Surprise, surprise, Balders gets the one single fact he quotes wrong. The Korean Open and Asian Open are completely different animals. It's like saying making the cut on the PGA tour is no more impressive than making it on the Nationwide tour.

Of course, any fool with a brain would know that... except Chris Baldwin, apparantly.

Oops, meant to say "Korean Tour" and "Asian Tour", but otherwise the comment stands.

A person with even 1% objectivity would recognize this as an achievement. Not an achievement like winning the Masters, but an achievement none-the-less.

But since this guy gets readers only because he insults Michelle Wie, and as insulting her is apparently his only raison d’être (how sad in itself--'What do you do in life, Mr. Baldwin,' 'Oh, I say nasty things about a 16-year old girl'), what else can one expect.

But, since if he relied on his wit and and writing skill alone (cough, cough), he'd have, oh say, one reader, he'll keep this up.

Actually Baldwin might be right this time. Although he totally got the Tour part wrong, he might be right about Wie getting more experience from winning Jr. tournaments. Look how it helped Pressel last week. At least MW would learn how to cry better. What a joker.

About eight hours later than I thought you'd be, but here you are. And you're right. But I'd expect the Wie Warriors have been waiting for you to poke your head out of your bunker. Prepare for the onslaught!

"Please. I haven't heard such utter bunk since John Daly tried to become a professional singer."


I can say the same thing about you pretending to be some sort of journalist. Ha.

The SK Telecom is a much higher regarded tournament than the domestic tournament that Se Ri Pak played in. KJ Choi was quoted as saying that the greens are slick as most of the ones he plays in the PGA tour. The SK Telecom is an international event and includes Jeev Milkha Singh a great talent from India; as well as other talents from other countries in Asia: Taiwan,Thailand, Australia, New Zealand. David Oh also made the cut; he is a Korean American from LA who is currently a nationwide tour member. Making the cut in this tournament is like making the cut in a Nationwide tour event; which is a good positive step for Michelle.

You are like the pimple-popping boy who says that girls are yucky, and then he just can't stop talking about them. If you really think that Wie making the cut in the SK Telecom Open is that trivial, why would you write paragraphs upon paragraphs about it?

Baldwin,
Get your facts straight next time you decide to post another one of your asinine articles. You are the most incompetent buffoon I've ever come across. After having read the body of your work, I honestly believe that you’re half-retarded.

First you criticize her for not playing with girls her own age. Now that she's doing well in a men's tournament you say it's because her competition is inferior?

Of course, the biggest joke--on both sides--is that Wie knows exactly how significant and how insignificant her acheivement was yesterday. It's a big deal for her because it finally proves she won't choke all her chances away, but it's not a big deal since I'm betting she would agree with Baldwin (to a point) in that with all her potential, nobody's going to be very impressed if this is as far as she gets.

It's clear that Baldwin won't be happy unless Wie wins the men's Grand Slam of golf three times in a row. But since Wie appears to be the only thing justifying his existence these days, that's no surprise.

"but it's not a big deal since I'm betting she would agree with Baldwin (to a point) in that with all her potential, nobody's going to be very impressed if this is as far as she gets." While no one will give her kudos for doing well this week, she is in line to make more for just appearing then the winner's check will be. $5 million for two weeks work is ok with me for a HS Jr. Good work if you can get it.

Tiger Woods himself said he could not conceive of making the cut in a men's pro tourney at 16. In fact, he never did make the cut until he turned pro, and it took him 7 tries.
Fact is, Wie is the best 16 year old golfer of any sex - ever.
Whether she becomes dominant like tiger when she gets older remains to be seen.
In the meantime, it is refreshing to see a pretty, likable, girlish teenybopper without a huge ego in the world of golf. She has a higher average women's major tourney finish than anyone with the possible exception of Annika.
Morgan Pressel is a jealous, inferior golfer, and an all-around bitch with not 1/4 the talent of Michelle.

Oh, I gotta do this. I just have to twist Baldwin up and all his little sycophants, lol.
Chris, baby, eat your little blood pump out, rofl...

Latest rankings from Golfworlds Women players rankings
Michelle Wie 68.11
Annika Sorenstam 68.13
Jeong Jang 69.33
Paula Creamer 69.46
Juli Inkster 69.48


Eat that, Baldy.

Comment from: Mike [Visitor]
---

Of course, any fool with a brain would know that... except Chris Baldwin, apparantly.
---

You are giving Chris credit for having an organ that isn't present in that cranium of his

Chris,
I thought you said you read the other blogs.

If you had perhaps, you would have read my comments.

The only thing similar about Se Ri Pak's and Michelle Wie's achievements is that they were both in Korea.

