| The new millennium has brought along with it | | | | sought to use her remarkable golf abilities |
| a sharp increase in the popularity of womens | | | | to challenge male golfers directly. Like |
| golf, with a significant rise in the number | | | | Woods, maybe her efforts will help remove the |
| of female golfers in both the professional | | | | last barriers standing in the way of women |
| and casual arenas. That means the face of | | | | golfers, including those handful of remaining |
| golf is being changed in dramatic fashion, as | | | | clubs that still discriminate toward female |
| golf is rapidly losing its reputation as an | | | | golfers. |
| "old boys' game." | | | | |
| | | | Regardless of Wie's actual level of success |
| Although it may come as a surprise, women | | | | in her quest to play with the men, in the |
| have been playing golf professionally since | | | | past five years, women's golf has seen a vast |
| the 1800s. But traditionally, golf has been a | | | | rise in popularity partly thanks to her |
| hugely male-dominated sport, with many golf | | | | efforts as well as the inspired play of many |
| establishments not even permitting female | | | | other great women golfers such as Annika |
| players to set foot on their greens. The | | | | Sorenstam. And that popularity is predicted |
| journey to playing golf has not been a | | | | to increase. Women are now entering the game |
| painless road for aspiring women. | | | | at an unprecedented pace, with the fastest |
| | | | growing demographic being women younger than |
| Typically, it takes some kind of spark to | | | | 30. |
| ignite an explosive increase in popularity | | | | |
| for a particular sport. For men's golf, that | | | | However, it is interesting to note that there |
| spark was Tiger Woods, whose unbelievable | | | | is a slight difference in the way men and |
| play over the last decade or so spurred the | | | | women approach the sport. Women tend to view |
| popularity of golf to unprecedented levels. | | | | golf primarily as a social activity with |
| It is quite noteworthy to consider that, as a | | | | competitive undertones, while men see golf |
| child, Woods was denied entrance to a golfing | | | | primarily as a competitive activity with |
| club simply because of the color of his skin, | | | | social undertones. So, while male golfers are |
| a club which now welcomes the golf champion | | | | obsessing about their score, women are just |
| with open arms. | | | | trying to have a good time. |
| | | | |
| In the world of women's golf, teenage | | | | Nevertheless, despite the ultimate reasons, |
| sensation Michelle Wie has undoubtedly been a | | | | women have irrefutably embraced golf in the |
| catalyst in bringing great attention to the | | | | new millennium, and the result has been a |
| sport of women's golf in general, as she has | | | | great boon for the sport. |