B.J. Wie versus Earl Woods. Will they ever belong in the same sentence?

B.J. Wie doesn't need to do a damn thing except love, nurture, support and guide his child. B.J. doesn't owe you or anyone else anything more than caring for his child.

Earl Woods was one of a kind and he should not be compared to anyone. He did a great job raising Tiger and I respect him for that. B.J. has done a great job along with Bo of raising Michelle and I also respect their efforts.

Do you hold the same expectations from Morgan's family or Paula's? Why not Chris? They are teenagers and professional golfers; it makes me wonder why you are such a hard case against Michelle and her family?

Is it because they are Asian? Is there a little racism hidden in your message when you single out the Asian family and ignore the White families?

Bigotry has a way of showing up in the most subtle ways. It looks like you are displaying your true colors thru this blog.

Chris, I think that you're putting too much of the onus on BJ Wie. After reading much of what's been posted by the Wie Warriors,I've come to believe as they do. BJ and Bo actually had very little to do with the hype surrounding Bubbles. BJ might be an obnoxious "stage father", but that's about all he is. You see, besides being a talented young golfer, Michelle is also precocious in the fields of business and negotiations, and also skilled in the art of garnering publicity. It was she,in fact, who went out and hired a press agent, a publicity firm, and legal counsel at the tender age of thirteen. Of course, her agents and handlers now take care of the minutiae of her vast empire, but she still is "hands on" in the management of the major aspects of her career. Sure.

Carefull Chris, it's dangerous comparing BJ and Earl. The reader might conclude you are saying Michelle is in the same class as Tiger.

When Michelle turns 30 years old, we will be able to answer the question Chris raises. I doubt if we will know much before then.

I clearly remember a number of reports that condemned Earl Woods as a "stage father" who was forcing his son into venues that were beyond his talents.

I remember the gripes about all the exemptions that Tiger got that should have gone to "grown men who needed the slots to make a living."

I clearly remember the hoots when Tiger began to succeed on the PGA Tour--that he was playing limited-field events clearly catering to his popularity and giving the impression of a skill level he had not yet obtained.

Not much of that is remembered now.

And I join the vast majority in saying "Rest in peace, Earl, you done good."

I'll comment on B.J. and Bo, when the time comes, until then all I care to say is, "Looks good so far."

John Neal, Virtually everything about the life and career of Tiger is common knowledge. I thought that I had seen and read all the information about him that is available. But now I'm not so sure. You seem to "clearly remember" a lot of negative comment about Woods and his father that I have not been aware of. Do you have any specific instances of these comments handy? Wasn't Tiger the most successful amateur golfer in history for at least six or seven years before turning pro? As I recall, nearly all the PGA touring pros gave him a "can't miss" tag at that time. Who were these Woods naysayers?

Yeah, it was all Tiger's fault that he was paraded on those TV shows at the age of four.

Can anyone clue me in as to the point of this article (apart from a good old Wie bash)? Balders is even more incoherent than usual.

Oh, and read the title again. I ask again, how did Balders ever get his journalism gig?

Baldie, can we say BALDERDASH?

Alex said:
Wasn't Tiger the most successful amateur golfer in history for at least six or seven years before turning pro? As I recall, nearly all the PGA touring pros gave him a "can't miss" tag at that time. Who were these Woods naysayers?
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Alex,
When Tiger came out on tour, there were many pga pros who were very recentful of him and the exemptions he was getting.
And yes he was also critisised for taking easy events so that he could get higher placings and thus more money on the money list.

Tiger has even said that himself, at various times, including recently, that there was alot of resentment about this kid who came out on tour and was getting all these endorsements that players with big careers and huge success could only dream about.

Given that Tiger missed his first 7 pga cuts, that is probably a big part of why there was alot of resentment against him.
He may have had those amateur titles, but the pros were looking at him as a guy, who despite his amateur success had missed all his 7 pga cuts, and missed most by big margins.