If you actually truly believe what you have written, then that means, if Michelle is to make a cut on The Nationwide Tour or even a lesser tour, it would be equal to making a pga cut. Is that what you honestly believe?

What Michelle Wie has done, hasn't been done by any female in the last 60 years.

She has made a cut on one of the 6 main professional tours.

Comment from: Mark [Visitor]
A person with even 1% objectivity would recognize this as an achievement. Not an achievement like winning the Masters, but an achievement none-the-less.

I agree. Put it in perspective. How many 16 year olds made the cut in that tournament? Let alone a 16 year old female.
But then, who ever said Baldy was objective!?!?!

"..this is an incredible, mystifyingly great day, a huge step forward in her marketing plan ... er, career". (Balwin's pathetic histronics) It seems the only one getting excessively worked up over this is you, Chris. Count your change from Google and thank the golf gods that Michelle Wie exists so that you have something to rant about you silly dork.

So - what did you do with that $10M you earned last year? I know you are all about golf - but look at the big picture.

Michelle is a great role model for women and children in general.

Give the kid a break. If she never achieved another thing in her life - she has done alot! She is a good student and a great golfer. Her parents are obviously raising her well - her charity and goodwill is commendable. When was the last time you donated $300,000 to a hospital?

When did you ever shot a 65? She did it quite often and more often now in very serious major tournaments that she played in or invited in. If she keeps getting better and more consistent like she's been doing for the last two years, it's just around the corner that she'll win her first tournament. But even then, the naysayers like you will always up the ante of her not winning a tournament like the Masters or British OPEN? Did you anything great when you were a teen?

Very interesting fact. Creamer is playing in lowly japanese women's tour this week. After 2nd round, her score is +4 and she is sitting 42nd 10stroles behind leader named Ohyama shiho. Just compare it to wie's score and position after 2nd round. Chris should have been frustrated because his gilr creamer's game has gone south recently.

Paula and Morgan are darn fine golfers. I have had occasion to wish that Morgan was a little more close mouthed but I believe she is learning that too.
When push comes to shove, Paula, Morgan, Michelle and a whole bunch of new players are making the LPGA fun to watch.
The only thing spoiing this picture is the petty jealousy of idiots like Baldwin and the Wiebashers.

Paula had little or no pressure last year as a rookie that has now turned into a ton of pressure this year to equal or better her previous results.

Paula will turn it around when she learns how to ignore the Demon on her shoulder.

Bombs away! That rumble you hear is the sound of the heads of Wie Warriors exploding. Michelle has made a cut! In the SK Telecom in Korea no less! And besides having One Hung Low and Who Flung Poo in the field, the immortal Ty Tryon was also there! What a field! And she is presently T17 among those golf cretins! Amazing! To paraphrase Muhammad Ali "she is the greatest!"

Hey Alex - "One Hung" and "Who Flung" will whip your sorry butt on the golf course any day of the week.

Baldwhine and Alexis sound like a couple of jealous gays when they write about Michelle.

Here are a few things Michelle will not have to worry about today:

Money: She is a fabulously wealthy sixteen year old who is at this moment the hottest endorser on the planet. Her appearance fees have just doubled.

A tee time: She can walk onto any course in the world and be invited to play a round.

Fame: There are about 5,000,000 hits on the web for her today and nearly 3,000 news stories published.

A one on one interview with Chrissy Baldwin: That will never happen as I know for a fact BJ reads the TravelGolf blogs.

Employing a lawyer like Alex: She can afford to go First Class now and doesn't have to settle for Second Rate.

Flying Coach: Private jets have no "Y" class on board.

A car payment: There will be a courtesy vehicle in in driveway very soon.

Joining the LPGA: She has nothing to gain when all she really wants to play at are their Major events.

ALEX...I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT YOU CLAIM YOU ARE A RACIST!! YOU PROBABLY DO NOT KNOW WHERE KOREA IS LOCATED. YOU ARE REALLY PATHETIC!!

You're an idiot, but I'm the bigger goof for clicking on your ridiculous story.

Who cares?

Why is everytime I google "Michelle Wie", Chris Baldwin turns up? I can't believe you're ranting about a 16-year-old teenager for a living. If your whole beef about Wie is "hype", why the heck do you keep writing about her? You just add to the volume of articles written about her.

Michelle Wie is an extraordinary talent that comes around once a decade. The last one is...Tiger Woods. She's 16. Tiger didn't make a cut or win a pro tournament at 16. Give her time. She'll prove all the naysayers wrong.

When Earl Woods - R.I.P. - prodicted great future for his son 10 years ago and everyone scoffed. Now Tiger, at 30, has lived up to almost all his father's prediction. Just wait for Michelle Wie gets her game together. It seems she gets her putter down this week.

