Memo to Nancy Lopez: put Michelle Wie on the Solheim team

Great points Jennifer!

Unfortunately Nancy Lopez is way too old school to let it happen!

By the way-why do you guys tolerate that Baldwin guy-he's bringing down the quality of this website big time!!

Thanks for doing your homework, Jennifer! You are not the only one to think this way. Even the pundits on TGC (well, some of them), agree with you, and that really surprised me. If Nancy REALLY wants to get the cup back, especially on our soil, she WILL find a way to at least offer a spot to Michelle. She will be in high school at that time, but I'm sure her school would let her go to represent her country!

Tough call. I'm sure Wie would make the US a stronger team talent wise. But her presence will not be supported by all of the team members and may cause dissention. I'm sure it won't happen since Nancy has "issues" with Wie and probably want's no part of this controversy even at the cost of not fielding the best team.

Tough call for Lopez, but how can she justify leaving out the strongest player.
She would be OK picking Michelle because Morgan Pressel won't be there.

Alan

I agree with you Jennifer. Nancy Lopes should pick Michelle for the hype, and TV ratings, and a chance to win. But sadly, NL is too old school, like Dottie, and they want to protect and preserve, the others old golfer, who should retire, cause they're past their prime, and are just playing to pad their nest egg. In my opinion,
Team USA will lose, the rating will suffer, and NL will come up with some lame excuse for their defeat. Oh she's not an LPGA member. Well, Michelle plays on the LPGA, and it might just be a matter of months before she's a pro., and there are always exceptions.
She'll probably pick Bowie and Ward. I wonder how her picks will fare. Lots of pressure.

If the U. S. wants to win, Nancy will stick with veteran players.

Nancy Lopez's comment that Michelle don't know what she is doing is crazy. Team Wie knows exactly what they're doing. Her television appearance next week will be the beginning. She will probably turn pro for the Samsung and sign a lucrative deal with Nike. She is fluent in Korean, studied Chinese and will be in her second year of Japanese. If her golf game continues to improve, she will a super spokesperson for companies trying to get market shares in the Far East and Southest Asia. As far as the LPGA is concerned, she has played in as much tournaments as was permitted. Also, the LPGA tour returned to Hawaii mainly due to the interest created by Michelle Wie. What more can Nancy Lopez ask from a fifteen year old. As far as folding under pressure, Michelle Wie shot one under for two rounds an a course that measured 7195 yards playing to par 71. Other than Anika, I don't think many other women golfers could manage that. I feel that Michelle Wie will play a limited schedule, maintain her status as a regular student and graduate with honors. Her parents seem to value education too much to settle for anything less...Just my opinion.....

What a joke. The rules plainly state that to be eligible for the Solheim Cup you have to be A MEMBER OF THE LPGA TOUR. Is she? NO, you idiots. That being said, it's a meaningless exhibition, and I won't be watching anyway, so, as Morgan Pressel once said to Heather Daly-Donofrio........"whatever".

Geez, Nancy Lopez has so many issues with Wie, and keep repeating that Wie should be helping LPGA instead of competing with men.

When Wie played at the U.S. Open last month, viewership was up what, 70%? That only translated to more interest in women's golf, more sponsorship, and bigger purse for the likes of Nancy Lopez and other LPGA players. The reason that Wie can generate so much interest is exactly because - unlike Pressel, Creamer, Lopez and other talented golfers - Wie dares to challenge men and she beats them with amusing regularity.

If Wie plays on the Solheim team, she would only generate more interest for that event, and guess what organization that would benefit?

If Lopez is really that concerned about the welfare of the LPGA Tour, that she should support Wie's endeavors seems like a no brainer.

Michelle Wie certainly quailfies to be on The Solheim team, but let's not forget, she's only 15 & a amateur. She had a tough summer schedule & deserves a break...as far as turning pro..she has not reached her full potential yet & although she can make millions now, the expectations to win will be much greater...can a young teenager handle that kind of responsibility? I think not...she should wait another year or two & let her game get better & gain more experience...even win some tournaments first because let's face it, Nike won't be paying her millions to be in second place...

You are too kind to Nancy. What I would like to see is for Michelle to play in the Jr. Solheim Cup. Then we could see all the fans and cameras go home before Nancy and her team even take to the course.

I would also like to see Michelle Wie and Morgan Pressel be made partners to play against a pair of Europeans. I think that would be fun to watch. Seriously I think Michelle would handle herself quite well in such a pairing and I hope Morgan would do the same.

