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Michelle Wie deserves credit for qualifying for U.S. Women's Open and more credit for truth telling on not watching LPGA
Tuesday June 10, 2008 | 02:34:42 356 words, 2341 views
Michelle Wie made the field for the upcoming U.S. Women’s Open the old-fashioned way on Monday, taking the path that Team Wie tried to avoid at every opportunity the last several years. She earned it. Without any special perks or exceptions, Wie shot a 70-67 at two different courses in Maryland, giving her the second best score on the day against a field that included many fringe LPGA players who hadn’t qualified yet. For the first time in a long time, the first time really since the days she first captured the public’s attention in that carefully constructed hype blitz of her early teens, Wie didn’t rely on a sponsor’s exemption, a rule that was reworked specifically for her or a free pass. She actually played her way in. None of the more established players on the LPGA Tour can moan about Wie being in the U.S. Women’s Open this year. She deserves her spot. And that’s really been the biggest grip about Wie from the very few who never bought the hype from the beginning. She kept being given things because of a puffed-up legend that had little basis in reality. Wie wasn’t given a spot this time though. The United States Golf Association deserves some credit for finally treating Wie like any other golfer. At least before she arrives in Minnesota. Wie deserves even more credit for her honest answer in tonight’s press conference on whether she watched any of the LPGA Championship over the weekend. “Actually I was kind of busy watching the NBA playoffs,” Wie told reporters in Maryland. “I’m a big fan of Kevin Garnett.” Wie wasn’t the only one who stayed away from the TV for Carolyn Bivens’ rethought product. You can expect numbers from this last weekend that would make even hockey ill. Funny that the LPGA hasn’t sent out a press release yet with its Nielsen numbers for a major. Of course, Wie’s earned her laugh this time with her play. And it’s doubtful she’ll be skewed for that little LPGA Championship diss the way Tiger Woods was for his hockey dismissal. That takes passionate fans.
Comments:
Comment from: Kiel Christianson [Visitor]
My respect for Wie just went up on two counts: she qualified, and she's a Garnett fan. Go Wolves, er, Celtics!
2008-06-10 @ 08:10
Comment from: Jennifer Mario [Member]
Sponsor exemptions have been Michelle's MO for entering other tournaments, but the US Open is one where you should have been giving her credit for qualifying all along, Chris.
In 2003, she got into the US Open by qualifying. In 2004, she got in because in her few events she still would have been 28th on the money list and top money listers are automatic; the special exception there was that she was an amateur and it was a question of whether her spot on the money list was valid if she didn't actually get to keep the money. Same thing with 2006. In 2005 she got in because everyone in the top 20 the previous year gets an automatic entry, and she had finished T13. Same thing with 2007, since she'd finished T3 the year before. There are lots of ways to qualify for the Open. Because of her dismal 2007 season, this is the first time since 2003 she's had to do it the hard way and not rely on the previous year's performance.
2008-06-10 @ 10:29
Comment from: smudge [Visitor]
Jennifer, you've completely missed the point. Just like a Wiebot to respond like you have to a comment of a Wie critic finally giving praise for merit. That said, although one cannot criticize Wie for her qualifying for the open, I'd caution the media from doing what it did to her in the past which is to shower her with undeserved credit. ie, if she makes the cut, woopdeedoo, lots of players will make the cut. If she finishes top 10, not bad, but is that really what a $20 million a year female golfer should be doing. If she wins, which she has a snowball's chance in hell of doing, then perhaps the media can say well done, lets see if you can do it again.
2008-06-10 @ 10:42
Comment from: Shanks [Visitor]
Personally, the only gripe I ever had with a Wie-invite was when McDonalds pressured the LPGA into changing the rules to allow her to play in the LPGA Championship. Clearly, that was ridiculous. Otherwise, I think a tournament sponsor can invite whoever they want to increase the gate.
Hey, I have an idea: let's get Baldwin a sponsors invitation. Now, there's a swing I'd pay to see!
2008-06-10 @ 10:46
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
smudge,
I'd say it's about time that Bubbles earned something besides deserved criticism. Now, if she would go to "Q" school like a good little girl and earn non-exempt status, that would be another step in the right direction. For entertainment purposes, her qualifying legitimately for the Open might bring some of her former supporters out of hiding. They've been hibernating since the last Samsung, so maybe they won't need to lapse into estivation. Look for them to get Bubbles' bronze bust ready for the Hall of Fame. On the kookier Wie websites they are already treating Bubbles' qualifying like a major victory. Alex USMC 1969-73
2008-06-10 @ 14:35
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
smudge,
I'd say it's about time that Bubbles earned something besides deserved criticism. Now, if she would go to "Q" school like a good little girl and earn non-exempt status, that would be another step in the right direction. For entertainment purposes, her qualifying legitimately for the Open might bring some of her former supporters out of hiding. They've been hibernating since the last Samsung, so maybe they won't need to lapse into estivation. Look for them to get Bubbles' bronze bust ready for the Hall of Fame. On the kookier Wie websites they are already treating Bubbles' qualifying like a major victory. Alex USMC 1969-73
2008-06-10 @ 14:36
Comment from: Brandon Tucker [Member]
· http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/brandon.tucker
Garnett went pro out of high school and hasn't won jack. Of course she likes him :-)
2008-06-10 @ 15:05
Comment from: Kiel Christianson [Visitor]
Garnett hasn't won anything but League MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and rebounding title several times. If basketball were an individual sport, he'd be Jack Nicklaus. Unfortunately for him, until this year, he was left to carry an entire team on his shoulders. No one can do that, not even Michael Jordan.