Jas, Baldie knows he can get more readers from one Wie bashing session than he has gotton for *all* of his non-Wie posts put together... Just look back at the number of comments he gets for both types of post. You will see what I mean. Without Wie, Chris would have no readers here.

I believe you should have stated "as impressive as Chris Baldwin had made the cut in an Asian Tour at 16." OOPS! I forgot to check the facts, should have known that you didn't! In fact, Googling your name produced no achievement even remotely close to what Wie has accomplished. Sour grapes? Certainly your articles on Wie have had none of a journalist's objectivity.

The comment by Alex smells like the rantings of a racist.

LOL!

chris you really are pathetic. Leave michelle alone! She is one of the best things that has ever happened to golf! she brings in so much viewership/interest/people tuning in wherever she plays and she really is transcending the sport. Give her SOME credit at least you big oaf!

It seems as if you have nothing good to say about her. I haven't even seen you comment on how great of a player she is. You really are pathetic...and I DOUBT that BJ reads chris' blog, but if he did, he'd probably laughing his ass off with michelle as they ride to the bank to cash in another million.

It's scary how clever you are CB.

It's difficult to tell if you think MW is a great golfer. It surely is easy to tell that you cannot contain yourself when you hear "positive MW comments from MW fans."

Your "negative spins" are really "awesome--as MW might say." Your comments on the "winless wonder" are also "like awesome" but aren't you the least bit concerned about balanced journalism. Oh, wait, as an OP-Ed, you have the right to voice your opinions.

Kimo

Let's not be too harsh on Baldie, Alex and the rest. They have been serving well for Wie's publicity and togetherness of Wie supporters.

They need to have their allies such as george and John D back in order to fight back the onslaught from Wie supporters because they are loosing their grounds as Wie improves on her golf and gets closer to her goal.

I think it is high time we showed our mercy on them as the battle is tipping toward our favor.

Comment from: Patrick [Visitor]
LOL!

chris you really are pathetic. Leave michelle alone! She is one of the best things that has ever happened to golf! she brings in so much viewership/interest/people tuning in wherever she plays and she really is transcending the sport. Give her SOME credit at least you big oaf!

It seems as if you have nothing good to say about her. I haven't even seen you comment on how great of a player she is. You really are pathetic...and I DOUBT that BJ reads chris' blog, but if he did, he'd probably laughing his ass off with michelle as they ride to the bank to cash in another million.

Patrick make that $6,000,000 plus in new endorsements from her week long stay in Korea. She is approaching the $20,000,000 mark in winnings, appearance fees and endorsements since turning Pro last October. Cha CHINGGGGGGG!

By making a cut in a men's tournament Michelle might hit $40,000,000 by September 30th. Toss in a US PGA cut and an LPGA win she could top $100,000,000 before her first year is over as a Pro Golfer. Michelle's Dreams are as big as her bank account.

One-Putt, was that post a joke? She hasn't earned nearly as much as you claim - and as far as tournament winnings go, she may have just reached the $1M barrier since turning pro.

Oh, and her appearance fees are not only unjustified, they are downright cheeky and show how selfish Michelle Wie can be.

"Comment from: David [Visitor]
One-Putt, was that post a joke? She hasn't earned nearly as much as you claim - and as far as tournament winnings go, she may have just reached the $1M barrier since turning pro.

Oh, and her appearance fees are not only unjustified, they are downright cheeky and show how selfish Michelle Wie can be."

Do the math Genius:

Sony and Nike Contracts $10,500,000
Omega Contract $2,000,000
Contracts signed in Korea this week (construction company, clothing manufacturer and assorted others) $6,000,000
Casio Appearance fee $1,500,000
SK Open Appearance fee $750,000
Other professional appearance fees $1,500,000
LPGA earnings $182,800

Gifts to charities $800,000

She has already hit $20,000,000 and given away more to charity than you may earn in 20 years Davy.

Event sponsors pay appearance fees to have known golfers show up to their event. The sponsor hopes to recoup some revenue they lay out fo an event by increasing the gate and TV air time.

Michelle delivers on both counts. Attendance at the SK was up over 100 percent from last year. SK Telecom made their money back in the first two days. MBC-ESPN broadcast the live event to 52 countries around the world. Last year the SK was only broadcast in Korea. Michelle is a bargain at &1,500,000.

David, What you say may be true. Miss Wie may be a tad overpaid as well as a lot overrated, but maybe her true talent, that of public speaking, is now coming to the fore. Upon finishing her never-to-be-forgotten masterpiece, she produced this gem for the microphones: "It's just wonderful. Great. I feel really, really happy." Bubbles, you've made One-Putt proud! Forget golf and hit the speakers' circuit!