Is it just me, or is it really true that there are golfers out there who are jealous of Michelle. Well grow up.

Unless I am mistaken, the men had to deal with Tiger Woods landing a $40,000,000 endorsement contract before he had even come close to winning any event in which pros were allowed to compete. Tiger's only wins had come in restricted events in which the best golfers were prohibited from competing. Think how the players who had soundly beaten him must have felt at the time.

But no one else would have gotten the Nike money, and Tiger has turned out to be very good for eveyone on the PGA Tour. No on else in the women's game would be getting the Nike money destined for Michelle. Morgan Pressel has greater fame now as a counterpart to Michelle than she ever would have had if there had been no Michelle.

A few words of advice for Morgan Pressel. Before you say anything more about Michelle Wie talk to Aaron Krickstein. There were American tennis players who were known for saying bad things about other people. Your uncle Aaron was not one of them.

Well written Jim!

It would also be good to remind Morgan Pressel that her Uncle Aaron also dominated the amateur ranks but had a very forgettable and uneventful professional career.

Aaron Krickstein had an injury plagued career, but he was as tough as they came. He played 10 Davis Cup matches for the US and was 6-4. He won 9 titles and reached a world rank as high as 6. It is only in a sport like tennis that we would think of this as forgettable or uneventful. Morgan Pressel still has a long way to go before she surpasses her uncle as the sports star of the family.

I wish that Sports Illustrated would stop acting like Chris Baldwin. Assuming Chris has correctly quoted comments from SI, I am outraged that the magazine would choose to publish the words of a 17 year old girl when they are words she is likely to regret for the rest of her life. Most 17 year olds are allowed to be petty and vindictive without that becoming a legacy broadcast to the whole world. Let us just judge Morgan by her golf, and give her until she is 18 before we insist that she live with what she says. I think May of next year will give Michelle plenty of time to convince Morgan that she is for real--and if Morgan chooses to say anything after her 18th birthday, let her live with it.

CANNOT BELIEVE HOW LOW THE WIE FANS CAN STOOP---NOW THEY ARE MOUTHING OFF ABOUT PRESSEL'S FAMILY---I LOVE PRESSEL FOR CUTTING THRU ALL THE BS AND SAYING HOW SHE TRULY FEELS---WIE SEEMS TO BE ONE OF A KIND BUT I AM GOING TO ROOT FOR MORGAN WHO HAS A 4.0 GPA AND RECORDED A 790 OUT OF A POSSIBLE 800 ON HER MATH SAT---SHE ALSO HAS HAD TO OVER COME A LOT OF PERSONAL TRAGEDY IN HER LIFE---SO KAREN AND JIM KNOCK OFF BRINGING HER FAMILY UP IN YOUR COMMENTS

So Pat,
What you're saying is that since she has a 4.0 GPA and has had personal tragedy in her life, we give her a pass on being rude, abnoxious and a jack a$$. OK, whatever.

PAT What is wrong with suggesting she talk to her uncle? Was it wrong of me to speak well of Aaron and his career? It seems that Morgan Pressel fans get easily offended by some very strange things.

790 out of 800 on the SAT Math. That is good, but so was my 783 a long time ago. I know what high math intelligence means in a young person. It means you think differently than other people. You are likely to take things very literally. You are more likely to hear the meaning in the words, which will help you on your tests--but you are less likely than most people to see meanings behind the words which may be in conflict with what the words themselves say.

Morgan needs to be able to distinquish between those who praise her for her own sake, and those who are praising her as a means to the end of criticizing Michelle Wie. Does she really want the likes of Chris Baldwin claiming that he and she are saying the same thing?

I would also like to advise Morgan Pressel to look at the interview comments of Paula Creamer after Evian and after the Women's British Open. Paula Creamer did a dramatic about face. If Michelle is as successful as most people believe she will be, Paula Creamer is now off the hook as a Wie critic.

Right now the highest profile person to blame for anti-Asian racist bigotry directed at Michelle Wie is guess who? And don't think Sports Illustrated won't follow its usual pattern of setting someone up as a racist and then acting all innocent when the charges of racism come rolling in.

I happen to know Morgan Pressel's ethnic background, which I won't mention, but which is the same as my wife's. She is a member of perhaps the most hated group on the face of the earth--and there are vast numbers of people who would like nothing better than to accuse a member of that group of racism. But it is not likely to stop there--certainly it has not stopped there in the past, nor is it stopping there in the present. May I know ask on behalf of my wife that Morgan Pressel follow the lead of Paula Creamer and extricate herself from this situation.