Chris your story is quite intersting.

The way I look at it is that Earl Woods was a remarkable man. I wouldn't expect BJ or anyone else to measure up to him.

The most interesting thing here is that you comparing the fathers of Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie is as if you are putting them in the same league.

Although I agree with you that Michelle deserves alot of credit for her career so far, and a 16 year old Michelle is certainly a much better golfer than a 16 year old golfer, being better than a 30 year old Tiger, or even a 25 year old Tiger is a completely different thing.

Hey baldie, nice final round by on of your favs Chubsy aka pretzel, 4 over to finish 5 over for the tournament. Guess winning at junior level doesn't mean shit when you get to the next level.

Damn MAggy, you beat me to it! Guess chubsy aka pretzel learning to win as amateur isn't helping her as a pro.

Alex is another one of those experts that knows everything and has little understand of anything.

I can remember a lot of the flack thats being spouted in forums and discussion boards and also in the papers that was very negative for Tiger.
Everything from the race card to the one about taking a spot from someone more deserving.
But Alex has a very selective memory remembering only those things that are of advantage to his arguments .

Alex, go spend some google time looking for the old news items from Tigers early days and see how much of what you are doing to MW is exactly what you all did to TW.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same" isn't far off the mark where you and Baldwin are concerned.

I would urge that you seek medical help soonest.

"Comment from: Bill Donnelly [Visitor]
I would urge that you seek medical help soonest."

Yes Bill hopefully surgery can save Chris and his miniatus cranium.

alex, a lot of your postings make you out to be a very knowlegeable, well read, educated person. and you probably are all of the above.
but after reading your comments in ALL your anti MW postings, you're just a f-ing a-hole. LOL!!

andy, Spoken like a true Wie cultist. In the unlikely event that you ever grow up and mature beyond your present mental age of fourteen, you just might realize that when an intellectual midget like you throws out virulent insults on an internet message board. he invites the retort, "It takes one to know one."

Since I know that Alex and Balders are dying to know, Wie is currently even par after six holes in her local PGA qualifier. One birdie, one bogey.

Of course, knowing what her score is (the only info the Gold Channel is giving) doesn't really help unless we know what the others are shooting. Though the chances are the top three (qualifying) scores will be even par or better.

Why should a Green Beret invoke more respect than a Professor?
If you are checking bloodlines Michelles Grandfather who helped raise money from the local village to get Wie on track in the early days is not only a Professor but one of the most decorated fighter pilots from the Korean War.

Come on, Tammy. You don't expect old Balders to do any actual research do you?

BTW: Last I saw Wie was still even par after 10. Three birdies, three bogeys. Still no way to tell if that's good or bad.

Wie is level par, two holes to go - 4 birdies, 4 bogeys. 15 out of 41 scores posted - low score is currently +1, with many of them +8 or more.

Looks as though even par may be good enough.

Wie finished with a 72 - level par. Low score of the day so far.

Wie medals in her US Open local qualifier (i.e. wins). Next stop, New Jersey at the beginning of June.

CHRIS BALDWIN.

WIE WON.

Conditions were very windy and really difficult to cope with.
Wie obviously did the best job of handling them of anyone in the field.

I'd love to see Baldwin and Alex choking on WIes medal but they areboth so thick, it won't occur to them til next week, that hse has again, done something that no woman/girl has done before. Completed the first leg of the Journey to the US open, the one that has men in it.

Of course you'll see Baldy and Alex and all the rest of the naysayer all yapping about home course, weak field, amateurs... Did I cover all the garbage from the SK Open, Baldy? AlEx..
Oh, on another note. Alex is very good at calling others names but really takes exception when the favor is returned.
Time for you to grow up Alex. Ooops, too late, you are nearly on deaths last runway aren't you, Alex?