***David said:
One-Putt, was that post a joke? She hasn't earned nearly as much as you claim - and as far as tournament winnings go, she may have just reached the $1M barrier since turning pro.

Oh, and her appearance fees are not only unjustified, they are downright cheeky and show how selfish Michelle Wie can be.
***********

David...what in the world are you talking about? Are you mentally retarded? How can you say that Michelle Wie is selfish just because she gets paid well? FYI, she has donated $800,000.00US so far. How does this make her selfish? How can you make a connection between michelle's earning and her emotional stability/temperment/personality?

David...your stupid. stfu now thanks

***David said:
One-Putt, was that post a joke? She hasn't earned nearly as much as you claim - and as far as tournament winnings go, she may have just reached the $1M barrier since turning pro.

Oh, and her appearance fees are not only unjustified, they are downright cheeky and show how selfish Michelle Wie can be.
***********

David...what in the world are you talking about? Are you mentally retarded? How can you say that Michelle Wie is selfish just because she gets paid well? FYI, she has donated $800,000.00US so far. How does this make her selfish? How can you make a connection between michelle's earning and her emotional stability/temperment/personality?

David...your stupid. stfu now thanks

James, Your reply was brilliant, typical of a teenage admirer of Bubbles. You've actually spelled several of the six words correctly. Your punctuation needs work. A lot of work.

She has just read your last post Chris ! I got the picture !

http://www.pbase.com/image/59743436

Write your opinion on her and on all the great media show around her, Chris, try to change the world if you think it's possible, but don't forget humour...
With humour, you should be better, (or not so worse...)
Never forget humour Chris, and in some comments, fans, never forget it too... Golf is juste a game...

Hey Chris,

Ms. Creamer is having another great tournament... what happen to her game....how about Morgan the mouth pressel she hasn't said anything bout wie since her game when downhill.

Alex said
David, What you say may be true. Miss Wie may be a tad overpaid as well as a lot overrated, but maybe her true talent, that of public speaking, is now coming to the fore. Upon finishing her never-to-be-forgotten masterpiece, she produced this gem for the microphones: "It's just wonderful. Great. I feel really, really happy." Bubbles, you've made One-Putt proud! Forget golf and hit the speakers' circuit!
****************************************

What exactly was wrong with what she said?
And by the way, she went on to say that the tournament is not over and she has alot of work to do.

Your problem, Chrissy Baldwin, is that you never come up with any credible arguments as to why Michelle Wie is NOT deserving of the attention she is getting. All you do is harp on the fact that she has not won any of the limited pro events she has entered. That's like saying LeBron James sucks because he hasn't won a world championship yet. Do you know of any other 16 year old girl accomplishing her feats? I know of one middle aged flabby white bald third rate journalist who can't even come close to matching what she has done. Take your Midol and shut up.

Wait, this is the part where Chris Baldwin writes something about Michelle Wie to get comments because only god knows how many comments he gets writing about other things...

We shouldn't be as easily fooled by this man by giving him a comment...

wait a minute...

Here he goes again. Baldy's getting usual his kicks beating up on a 16 year old girl. I look forward to seeing his pathetic comments on her next achievement.

And yeah, Baldy, it's clear that you're a racist. If Michelle was blonde and blue-eyed like your wet dream Paula Creamer, then you'd be damned happy for her.

Apparently, there are some Korean version of Chris Baldwin.

I read a news that some Koreans argued that Wie's making cut at SK was no big deal because the course was not "Man" enough. (ie, not so long and tough to separate a boy from men, er, girl from men)

Here are Michelle's stats from the SK Open so far:

1st Round:

GIR% 72.22, Putting (GIR) 1.69, Total Putting 28, Putting average 1.56

2nd Round:

GIR% 72.22, Putting (GIR) 1.69, Total Putting 28, Putting average 1.56

I would call that consistency of play by any standard. If Michelle can carry these numbers over to the LPGA she will win and win a bunch of times. Frankly if she had these numbers for putting in the Fields and Kraft she would have run away from the field in both events. She was number one in GIR for both the Kraft and Fields averaging 77%.

What's wrong with a 16-year-old speaking like a... 16-year-old? What do we expect? A 16-year-old speaking like a middle-aged English scholar? Part of the charm of Michelle Wie is that she acts and speaks her age, despite her otherworldly talent and way-over-her-age achievements. Her sponsors signed her because she can attract an audience much younger than the normal golf audience. That is the main part of her marketability.

Alex said "James, Your reply was brilliant, typical of a teenage admirer of Bubbles. You've actually spelled several of the six words correctly. Your punctuation needs work. A lot of work".

Well, what can I say? Here you go again trying to be an English teacher. I was thinking maybe, in order to make this debate more interesting, Wie should play poorly on purpose this Sunday at the SK Sky course.