JIM--KNOWING MP'S ETHIC BACKROUND DOES NOT FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF BEING A SCOOP---I GUESS YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU EXPANDED ON THE SUBJECT---I DO WISH WE COULD LIMIT OUR REMARKS TO THE GOLFER ABILITY AND WHAT THEY THEMSELVES SAY---I PREFER THE RAW TRUTH BUT MOST PEOPLE CANNOT STAND AN HONEST PERSON---MORGAN TELLS IT LIKE IT IS AND I LOVE IT---HOWEVER, I DO HAVE ONE GLARING FAULT---I WILL ALWAYS ROOT FIRST FOR AN AMERICAN TO WIN---I BELIEVE MORGAN, PAULA,AND MICHELLE ARE ALL AMERICANS WHILE ANNIKA IS NOT ---(FOR JIM ONLY--I AM A DEVOUT RC)

I agree with giving MP a break because she has a 4.0 GPA and a tragic life history. After all, The WIE-nee Wie-ners want to give MW a break just because she is ONLY 15 !!!

Geesh-- Chill out PAT !

That is not a knock on her family--that is a FACT !

Its sad but its true Aaron Krickstein was a dominant amateur player but never won any Grand Slams.

He was a good player but not great. He certainly had some success but you don't hear anybody in the tennis world talking about him much if at all.

All I'm saying is before Morgan Pressel mouths off about her choosing the right path and Michelle choosing the wrong path she better make sure she can back up what she says.

Just because she's a dominant player in the Amateur ranks like her Uncle Aaron is not a guarantee that she will be dominant in the professional ranks.

Personally, I think its sad the only way she can get any attention for herself is to bash Michelle Wie--maybe that's why Chris Baldwin likes her so much--they're practically soul mates.

First of all--I have a subscription to Sports Illustrated and have already read the full article.

Unfortunately--Morgan Pressel comes off REALLY BAD on it.

There are even more catty and vindictive comments on it.

I have no idea what E. Swift ---the SI reporter on the article was trying to accomplish but if he was trying to make Morgan Pressel endearing to the public --I believe he failed miserably and has succeeded in making Pressel a bit of the jealous villain.

I have to disagree with you Jim-- people will bring up the fact that Pressel is being jealous and catty--but everyone knows that has nothing to do with her being Jewish.

She's going to have to live with what she says since it is in print forever but I doubt it will be blamed on her ethnicity but more for her immaturity.

Yikes---I read the full article too and Morgan Pressel is really put in a BAD light....

Even the author Swift mentions in the article that

" Pressel delights in pointing out the chinks in Wie's armor"



I think it will mobilize people who hate Michelle Wie l(like a Chris Baldwin) to make Pressel their little poster child so they can delight in any success she has to bash Michelle Wie some more.

Unfortunately , for Pressel those aren't exactly the kind of fans you want to have....

ABSOLUTELY NOT-do not allow Michelle Wie to play in the Solheim Cup! She's STILL an amateur and has already been permitted in tournaments for professionals. This is totally unfair to the players who HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT to play in those competitions. Let Michelle Wie EARN the right like everyone else has. Permitting her to play where she has not earned the right takes away the honor of those who have earned it.

There have been people who have made the connection between Wie bashing and anti-Asian racism. So that issue has already been raised although not specifically with regard to Morgan Pressel. It was more in connection with Chris Baldwin who now seems to be linked to Morgan Pressel. I hope Kevin is right, on that particular issue I would like to be wrong.

PAT You like the raw truth. This year in the Women's Amateur is the first time since 2001 that Morgan Pressel has even made it to the semi-finals of a USGA event. If she wins this year it will be her first USGA win, which will only bring her up to a tie with what Michelle Wie accomplished at 13.

Yes, Michelle went 3 over par on the last 4 holes of the John Deere, but let us not forget that Morgan Pressel was up by 2 holes with just 2 holes left, and managed to lose in the 3rd round of this year's Junior Girls. Doing that at age 17 doesn't exactly put Morgan Pressel in the company of Tiger Woods as somone who dominated his/her own level of competition.

