.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 20, 2002 - 08:14   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it is there if she wants it. Suzy Whaley can go where no female golfer has ever gone before. This past week the Connecticut club pro became the first woman to qualify for a tournament on what has been to this point the all male PGA Tour. Now that she has earned the right to compete in next year's Greater Hartford Open, Suzy says she has not yet decided if she will break the barrier and tee it up against the guys.
She's live this morning in Hartford, Connecticut. Great to have you with us, Suzy. Congratulations to you and good morning.

SUZY WHALEY, GOLF PRO: Thank you very much.

Good morning.

HEMMER: Why would you not play?

WHALEY: You know, I think in the decision-making process a lot of things have to be considered and one of the things that I'm thinking about very strongly is the disadvantage to how far back I have to play against the best players in the world.

HEMMER: I read a quote from you, I'll read it to you again just to maintain accuracy. You say, "If I shoot an 85 or an 88 and I do it on national television, is that what I really want to do as the first woman to do this in an event like this? That's what I have to think about."

It sounds a bit protective. Are you?

WHALEY: Absolutely. I think I'm really more so protective, not just for myself, but for women's golf. You know, I certainly wouldn't want to play poorly and have it turned into a referendum on women's sports, male versus female.

HEMMER: Yes. Do you have a sense that it would be history or do you have a sense that it would be novelty?

WHALEY: No, I do have a sense that it would be history. As the first woman, I know that Babe did do it as an amateur and, but as the first woman on the PGA Tour, I think it has to be history.

HEMMER: Your husband is a club pro. What's he think?

WHALEY: He thinks I should do it.

HEMMER: Yes? WHALEY: Yes.

HEMMER: Is he going to talk you into it then?

WHALEY: I don't know. I have a long time to think about it.

HEMMER: Yes, are you feeling any pressure from women's groups? You know, we can talk about Augusta and the pressure that's been mounted against that club in Georgia. But for you specifically, do you feel those walls of pressure coming closer or not?

WHALEY: No. No, I haven't felt that at all. I have only received support. I'm a PGA member and the PGA of America is behind me in whatever decision I make. But I haven't received any pressure from women's groups.

HEMMER: You know, this story involving you kind of coincides right now with what we're hearing from some women's groups regarding Augusta. They essentially say no female members. In fact, they've gone to great lengths to protect themselves and their club. Do you have an opinion on that, Suzy, as to whether or not Augusta should continue to have its own private decision regarding its members or, indeed, it should open its doors to women?

WHALEY: I would love Augusta to open its doors to women. You know, as a female, I would love to be able to have the opportunity to be a member there, and more than one female to be a member there. But Augusta is a private country club and private country clubs do get to decide their own rules. But Augusta in time, I think, will make the right choice.

HEMMER: Yes, what about you and your choice? When will you make it?

WHALEY: I haven't put a time line on myself yet. You know, I think...

HEMMER: The tournament's when, then, Suzy?

WHALEY: The tournament's next summer. The date has not been scheduled yet, but it will be in the summer of 2003.

HEMMER: In the interests of fairness, you know, a man cannot play in the U.S. Women's Open. But a woman can play in the Men's U.S. Open.

WHALEY: I think that that's correct.

HEMMER: That is correct. Very good, Suzy. You avoided that very well.

WHALEY: Thank you.

HEMMER: Hey, listen, run that one by your husband when you get a chance, OK?

WHALEY: All right, I sure will.

HEMMER: Suzy Whaley, congratulations again. We'll track it next summer on whatever decision you make.

Best of luck to you and your family, OK?

WHALEY: Thank you so much.

HEMMER: Great deal.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com