Check this out: an article by Rishi Narain, a former Asian Games gold medallist.

Wie-ing for equal honours

Getting back to the title of this article, why doesn't Baldhead write another entitled, "Barry Bonds ties Babe Ruth. How historic! Oh wait ... that's right" After all another black male already did that... Funny how Asians are still fair game in our PC world.

Alex, you must agree with me on one part, that David's logic is very out there. How can you make a correlation to michelle's earnings and her personality? HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HER! How can he say that Michelle is a spoiled brat? He doesn't have any basis whatsoever...

Now if he said Morgan Pressel was a spoiled brat...that could be considered a valid statement.

And Alex, you can STFU now too. thanks

Here is a Michelle's picture for you to admire

Check it out above link.

Comment from: Brian [Visitor] · http://eng.koreapga.com/Tour/hot_01.asp?OPEN_YEAR=2006&TOUR_DIV=11&TOMT_CLSS=0005&TOMT_TIME=00
Alex said "James, Your reply was brilliant, typical of a teenage admirer of Bubbles. You've actually spelled several of the six words correctly. Your punctuation needs work. A lot of work".

Well, what can I say? Here you go again trying to be an English teacher. I was thinking maybe, in order to make this debate more interesting, Wie should play poorly on purpose this Sunday at the SK Sky course.

Don't let Alex or Baldwin get to you Brian. If they had brains, they would take them out and play with them.

I actually agree with Chris; it is about as remarkable as his passing his driving test, but only because both events are pretty miraculous.

Norman, There is nothing wrong with the flowery orations of Bubbles, and I don't know where you may have gotten the idea that I thought that there were. I apologize for not including the rest of her text about the tournament not being over and her desire to play well. Later she also said again that she wanted to play her best, but if she didn't win, it would be okay. Such brilliant repartee deserves mention.

Alex, what Wie said sounds very like what Tiger Woods would have said. Where is your problem? It was pretty standard golf pro golf talk.

And the legacy continues - WinLESS Wie

Chris, Today, May 7,2006 will be remembered as the greatest day in the history of Golf, if not all of Sport. For on this memorable day, Michelle Wie, aka Bubbles, won her first tournament in a men's event. Her victory came in the prestigious and venerable SK Telecom in that cradle of Golf, Incheon, Korea. In all the long, nine-year history of this premium event, she is the first golfer with dangling six-inch earrings to claim the winner's trophy. In actuality, her victory didn't come in the main tournament , but in the fierce battle she had with Korean amateur sensations Kang Sung Hun and Kim Kyung Tae for a 35th place tie. While Kang and Kim are virtually unknown in golfing circles, they are household names in their hometowns in Korea. Despite the acknowledged fact that Bubbles game is more affected by adverse conditions than those of her rivals, she proved once and for all that she can "close the deal" by scoring a masterful 74 to hold safe the "K" boys by a single stroke. Officially, she did finish T35, 12 strokes behind the winner of the side tournament, but the real good news for her adoring fans was how she was able to improve with each round: five strokes behind after the first round, to six behind T17 after the second, to twelve behind T35 after three. Sadly the event was shortened to 54 holes or by her progression Bubbles would surely have been in the top five. But still, her win in her homeland will be buttress to her fans' claims that she will be a force in the upcoming US Open. And as far as money goes, Bubbles' reported appearance fee of $700K far exceeded the total prize money of the event. Not to go unnoticed should be the fact that Miss Wie also earned over eight hundred thousand for her one-stroke victory over the upstart Korean amateurs. (Uh, boss, that was 800K Korean Won)

sorry Chris, link moved there, but always smiling, even when she reads some comments...

http://onedayoneshot.my-expressions.com/archives/5899_1853563210/147567

Johnny N, You're getting more like Norman every day. Wherever did you get the notion that I am criticizing the speechmaking of Miss Wie? I give nothing but praise to the refreshing "way with words" that Bubbles demonstrates, I practically show reverence for her grandiloquence and I am accused of being sarcastic. I am just a recent convert to Wie cultism, so you'll have to bear with me until I develop the proper vernacular. I just hope I'm not too late and that membership to the "Bubbles Brown-nosers" club hasn't been closed.

Alex, you are just too dumb to realize that you are as stupid as you sound, which is quite an achievement.

putt4par, What a brilliant rejoinder! Now, why couldn't I have thought of something like that? I'm sorry that you're in such a surly mood today. I really thought that you'd be in a jovial frame of mind since Bubbles just got her first win in a major men's tour event.

No, no... it was my one shot for the day at being grumpy

Alex,
It is nice to know that you are under the impression that Ms. Wie won the golf tournament.