Until the Women's Amateur this year the only truly bright spot on Morgan Pressel's resume for the last 4 years was her impressive but losing performance at the US Women's Open this year. BUT BY HER OWN STANDARDS THAT WAS SIMPLY A LOSS. And guess what, no one seems to be holding her to those standards. Not even Michelle Wie.

It is not the shortcomings of Michelle Wie that have been largely hidden from the public. That would be impossible since she performs in the spotlight. What has been hidden from the public is the fact that Morgan Pressel is not the great winner that the Wie haters make her out to be--and that is something that is possible to do, since Morgan Pressel largely toils in obscurity.

Morgan Pressel is a solid Junior golfer who has won a lot of lesser tournaments and won a lot of matches in USGA tournaments--but today would be her first USGA win. Even on the amateur level she is living in a glass house when it comes to her criticism of Michelle Wie. I wish she could see that.

In response to R Nelson's comment "ABSOLUTELY NOT-do not allow Michelle Wie to play in the Solheim Cup"
There is mothing unfair about picking your best players.
When picking a team for any competition you should pick your stongest players. If Wie qualifies to play she should be in the team as no1 female US player.
Why don't you people look at the facts and grow up.
This is a great example of cutting off your nose to spite your face and Biting the hand that feed you.
I am going to repeat what I have already posted on several occassions.

over the five top tournaments this year Michelle has finished on average in 11th position 1/2 a position behind Annika on 10.5 and 3.25 in front of Paula who has an average of 14.25 in 3rd.
Michelle should be captain of the team.
Alan

Earning the right? The players in the top 10 in Solheim Cup points standing have "earned" the right. The last two players added, the Captain's Choices, are not some honor to be bestowed by Nancy Lopez or anyone else, but a strategic set of picks designed to give OUR TEAM the best chance to win! It doesn't matter who or what that person is or has done, so long as they are a U.S. born female that gives us the best chance to win, they are the right selection.

How can anyone deny that Wie should be chosen, based on the criteria of wanting to win? Not selecting Wie gives us a sub-optimal team, and a sub-optimal chance to win. Anyone who claims that Delasin or any of the Old Vets that Lopez will end up choosing are better choices than Wie are truly blind to the game, and acting under some other, non-winning, rationale.

Here's why the U.S. has such trouble with these international events - we don't think and play the game with a team mindset. Heck, look at the Europeans - THEY aren't worried about "earning" a spot or "paying your dues". The exact opposite - only seven players qualify through their play, "earning" their way. The captain of Europe's team chooses FIVE players. And the five choices will be the five players who give Europe the best chance to hand us a whipping again, not the five the captain hopes to honor for their service or longevity or anything else.

If we don't win the Cup with a Wie-less team, Lopez will have no way to defend herself from her own miserable choices. And unfortunately, in this case, all of us pay the price as Americans who want to have a winning team.

I think the only question is whether Wie qualifies for consideration on the team.

Beyond that, maybe she doesn't want to play? School begins in a couple of weeks, she hasn't been home since the end of May, and she claims she misses her friends.

I know how the Americans could be sure to win. Somehow they need to convince the Europeans to pick Nancy Lopez as their captain--and give Nancy 12 captain's choices. She would only select players who earned the right by playing primarily on the Ladies European Tour. Any Europeans like Annika who play on the LPGA Tour would be barred from consideration. After all, this is supposed to be a competition between the LPGA and the LET.

You must be smoking the stuff that's growing on the golf courses. She does the competition at the U.S. Womens Ameteurs, she doesn't know how to close a tournament, she plays in events where there is no expectation for her to win and you want her on the Solheim team. Get real.

I don't think that the SI reporter was necessarily trying to paint Pressel in a favorable light. The media is trying to sell and the more controvesy the better. Pressel was not savy enough and fell for the bait. What she has to realize is that this type of response is only going to spur more questions about Wie whenever she is interviewed. The very thing she detests.

JIM COULTHARD. you made comments about how Paula Creamer made an about turn, in her comments about Michelle after the Evian and the British open.

Can you please explain what exactly she said after both events cause I missed this.
Thanks.

Let's introduce some more facts to the Solheim cup issue.
Thew following is a list of the 12 leading Solheim Cup contenders and how they have performed against Wie this year.

