The USGA needs a mulligan. Its premier event is shaping up as yet another mundane stop on a deteriorating tour because the organization altered the qualifying rules for the U.S. Open in a way that locked two of its must recognizable and popular players - Michelle Wie and Natalie Gulbis - out of the field.

Essentially, they made the Open less open.

The most impactful of the four changes was one limiting those exempted from qualifying to the top 10 in the LPGA's money list. Last year, the top 35 were in. If that were the case this year, both Wie (12th on the list with $435,000) and Gulbis (33d, $220,000) would be teeing off today at  Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa.

Instead, only the most passionate women's golf fans will know anyone besides American Paula Creamer and the world's top (but slumping) player, Lorena Ochoa.

And at a time when the LPGA is reeling from lost tournaments, bleeding sponsorship dollars and imploding over a brewing insurrection against its commissioner, Carolyn Bivens, the women needed every opportunity to attract spectators and eyeballs this week.

Instead, the Open will likely be like the proverbial tree that fell in the woods. Nobody heard it, and nobody cared. Great job, USGA.

Both players participated in qualifying tournaments but failed. Last year, Wie played her way into the field by finishing second in the qualifying event. She missed the cut at the 2008 U.S. Women's Open, as did Gulbis.

This year, Wie should have been granted a special exemption by the USGA but the group went as weak-kneed as an amateur on the first tee at Pebble Beach and "never seriously considered it," said Mike Davis, the senior director of rules and competitions.

Why? Because of the meowing sparked in 2003 when Wie, then just 13 and already anointed a "star" (prematurely, it was proved), was granted an exemption into the tournament after winning the Women's Amateur Public Links tournament that year, becoming the youngest player to do so. Ultimately, she made the cut at the Open, becoming the youngest woman to achieve the feat.

Six years later, though, Wie is bona fide. She earned her Tour card last December and has finished as high as 2nd in her 10 tournaments in '09, in the top 10 four times.

I doubt there would have been the kind of petty reaction that occurred in 2003 should she have been given an exemption. Wie is a different player, and these are different times. (If fact, most players should have applauded it since it would have no doubt boosted TV ratings.)

But the USGA was scared of a shadow that had long disappeared. Ugly swing, folks. That one went OB.

Gulbis is another matter. It would have been great to see her tee it up.

Really great.

Let's face it, Gulbis is the Anna Kournikova of women's golf. Known more for her looks than her game. (The words "toned" and "tanned" are used to describe her more than "talented.") In her last seven years on the LPGA Tour she's won only one tournament and finished in the top 3 in only six other events. She's been a Top 10 money-earner only once (2005 when she won $1,010,154, 6th overall), and finished 56th last year.

But still, we like to watch.

If the qualifying rules had remained the same, she would have been in the field and perhaps (though not likely) playing on Sunday instead of signing autographs at Saucon Valley for one of her sponsors, Lexus. Granting her an exemption would have been wrong, a pure bow to television gods.

But I wouldn't have been mad at all.

AP photos

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