I’ll start this by being a bit of a hypocrite. I don’t want the golf media to talk about Hank Haney. But I’m going to. I really hope the majority of golf media covers the conclusion of the US Women’s Open by talking about Jeongeun Lee6. Her brilliant assuredness in collecting her first major championship (and LPGA title), as the extraordinary difficulty of winning a US Open took slow but certain hold on victim after victim. Her tears, and her translator’s tears, as she accepted the trophy behind the 18th green; a mark of how powerful it is to be someone, or see someone, who achieves something extraordinary. The moving, sad and inspiring story of her family.
Hank Haney does not deserve publicity in this story. It is NOT his story.
But I am going to write about him. To try and show how much still needs to be done.
Hank Haney predicted a Korean, probably named Lee, would win the US Women’s Open. He was right, as he pointed out on Twitter on Sunday night. The carefully researched, informed look at who was in good form and who had previous at US Open’s proved accurate. Guess we all owe Hank an apology.
Or maybe Hank owes Jeongeun Lee6 an even bigger apology than before.
Because to let him, and a whole culture of golf ‘fans’, get away with thinking those comments were acceptable or justified would be monumentally disillusioned. They may well have sounded worse than he meant them to. But it’s the influence he exerts. It’s the normalisation of casual yet concrete discrimination. Comments that are representative of a line of thinking that is more disrespectful than I can begin to explain.
To decide it would be inevitable that a Korean woman would win this major is incredibly dismissive of what it takes to win a major. The fact this instance was from someone who actually does have some idea what it takes to win a major makes it even more damning. There are a great number of extraordinary female golfers who are Korean. Whether they are first, second or third generation Koreans, they have cultivated a discipline and skillset that has lifted a country’s profile to the upper echelons of female golf. But it is those individuals, those people, that are responsible for that. Not a name. Not a flag. If there’s a person who best represents that, it’s the incredible Se Ri Pak. A woman who inspired other women. An athlete who inspired other athletes. A champion who inspired other champions. A woman who showed that it is possible to smash ceilings that others with a certain mindset will put in your way. Se Ri Pak is responsible for far more major champions than Hank Haney ever will be.
If Haney wants to claim he knew enough about the LPGA to know that there are a lot of exceptional Korean golfers, fine. But his own comments tear that justification to shreds. He didn’t know it was the week of the US Women’s Open. He didn’t know where it was being played. He said he “couldn’t name you, like six players on the LPGA Tour”. (I would put all my LET earnings on the bet that he doesn’t know the LET exists at all). Because to him, women’s golf is irrelevant. It is not worth his research. Not worth his knowledge. Not worth his understanding, or his curiosity, or his intellect. As if the skills required to make it to the top, to win major championships, are not worthy. Not in comparison to the men’s game. And that is the mindset, the conception, that is too prevalent in this world where women are desperately and powerfully trying to prove that disparity goes deeper.
I don’t know if Hank Haney has any daughters, or granddaughters. But if he did, and they chose to pursue golf… imagine they made it to a major. I wonder if he’d be relying on his radio co-host to tell him the dates and the location of that major. Too many people only care when it’s personal.
This isn’t a piece slamming Hank Haney. The irony is that it should really be his name that is irrelevant to this entire story. The world just got another major winner, one with a story that’s worth knowing, one that has reached a height of professional sport that a tiny fraction of the population are capable of. She is worth celebrating. She is worth knowing. As are all the players at the top of the game, male and female.
There will always be a place for jokes, a place for entertaining your fans and your followers and your friends. This doesn’t have to turn into a fully PC world. But there is also a darkness that is worth igniting; that needs to be acknowledged. I’m tired of having to point out this issue, tired of the disparaging treatment, tired of the everyday instances that show how far apart these worlds are and tired of people that don’t care anyway. I’m tired of probably coming across as a whiny woman who will never be satisfied with what I get. But I’m simultaneously desperate to never stop pushing this issue until it’s no longer an issue. Things are changing, and I’m excited to be a part of this world that is making them change.
… Just don’t rest on it.
Bravo Meghan!
Well said. It takes an effort to be racist, chauvinistic or to express disdain for any group other than ourselves. It takes no effort to be neutral; letting facts or situations speak for themselves. It would seem natural to be positive, supportive and open to acknowledging skilled performance by anyone. Sadly, this still seems not to be the case in far too many circumstances.
So, the Megans of the world have to keep reminding us of our problem. We may squirm when they do, but we should squirm more because they have to.
That’s funny, on Symetra Tour, the winner is a Lee from Taiwan and the second in also al Lee from USA. Lee is a name very common in Korea, as Smith in England or Martin in France, but there is many people having those names over the countries. I have a face book group which is “LPGA French Fans team” to promote female golf; I often go to see you playing on tournament. I know how it is difficult to play well, and much more to win. That’s a personal fight with the feelings the training and there is nothing to do with the name. I have crossed you some times on the circuit, and, even if you are not a “Smith”, I have seen in your eyes that you are a fighter and a winner. I know that you work hard for this. May be I could cross you again at Lacost Ladies Open in september where I shall be probably accepted as Marshall.
good golf, have fun.
Firstly not sure it really matters what he said, he’s a nobody. Media hype taken out of context like most comments without reading the drivel.
Great watch the women’s open 👍 women’s golf has changed it seems everyone is an athlete compared a lot like the men’s game.
LET tour sadly is more euro pro than European tour, to make a good living you have one choice and it’s clearly mapped out #LPGA or bust
Wish you lots of success. #WinnersWin
Never ever apologise for your views – which others are not confident to voice but truly feel the same – the misguided and unintelligent ignorance of some will always be around but for those who have a voice and the platform to be heard then they should use it and be commended. Well done Megan
Well said Megan! I personally enjoy watching the LPGA players as their swings and ball striking are superb. Seeing you pound ball after ball for hours at the Biltmore’s chipping green – even when it was raining and nearly thundering and over 90 degrees out – showed me how women golfer are as dedicated as the men are. What a blessing it is that the LPGA is such an open international stage for the best women golfers (and the LET is not far behind) – and that the Asian ladies have to sacrifice a great deal to make a career in front of us fans. The fact that they learn to speak English within a few years – how many Korean (or Spanish or Swedish or French words does Haney speak)? – is admirable. BTW, you are a very good writer! Keep at it and we’re pulling for you here in Coral Gables FL!
Well said and well written Meg.
I have to say, ladies golf is great to watch. you are so accurate, its a free lesson for all just watching a ladies tournament.
I wish you all the best
Play well
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Hey Meghan great post , unfortunately I decided about a year ago to distance myself from twitter in particular due to the amount of egos and bs that was being spouted so I missed this tweet … however you are absolutely spot on and well said … always enjoy reading your tweets 👍
Would much rather watch the LPGA than the PGA, and do so, when the tournaments are broadcast (getting better). Some truly great players (when I see Jin Young Ko near top of leaderboard, it will be a great Sunday of golf to enjoy). Just enough of a truly international feel to the participants (plenty of great Americans out there – not sure what Haney was crying about) to make it very interesting I think. Good luck on Tour and glad I found your Blog.