2008-06-10 @ 16:22
Comment from: Ralph [Visitor]
ralph, you sound like that loser Wie-basher from the TGC forums. Give it up already. Your disparaging nickname for Wie will never catch on.
2008-06-11 @ 01:02
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Ralph,
After reading your post, I've concluded that you are more confused than Bubbles. Alex USMC 1969-73
2008-06-11 @ 07:30
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
Ralph,
If you mean "Bubbles," it has already caught on. The only good thing I can say about the Bubbles is that she, at least at the moment, is where she belongs: the LPGA. If she focuses on that arena and keeps her head on straight, she may have a good career ahead of her.
2008-06-11 @ 21:49
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Judge Smails,
It's hard to tell what a genius like Ralph means. I agree that Bubbles has finally found her niche, women's events. Still, I believe that the LPGA might still be too much for her game at present. The LET and/or the Duramed are probably more to her liking. It seems like we've heard the last from those jokers who were sure that she had the game to eventually win a PGA event. Come to think of it, Wolfie the Red had a blog recently where he emphatically stated that Lorena had the game to win on the PGA tour. Maybe the wiebots like Ghet Rheel and Norman may yet get back to their old form. We could use the entertainment. Things have been sort of dull on these threads lately. Alex USMC 1969-73
2008-06-12 @ 12:38
Comment from: Max [Visitor]
· http://www.michellewiefans.com
Shanks commented:
Personally, the only gripe I ever had with a Wie-invite was when McDonalds pressured the LPGA into changing the rules to allow her to play in the LPGA Championship. Clearly, that was ridiculous. ______ She finished 2nd there, 2 shots clear of the field, behind only Annika Sorenstam, who was by far the best player of the time. Clearly she deserved that exemption, as her performance clearly showed. Clearly it is ridiculous for you to say otherwise.
2008-06-12 @ 14:05
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Max,
What is clearly ridiculous is that Bubbles, ranked number 196 in the world, has thus far received six exemptions to PGA events and another to the LET. Another thing that is equally ridiculous is that Bubbles thinks she can get her LPGA playing privileges by winning enough money in those exemptions to equal 80th place on the money list. The fact that virtually ALL the top-flight golfers on the LPGA tour got there through "Q" school, the Futures tour, or a combination of both. This elitist little snot apparently thinks she is better than Annika, Lorena, Paula, Morgan, and Yani, who all made their bones in the orthodox manner. Alex USMC 1969-73
2008-06-12 @ 18:59
Comment from: Max [Visitor]
· http://www.michellewiefans.com
Well Alex, considering Michelle did enough in 2005 and 2006 to have gained a tour card using that "unorthodox" method, then it is not an unrealistic expectation to have.
If she doesn't earn enough, she can go to q-school, no problem at all.
2008-06-13 @ 16:22
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Max,
Since Bubbles most probably won't win enough in her remaining four exemptions to get her playing privileges for 2009, "Q" school will be her only hope. In the event that she doesn't make exempt status through "Q" school, you and the rest of the Wiebots probably think that she should continue to receive freebies until she somehow gets a tour card. I doubt if that will happen. But you surely do, since you have in the past predicted Bubbles would win the required amount and bypass "Q" school. Remember? Be honest now, how many friends do you believe that Bubbles is making among LPGA members with her snobbish, elitist attitude? Do you think that the winners among the ladies are pleased as punch that this non-winning spoiled brat thinks she is too good for the Futures tour or "Q" school? Alex USMC 1969-73
2008-06-14 @ 09:15
Comment from: Max [Visitor]
· http://www.michellewiefans.com
Bubbles is a Kevin Garnett/Celtics fan simply because the William Morris Agency, who represents both, brought them together as a PR stunt.
a fan? She was probably told to learn from him by her handlers. Next thing you know Bubbbles will be a fan of Serena Williams, Russell Crowe and 50 Cent (all WM clients). The William Morris Agency: "We decide public opinion!"
2008-06-17 @ 20:14 Leave a comment: |
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