Wie 3-2 Cristie Kerr
Wie 4-1 Meg Mallon
Wie 4-1 Juli Inkster
Wie 3-2 Rosie Jones
Wie 5-0 Christina Kim
Wie 4-1 Natalie Gulbis
Wie 4-0 Pat Hurst
Wie 3-2 Paula Creamer
Wie 3.5?1.5 Laura Diaz
Wie 5-0 Michele Redman
Wie 3-1 Dorothy Delasin
Wie 4-1 Heather Bowie
I think the stats speak for themselves.
Whether Wie could play as an amateur I don't know.
Also congratulations to Morgan Pressel.

Alan

NORMAN I was sure that I remembered a pair of interviews. The first in which Paula brushed off a question about her rivalry with Michelle saying she was aiming for Annika but wasn't there yet. It seemed that this was right after the Evian. Then a week later I seem to recall her being very respectful saying she looked forward playing Michelle many times in the future. But looking at the Evian and Weetabix sites now I can find nothing.

Since Ms. Lopez has not acknowledged Michelle Wie's accomplishments to date, why should anyone expect her to invite an amateur golfer whom she holds in contempt based on her numerous comments. Michelle Wie is still an amateur golfer. She has plenty of time to represent the US Solheim team in her future.

About Morgan Pressel as a person, sadly enough, she has continually been vindictive, petty and loves to trash talk in numerous situations, during TV interviews, in prints, and now the latest SI interview. Before anyone jumps up in hysteria about my observation, notice I wrote the person and not a golfer. She plays quite well and grinds it out. She has a great deal to learn about being gracious and sportsmanlike particularly in the sport of golf.

There seems to be a double standard in discussing MP and MW in that people can feel freely trash Michelle Wie by couching their racism under golfing comments and conveniently disregarding her accomplishments in the face of peer and older players' rejections. Baldwin and his supporters are ignorant and racists, regardless of all kinds of elaborate justifications. Racism against Asian Americans seems to be "more acceptable" than against other ethnic groups, as evident in our society, it's still funny to stereotype Asians. So it's easier to attack a 15-year old Asian American girl in every way, but to commend her for trying, failing, and getting up to try again.

While everyone seems to soft-pedal Morgan Pressel's nasty antics as a person and excuses her overall behaviors over the years because she's only 17 and has suffered a tragic loss in her life. No one seems to have any issue when she had a hissy fit on a golf course and stomped off while another player was still playing when she didn't play well in Colorado. I didn't realize how long Morgan Pressel has harbored antagonism towards Michelle Wie until she proudly recalled and pointed out her trash-talking sentiments against Michelle during an interview for a newspaper. I once excused Pressel's openly hostile attitude towards Wie at the time because of her age, 16 years old and having lost her mother. Well, I don't make that mistake again, media-savvy or not, MP is consistent with her opinions.

BTW, Michelle Wie helped the US Curtis team win last year, she won in her individual events. It would be wrong to say that she doesn't know how to close a tournament.

Whether if Michelle Wie would have
help the U.S. to win if she were in
the Solheim team, I think Wie's
records speak for themselves. As to
why Nancy Lopez didn't invite Wie,
that's a more complex question. Lopez
had been complaining that Wie wasn't
doing enough for the LPGA Tour, this
in spite of Wie playing in as many
LPGA events as her current amateur
status allows. Yet, when Wie had a
chance to help the LPGA by
participating in the U.S. Solheim
team, Lopez rejected Wie for not
being a LPGA member.

It seems that Ms. Lopez is trying to
have it both ways.

Morgan Pressel. Racism is a serious
charge. However, when Pressel accused
the press of not criticizing Wie of
her shortcomings because
of "political correctness", Pressel
left little room for interpreting her
comment otherwise. What was published
in SI was unfortunate. But I don't
think we can blame SI for publishing,
what were, ultimately, Pressel's own
words. I don't think SI made up the
article - their lawyers are too savvy
to allow that. That said, which of us
when we were a 17-year old did not
misspeak? I for one would not want
what I said as a 17-year old to come
back to haunt me when I am a matured
professional. We grown-ups are not
more noble than the 17-year olds. We
are just more sophisticated in
sugarcoating those of our less than
noble sentiments.

Pressel is an excellent golfer of
exceptional talent; and so I do
understand her resentment toward Wie.
It's human nature. Pressel?s feeling
might even be justified. She might
well be as deserving of the press,
attention, and potential endorsements
that Wie?s is getting. But for
Pressel to earn these, she needs to
learn how to handle the press in a
mature manner. Wie, two years of
Pressel's junior, has already learned
that.

The criteria for being selected to the team is pretty clear, and as a non member of the LPGA Michelle doesn't qualify.