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Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
andy, Spoken like a true Wie cultist. In the unlikely event that you ever grow up and mature beyond your present mental age of fourteen, you just might realize that when an intellectual midget like you throws out virulent insults on an internet message board. he invites the retort, "It takes one to know one."
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This was from the village idiot whose mental age is barely fourteen himself.

With the weather on the breezy side, half the field shot over 80. Youngest woman to make a cut on a top-tier men's tour; now, first woman to make it through a local qualifier for a PGA major. All in the same month, heady stuff indeed.

Michelle Wie may have finally tamed that self-destructive pattern she falls into whenever success is within grasp. Before she might not have been ready psychologically, and that kept her from progressing beyond her ability. But, seeing the way she has performed nowadays, I truly believe she's got it.

The kid is winning. And as John Madden says, "Winning is the greatest deodorant..."

But let's be realistic though. Sectionals will be tough. First time there, lots of public interest, competing with the second tier pros in the game (from about 71st on down). I doubt she'll make it (I give her about 10% shot since anyone can have a good couple of days).

My prediction: around 75th (top 30 qualify) about 3 to 4 shots off the pace.

Alex, Balders, care to join in the prediction game?

MikeW, where do you get top 30 qualify. If looks like only 6 qualified from that sectional last year.

http://www.usga.org/news/qualifying/2005/summit.html

Oops - my bad. Brain fart.

I just looked it up. 550 players advance from the locals, joining 200 locally exempt players. That's about 750 competing for 86 places in 16 sectionals.

(from http://www.usopen.com/news/2006_fact_sheet.html)

But I see that it's too early to tell how many people will qualify. From the web site:

* The number of qualifiers' places in each location is determined by the USGA based on size and playing quality of the field.

The qualifier in England had the most places last year due to the quality of the players not the size of the field.

I still don't think she'll make it. If it's six out of 70, then she'll finish in the top half, about 4-5 shots adrift.

My most sincere congratulations to Miss Wie on her making it to the next round of PGA qualifying. As far as strength of the field is concerned, I was told by my club pro that the field at the Turtle Bay sectional was typical of golf in Hawaii, fair to mediocre(his words). But no matter, she acquitted herself well by leading the field in what have been described as difficult conditions. The toughness of the competition will increase exponentially at Canoe Brook. If she makes it through that 36 hole meatgrinder, she'll be deserving of even more accolades. For the present, her supporters would be wise to temper their euphoria with cautious optimism. Just for my own edification, how is Michelle going to handle all her missed classes for the remainder of this year and the beginning of the next? Will she be able to blow off so much academics when she's an undergrad at Stanford?

Great stuff from Michelle! I am no big fan of the winless one, yes she is still winless, local qualifiers do not count towards her win total, but she is starting to show that she has what it takes to be a champion. No, not of the men's U.S. Open, her dream of qualifying will almost certainly die in New Jersey next month, but who thinks she would have qualified last year. She would have found a way to choke away her chance last year. I am impressed with her progression as a golfer and expect big things from her in the years to come. She is just inches from breaking through with wins on the LPGA tour and from making a cut on the PGA tour and who knows a few years from now she might just play in the U.S. Open without an exemption...women's and men's.

We now know for certain what we have suspected for years. The best golfer in Hawaii is a girl. Ha!

All,

Great news on Michelle's advance. Now onward to all that is in store for her.

As for Chris Baldwin, I have to say that he's not as stupid as I had thought. You see, the only reason he keeps knocking on Michelle Wie is that is how pays the bills. I, probably like most who've visited this site, stumbled onto it by typing "Michelle Wie" into Google. Not "Chris Baldwin".

Who the hell is Chris Baldwin? Nobody, thats who. Just a pathetic man who uses a 16 year old to make a living.

All I can say to Chris Baldwin is go find a real job. Get off your ass and make a real living, not live off the back of a young girl. BE A MAN.

Craig

I'm glad to see Alex is so concerned for Michelle's education. She skipped a day of class to play in the U.S. open qualifier and will be on summer vacation in a couple of weeks.

