Shame On The Hall

Another year has passed, and I'm still not in the LPGA Hall of
Fame. For seven years now, I've heard fans call out, "Amy, we're
rooting for you to get your 30th!" But I'm stuck on 29 career
wins, and according to LPGA rules, I need one more to get into
the Hall.

My 29 tour victories include five major championships, but three
of my majors don't help my cause much. Under current rules,
players can qualify for the Hall by winning 40 times with no
majors, 35 times with one major, or 30 times with two or more.
That means that none of my three extra majors counts for any
more than somebody else's Tuscaloosa Open title. It also means
that someone could win all four majors for seven years in a row
and still not make the Hall of Fame. Does that make sense?

Don't misunderstand me--I want to win again. At 42, I have more
fight in me than ever. However, this quest of mine has gotten
tiring. After 23 years on tour, I'm starting to think that my
biggest opponent may be the grind of traveling. Still, it's
important that I get into the Hall. I think I belong there, and
I'm not the only one. How the hell can you exclude players like
Hollis Stacy, with her three U.S. Open titles and 15 other wins,
and Beth Daniel, with her 32 victories? Fans want to see
excellence rewarded. Right now, though, the Hall has only 14
players in it. Is that enough reward to cover the long history
of women's golf?

This is a ball that has taken a very bad bounce. It's time to
change the entrance requirements for our Hall of Fame--not just
for me, but for the good of the sport. By admitting only a small
minority of great players, the LPGA is wasting an opportunity to
reward other great golfers and promote our game. Commissioner
Jim Ritts needs to take a stand, take the blows and stop trying
to make everyone happy.

COLOR PHOTO: JOHN BIEVER [Amy Alcott chipping golf ball]