For those of us who know something about golf, we know that, making a cut on a major tour and finishing in 35th place is indeed a great achievement for a 16 year old girl.

- Also, being the first female to win money on a major mens golf tour is another achievement.

- And, being the first female to qualify for and play a final round in a mens professional achievement on a mens tour is another achievement.

So many achievements in just one weekend.
Indeed Wie fans can be very proud.

Norman, That is what I said.

CHRIS...CHRIS...CHRIS!
I GUESS YOU SIMPLY FORGOT THAT YOU NEVER PASSED YOUR DRIVER TRAINING COURSE WHEN YOU WERE 16. Like Forest Gump used to say "stupid is as stupid does."

Since nearly everyone posting here thinks that Miss Wie's most recent performance at the SK Telecom was a great achievement, what is the consensus on the three AMATEURS that went lower than Michelle in the tournament? Remember, 16 years old or not, she is a professional; has been since last October.

You are funny. I would bet that you were leading the charge against Tiger Woods from 93-late 96. Once the dust settles, Wie will be as significant as Tiger. No doubt.

Since 2003, Wie has played in nine LPGA majors (not just any little ol' tournament--and 2003 means she was 13 freakin years old!) and Creamer in eight. Wie has four top five finishes while Creamer has one. In those majors, Wie finsihed ahead of Creamer six times and even with her once. So much for Creamer domination!! If Creamer is good (which she is) then my goodness Wie is amazing. Isn't performance in majors the true yeard stick of excellence? Or are you ging to continue to change metrics as long as Wie is not winner back-to-back-toback grand slams on the PGA Tour??

Wie also made it to the quarter-finals of the US MEN's Public Links...at 15 years old (something Tiger himself did not accomplish).

3/4 last rounds at the John Deere Classic were at or udner par, inluding a 68 in 2005--rounds played when she was 15 and 16. Ridiculous.

She also broke 70 at the Sony Open at 15 years old. She is FAR superior to Tiger at the same age (memory check: Tiger never played really well in PGA events until turning pro...ave one round at the British Open). Note: when she missed the cut at the Sony by one stroke, she finished ahead of a number of top players, including Adam Scott.

And specific to your latest male posting, Se Ri Pak finished in the top 10 against a minor league pro event, about five notches below the nationwide tour.

Dude, give her the props she deserves 100 times over. She is a prodigy...a wunderkind. She will do better the better the courses. And the for the same reason why Tiger does not play well on courses that can get lit up, Wie will play better the harder the course (as opposed to the easy set ups of LPGA events).

As for Creamer...she will be a great LPGA player. As for Wie, she will transform the sport.

Amateur men have a great history in men's open golf, that's why it's called the "SK Telecom Open". So it's not historic. But it is consistent: Wie was tied for 35th of 78 players who made the cut, making the top half of the cut. Three amateurs beat her score, she beat three others who made the cut. I can only presume there were a similar fraction of amateurs among the 106 players she beat in total.

I agree that MW has done excetionally well for a 16 year old. She does tend to choke sometimes when the real pressure is on. The real test for her will be how she does when she is on the tour full-time. We will see how she does then. Time will tell.

Pk, That is all very nice and complimentary of Miss Wie; I'm fully aware that you one of many who believe she will be the greatest ever and that she is on the verge of immortality right now. But my question of you is still this: What is your opinion of the three Asian amateurs who defeated Michelle Wie? Do you think that they have similar capabilities?

• Capabilities: based on the one data point of this tournament, I'd say yes.
• Potential: if any of them were 16 and I had no other data to go on I'd believe they had similar potential.
• Significance: if any of them were a 16 year old girl I'd believe it would have similar significance.

So yes, Wie and the three amateur men who made the cut all seem to have the capability to compete with men at a similar level. What's your point?

Greg, thank you for your objectivity. That is, all except the part about MW being a 16 year old girl. My point? To get the opinions of some of the real Wie worshipers as to their take on those amateurs who scored better than Michelle. As you will see, most of the Wie fanatics will not share your cautious optimism or your high opinion of Michelle's conquerers

Alex said:
But my question of you is still this: What is your opinion of the three Asian amateurs who defeated Michelle Wie?
*******************************

Alex,
First of all I am delighted that you recognise that those amateurs beat Michelle Wie in this tournament.
There are many in the anti-Wie brigade that claim, that when Michelle Wie finishes ahead of Creamer in nearly every event, that she hasn't actually beat her, because she didn't win the event.

I am glad that you recognise that Michelle Wie beats Paula Creamer nearly every time, just as those 3 amateurs beat Michelle Wie at the SK Telecom Open.