At Stanford she will task one of her staff of personal assistants to tape lectures and listen to them on her Courtesy Sony Walkman while traveling to her next appearance on her Courtesy Jet and then while transfering to her Courtesy Limousine upon arrival. Yes college life can be so demanding, she will at least have to show up to test.

One-Putt, I was referring to Miss Wie's scheduled appearances in Europe and Pennsylvania for at least a week each this autumn. One of the partners in my firm had a son who graduated Stanford in May 2005. He majored in chemistry and pre-med. As I recall, that young man's curriculum was so tough, he stayed at school to study rather than come home for Christmas of his final year. Maybe Michelle will get a sponsor's exemption for easier courses.

Alex did you read what you wrote? Preparing for a medical school is a whole lot harder than majoring in economics. I know Alex that is why I'm a Art Broker and not a Surgeon today.

Do you possibly think Tiger missed any classes in college to play in Amateur events around the World?

One-Putt, Did you read what you wrote? According to your last post, you are virtually certain that Miss Wie, a high school junior, will be majoring in economics. And at Stanford, presumably. Wouldn't you agree that such a statement is a bit premature? But then, predictions about Bubbles are always premature. One Wie crackpot has her finishing in the top eight at Winged Foot and getting an invitation to the 2007 Masters. Now THAT is premature!

Let me ask you a question Alex, is being a Lawyer the single most important thing in your life or was it just one of your goals that you achieved?

I would appreciate a straight answer my friend.

One-Putt, Thanks for referring to me as your friend. I hope that you were not being facetious and that I will remain your friend the next time I post something critical of Miss Wie. My chosen profession was indeed a major goal in my life since it has enabled me to support my wife and family and leave something of a monetary legacy to my grandchildren. My progeny are the only real legacy I will leave on this earth. Also, being a loyal American, one who honorably served his country, and a law-abiding citizen were and are important to me. I do hope that answer was straight enough for you and that you will reciprocate similarly upon request.

Thanks for answering honestly Alex and you can be quite proud of your accomplishments and service to the Nation over the years. But your answer reveals a point I would like to make later.

Becoming a lawyer was a step taken in a life full of other accomplishments, but it was never the most important thing in your life. When you look around the table at a family gathering you are looking at your real legacy and what is greatest accomplishment in your life.

It is amazing that we all sit at our keyboards blogging about Michelle's future and what she may or may not do in the future. To the shock of my fellow bloggers here I would like to make the following observation:

Golf is not the most important thing in Michelle's life. Becoming the best golfer she can possibly be is just another goal in her young life. She will have other goals along lifes journey and the jury is still out on her accomplishing them all.

We make assumptions based on tidbits of information we receive from a media that is showing some respect for Michelle while she is attending school. For now high school is her refuge where she can meet with friends and just be a normal sixteen year old away from the spotlight. Along with her family I would say this is the most important thing in her life right now and provides some insight into why she may attend college in the future. Stanford may become her sanctuary away from the spotlight in the future and the chance to attain another goal along lifes journey.

Paula and Morgan left school early because playing professional golf was one of the most important goals in their lives. They put golf before self and that is not a bad thing if they feel good about themselves and their decision. They are happy playing a full schedule of events on the LPGA tour and being in the spotlight at times.

Alex I just don't see Michelle playing a full professional schedule until she accomplishes some of her other goals in life. I was serious when I said friend Alex, as friends can disagree and argue a point or two, but at the end of the day they move on and put it behind them. Venting at this blog is good for the soul and clears the mind for other more important things in our lives.

I found out I will become a first-time grandfather yesterday Alex and that is one of the most important things in my life. I'm looking at junior golf clubs online as I write this and just maybe Alex I have gone over the edge................

wow alex. is that the best retort to me calling you an a_hole? i think you're gay that's why you don't like girls. LOL
by the way, you're still an a_hole.