STEPHEN I am a big Michelle Wie fan, but through my wife I have an ethnic link to Morgan Pressel--and I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, want Morgan Pressel to stop what she is doing and begin behaving in a responsible manner towards Michelle Wie. I know it is pathetic to ask forebearance towards a 17 year old for her treatment of a 15 year old--but I can't think of any better argument to make to try to buy a little more time for Morgan to see the light and change her ways.

Unfortunately it may be that being a mean girl is part of what gives Morgan Pressel the competive spirit to do as well as she has done in golf. But very few girls her age have had the opportunity to make such monumental asses of themselves even if they are very competitive mean girls.

In all the jealousy surrounding Michelle Wie, and the meanspirited advice to Michelle Wie over how she should prepare for her golfing career, the adults in this country missed an important point. With everyone, winning should come second to sportsmanship--but this should be particularly true in the training of our youth.

We have been criticizing the Wies for taking a course that has produced a gracious young woman--and telling them that they should have followed the course the Pressels took to produce a mean spiritied young lady. Who is the better golfer is totally irrelevant. The Wies are to be praised for raising a daughter with character, and the Pressels should be urged to learn from the Wies and see if there is still time for them to raise a daughter with similar character before she turns 18 next year.

Until now Morgan Pressel's character flaws have been under the radar--but not any more. SI puts it on the radar. All the arguments about Junior golf are about to become moot when Michelle Wie turns pro. Everyone in women's golf seems to recognize that fact. Even Nancy Lopez is saying nice things about Michelle Wie. "It is only because she wants to reward LPGA members that she is not picking Michelle for her team." Only Morgan Pressel is still actually mouthing the tired old line, and doing so with particular viscousness. Someone needs to tell her what is about to happen. I hope someone will, and I hope she will listen.

Jennifer, I agree 100%. Michelle should be on the team. The only logical reason to exclude her would be concern for her ability to close the deal under pressure. I don't know enough about the other American women players records to comment on that, but it seems that Michelle should be there without a doubt.

With regard to Pressel's comments, I read the article a few days ago, laughed, then cringed figuring she was being a little too pointed and that it could come back to bite her. But at the end of the day, she was just showing her competitiveness and I didn't think she said anything so wrong. For gosh sake, the LPGA could use some competitiveness and feistiness. All of golf for that matter could stand people speaking their mind a little more and losing the PC speak.

Case in point, I nearly fell out of my chair a few weeks back when Lanny Wadkins said "anytime today" when doing the color on Ben "the Human Glacier" Crane. And then today when Crane was doing his incredibly annoying, 10 minute preshot routine, waggling and jiggling and gripping and regripping, Wadkins says "he's in the rough but his lie's not too bad............but for all we know the rough may grow some before he hits it..."

Through all of her antics, Pressel's apologists dismissed it as first she is only a teenager, then she's had personal tragedy, then she's displaying her fiery competitiveness. Whatever happened to common courtesy and civility. Tiger is as competitive as they come, yet you never see him disrespectful of a fellow competitor. My appreciation and admiration for Michelle is growing seeing how she behaves on and off the course.

Pressel reminds me of a contemporary of her uncle Aaron. The one the Brits labelled "Super Brat", John McEnroe. I think Pressel is a fitting candidate to assume that title.

Let's hope so, Casey. Occasionally, a great athlete might also be a poor sportman. Unfortunately, the converse is not always true.

Thanks everyone for not filling this blog with stupid trash talk. It makes a nice change to read some sensible level headed comments.
Unfortunately the replies have strayed a little from the topic of the Solheim cup and back to Morgan Pressel.
Her gripe is that Michelle is getting all of the media attention and probably the sponsorship money as well.
Obviously Michelle has no control over any of that. She plays golf. The rest is history.
If Pressel wants a bit of that attention she is going about it the wrong way. Unfortunately the attention she is constructing is negative. Sponsors will not be keen to endorse her for that reason.
She should try doing a U-turn. Publicly appologise to Wie and start conducting herself in manner befitting a young star that she is.
She should also try smiling on the golf course once in a while.
Media attention and fans are attracted by positive actions.
Next year I will be travelling to the states from Trinidad and Tobago to watch the Kraft Nabisco.
Until recently I wouldn't have dreamt of doing this. That is the difference a certain young Asain American girl has had on the world of golf. I have never been to a professional golf tournament before.