Now for my opinion on those 3 amateurs:
I think they did very well in this tournament. I don't know any more about their careers other than that. So while I commend them for doing well on this tournament, I don't know if they have the overall success and potential of Michelle Wie.

While their performance in this tournament is commendable, I would ask if they produce as often as Michelle Wie does.
Michelle Wie is a 16 year old girl, yet she has done enough to be a clear world number 2 player:

1 Annika Sorenstam 17.78
2 Michelle Wie 11.35
3 Paula Creamer 8.29
4 Lorena Ochoa 7.85

This was further emphaisised in how well she played in both the first 2 events of the season, where she was just 1 shot from a playoff on each occasion.

Paula Creamer meanwhile, in 7 starts has a best finish of 4th position.

That is the difference in Michelle Wie. She delivers good performances consistantly.

On the mens side she has already achieved alot, particularly in getting to the quarter final of a mens usga event at 15 years of age. The best Tiger could do when he was 17 years old was get to the last 32 of the mens competition.

Also her near misses at The John Deere and The Casio were great learning experiences, where she played some great golf but ultimately just came up short on those occasions. She used the experience she gained there, and I believe that experience helped her to do so well at the SK Telecom Open.

With this added confidence, I would give her a good chance of qualifying from Local Qualifying for the US Open and getting to the Sectional stage.
At Sectional I give her barely any chance, because I can tell you it is extremely difficult there.

In any case, her career has been going onwards and upwards and I expect it to continue this way. I do feel sorry for you and Chris Baldwin as you have to keep coming up with excuses, as to why this field wasn't good enough. My guess is that you both will soon be insulting the quality of pga fields.

Alex/Chris,

What would it take for you to stop ragging on Wie? Winning on the LPGA? Winning a major on the LPGA? Winning the women's Grand Slam? Winning the men's Grand Slam? Winning the men's Grand Slam while single-handedly solving world hunger? What? I'm curious. You seem to know that Wie is and always will be an underachiever. Put your money where your mouth is and tell us. Give us a timeline of what *you* think should be Wie's progress. If she win's an LPGA event this year and/or makes the cut in a PGA tour event? Is that enough?

Comment from: MikeW [Visitor]
Alex/Chris,

What would it take for you to stop ragging on Wie? Winning on the LPGA? Winning a major on the LPGA? Winning the women's Grand Slam? Winning the men's Grand Slam? Winning the men's Grand Slam while single-handedly solving world hunger? What? I'm curious. You seem to know that Wie is and always will be an underachiever. Put your money where your mouth is and tell us. Give us a timeline of what *you* think should be Wie's progress. If she win's an LPGA event this year and/or makes the cut in a PGA tour event? Is that enough?
****
MikeW, I can tell you right now that neither nutcase A ( Chris Baldwin or nutcase B (Alex anonymous) will back off. There will always be something wrong. Heaven forbid that either one of the admit they could possibly be wrong.
Oh Alex will make wie bleating noises ( spelling of wee/wie intentional) and Baldwin will write another ugly little dispatch and then sit back trying to think up more idiocy.

They are so hidebound that even if MW acheived all the possibilties you mentioned, they'd still find something to whine about.

please leave my baldie alone. he has to feed his children and wife !!!!
he is kinda cute thou.... as cute as a roach.

At the SK Telecom, six amateurs were entered. ALL of them made the cut. Three of them scored better than the 16 year old phenom while two others were within one stroke. I'm not positive of this but I believe that one of the amateurs that finished higher than Miss Wie was a 14 year old boy. A field which includes six amateurs and Ty Tryon can't be considered anything but mediocre at best. Perhaps this is what Dottie Pepper was referring to when she commented on the relative weakness of the SK field. As Norman says, virtually nothing is known of these golfers, pro or amateur. Guys, you're losing debating points by engaging in personal attacks and insults. You guys are hopelessly enamored of Miss Wie, to your mindset she can do no wrong. I like her a lot, also. However, I'm reasonably certain that she will never finish in the top 25 of a PGA event even if she does make a cut in a marginal event. And I would bet the farm if I had one that she will never win a PGA event, regardles of how weak the field. In other words, I would like her a lot more if she had followed a more conventional route to fame and fortune. But that's just me. There you have it, fellows. My opinion. Notice, no name-calling, no questioning of anyone's mental acuity or sexual orientation, nothing which could be construed as offensive. Try it some time.

Alex says--

"There you have it, fellows. My opinion. Notice, no name-calling, no questioning of anyone's mental acuity or sexual orientation, nothing which could be construed as offensive. Try it some time."

Kind of tough to take you seriously when you engage in all those things.

You and Baldwin are delusional as always--maybe the psych nurse strapped the football helmets on you guys too tight.

Alex,
Perhaps before suggesting one of these amateurs might be a 14 year old boy, perhaps you could get us some proof.

