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MIAMI - Had tennis been Morgan Pressel's chosen career path, all this dismay over eligibility would be a non-issue.
The Women's Tennis Association allows a player to compete in 15 events between her 17th and 18th birthdays, plus the season-ending Tour Championships if she qualifies. Oh, and all the prize money counts.
Pressel has played four LPGA events since turning 17, five if you count last week's qualifying final. That would give her 10 or 11 chits still at her disposal before she turns 18 in May.
Of course, she isn't pursuing tennis.
The angle, though, may hold some validity. New LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens has gone on record as being impressed by the WTA's approach to age restrictions.
``They've probably wrestled with this issue longer than any rest of the sports,'' Bivens said as Sunday's final qualifying wound down.
``I'm a huge fan of the process they have that eases players in - educationally, emotionally, psychologically - and brings them into the tour very gradually.''
Bivens will get a chance to learn more in New York, when she sits down with executives from the WTA and other sports leagues for a summit to discuss ways of helping teens make the transition. The NBA, NHL and Major League Soccer also will be represented at the ``phenom forum.''
Research by each circuit, Bivens said, has resulted in plenty of information ``that's been kept in their respective silos, but I think all of us can benefit from sharing.''
That's nice, Herb Krickstein said, but much of it might fall under the apples-and-oranges banner.
``I don't see any comparison with a 15-year-old trying to play in the NBA,'' said Pressel's grandfather and advisor.
``I think men and women are a little different in maturity levels early on. Golf and tennis are individual sports. When you get into a team sport, like basketball, it's just totally different for a young person.''
Krickstein, remember, has been down this road before as well. Son Aaron Krickstein won nine events in 14 years on the men's tennis circuit after turning pro at age 15.
The WTA set up age eligibility rules in 1995, a response to growing concerns of burnout by its teen queens. Tournament limits are in place from ages 14-17, supplemented by plans for continued schooling.
(Pressel is no slouch academically, either, with grades and test scores good enough for admission to Duke.)
Even with the new limits, the WTA allows its 17-year-olds to spend more than one-fourth of their year tournament-hopping. That's far more than the six exemptions allowed by the LPGA.
Judging from Sunday's words, Bivens appears open-minded to change. One whisper making its way around Q-school was that the LPGA might offer limited participation to pros as young as 16.
If it struck you that Michelle Wie just happens to be 16, give yourself a pat on the back.
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(c) 2005, The Miami Herald. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service.