By the way, Paula Creamer has stated that she also wants to take on the men.

I wonder what Baldie's opinion would be on Ms. Paula Creamer competing in mens events.

However, she said she wants to detrone Annika first.
How long will that take?

Alex, here's a report saying that the youngest male to make the cut on the Asian tour was 14 years old at the time. His name is Hu Mu and he did it twice in 2004:

http://www.asiantour.com/story.htm?storyID=ff8080810a11f4ff010a27214d910025

Hu is now one of the top teenagers in the game.

You will notice that my questions about measuring Wie's success were presented without abusive language, but I'm not sure your last reply was in answer to those questions. So I ask again, what would it take for you to turn around and accept that Wie's career is on the right track?

Among 6 amateurs who made cut, 5 of them are members of korean national team and one is member of Australian national team. We aren't talking about some local high school boys. Lee Won Joon is reportedly #1 amateur in Australia (though I didn't check it myself) and this guy hits crazy long. He is in JB holmes league.

3 amateurs finished behind wie. Kang Sung Hoon is former APL semi final list who lost to eventual winner Ryan Moore. He was also medalist at last year's Australian amateur. Kim Kyung Tae is last year's Japanese amateur chanpion and was last year's korean amateur POY.

BTW there was no 14 year old boy in the field.

About strength of field thing. Edward Loar is winner of 2004 korean open and 3rd place finisher was Ernie Els. Loar made cut on number last week. Choi Gwang Soo is winner of last year's korean open. Ted purdy and Mike weir were among players who finished behind him.He missed cut last week.
Jarrod Lyle and Gavin Flint are both ranked within top 15 in Australina tour order of merit. Both misssed cut last week.

MikeW, In answer to your question, "What would it take to accept that Miss Wie's career is on the right track?", my answer is this: A win on any tour anywhere would be a good start. I know, I know, she is only 16 years old, but in October she will be 17 years old, and so on, Remember, according to you fellows, we're not talking about just any 16 year old. This the almighty Michelle, greater than Woods at this age, the savior of Women's golf, the last word in all that's good on the planet, etc. The only thing she can't do yet is leap tall buildings in a single bound. Come on, guys, your fawning adulation of this teenybopper is way over the top. You're trying to portray her T35 placing at a mediocre Asian event as a monumental triumph. And quoting chapter and verse from the promotional manual of the SK Telecom as to the strength of the field is absolutely laughable.

Well done Jay Z on finding out some info on the players, instead of just bluffing like some other people.

Alex, on the winning thing, a win this year or next on the lpga means she has made history as the youngest ever winner there. By the way, a win this year is very likely given how close she has come in the 2 events she has played, and given that she played so well coming down the stretch in both of those events.

Her 35th placing was monumental in the sense that it hasn't been done by a woman in the last 60 years.

If you don't think that when someone achieves something in golf that hasn't been done by another female is 60 years isn't monumental, then that's your problem.

ALEX--What would it take for you to accept that Michelle Wie's career is on the right track? The question does not aks whether you you think she is the greatest ever or even a potential LPGA Hall of Famer. It only asks what it would take for you to accept that her career is on the right track. If you think Norman and I have unrealistic views about how good Michelle Wie is--that only concerns what we and what people like us think.

I can only think of two reasons for not acknowledging that her career is on the right track.

1) She has not accomplished very much for a 16 year old girl who has been a pro for less than a year. In this context I believe there is a California girl a few weeks younger than Michelle who may have also turned pro. And,f course, we can also look at the pro career of 17 year old Pressel.

2) She has not accomplished much given what you believe her potential to be, or in some other way follwed a path that may limit her achievements in the future. Simply not living up to what you believe to be the unrealistic expectations of others is not a reason to question her career path.

jay z - Thank you very much for the information on the amateurs in the SK Telecom Open.

I tried to look them up, but was frustrated by the variability of the way asiatic names are phoeneticized into english. The only one I was reasonably sure I found was Lee Won Joon (also listed as Lee Won-Jun, Lee Wonjun, Won Jun Lee, Won Joon Lee, Won-ju Lee and Won-jun Lee). And I suspect I totally missed everything that used the Chinese pronunciation of the Korean characters of his name. If Google can find a way to reliably search for these names, they will make another 10 billion!

As I suspected, these are true amateur golfers in the spirit of Bobby Jones, and were quite likely superior to many of the professionals in the field. Amateur does not mean inferior, it only means unpaid. In Asia and Australia,unlike America and Europe, the current purses are not large enough to tempt someone who is making a good living in a business or a profession to chuck their day job and go professional. By remaining amateur, they increase their opportunity to play on reasonably local courses, and still get to golf just for the love of the game.