Alan

This is a quote from the Associated Press chronicling her win at the Women's Amateurs--Morgan must be pulling her hair right now-----

""When Michelle Wie decided to skip this year's amateur championship, Pressel became the overwhelming favorite.""

HA HA- she can't escape The Big Wiesy!!!!

That "politically correct" comment from Morgan Pressel concerning Michelle smacks of the same sentiment that Rush Limbaugh used when describing Donovan Mcnabb--(that McNabb was only being hyped because he was black)

It doesn't surprise me much that comment came from Morgan-- the Pressel family are notorious conservative right wingers here in the state of Florida, they're extremely active in politics here.

Relax Pat--no one's bashing their family--that is straight up truth and they will be proud to admit it.

MEMO TO JENNIFER MARIO AND ALL OTHER WIE SYNCOPHANTS: WHY DO YOU WANT TO SHORT CHANGE MICHELLE? WIE SHOULD NOT ONLY BE ON THE SOLHIEM TEAM BUT ALSO ON THE FOLLOWING. THE RYDER CUP HAVE AN EXCEPTION TO ALL PGA MAJORS {DOUBT IF SHE WOULD LOWER HERSELF TO PLAY ALL THE LPGA MAJORS) A LIFETIME AND BEYOND INVITATION TO PLAY THE MASTERS AND BE ENTITLED TO A GREEN JACKET EVERY YEAR IN PERPETUITY. WIE SHOULD TO BE INDUCTED INTO ALL THE HALLS OF FAME WITHOUT EXCEPTION! AND BECAUSE WIE HAS NOT WON ANY PGA OR LPGA TOURNAMENT ALL OF THE ABOVE SHOULD BE DONE POSTHASTE. P.S. NATUALLY ALL TV CAMERAS WILL FOCUS SOLEY ON MICHELLE WIE WHEN SHE IS ON OR NEAR ANY GOLF COURSE.

Hi - Could we try to stick to the topic at hand (i.e. should Wie play on the Solheim Cup), please?

What are the rules? I see one person write that all you have to be is female and a US citizen to be considered for the two captain's choice slots, and others state that you have to be a card-carrying member of the LPGA.

Which is correct? If the former, then Ms. Wie can make a good case for selection to the team. If the latter, she cannot be selected and that's that.

This ain't rocket science folks - determine what the rule book says and conform. OH RIGHT....we all need to 'vent' about this and that...sorry, go ahead on and rant about thsngs that have no bearing...

I will start by saying I am a Michelle Wie fan. I also like Creamer, Ms.Attidude pressel lol, Ochoa, Lang, Jang, and many of the younger players. They bring a much needed excitemtnet to the LPGA. But Michelle shouldn't be on the Solheim Cup team. These spots are earned by points accumulated over 2 years same as the Ryder cup and she has none, it's that simple. Would it be better for USA if she was on the team, definitely. But better doesn't make it right for those who earned the points and that includes the captains picks. Michelle will have many chances to be on it in the future if she chooses too. Who knows she may be eyeing the Ryder Cup team instaed, lol. These elitist tournaments aren't about the best vs the best anyway or many players from other countries wouldn't be left out like they are, men and womens side. Thats why I like the presidents cup better and wish the women would do something similar. The men can get Els, Goosen, Norman, Muriyama, etc if they want in these. Too many fine women players are left out, Ochoa, Heatherington, and the many great korean players et al. What I would like to see is each continent represented in some kind of team format much like the world cup. Then it would truly be best of the best.

Go to the solheim cup web site and you shall see you have to be an LPGA member.

As far as the Solheim Cup is concerned, the gender and place of birth requirements are written in stone. But give me a break, how can anyone justify Annika playing for the Ladies European Tour against the LPGA? Annika plays almost entirely on the LPGA Tour as do most of the other so called members of the LET team.

Yes, Michelle would need to be a member of the LPGA. But if Nancy wanted, there would be a new category of membership in the LPGA called Associate Amateur Membership which would be given to Michelle Wie, Morgan Pressel or any other amateur whose outstanding performance warranted such an honor. Given the laughable way the Europeans interpret membership in the LET they could hardly object.

Actually I would like to tender some other possibilities. (1) Nancy could pick both Michelle Wie and Morgan Pressel. Both are certainly among the best 12 American female golfers. (2)A second possibility, with Michelle Wie's blessing, would be to select Morgan Pressel and a current pro. Morgan has just won a Match Play Major in the US Amateur. She should do well in the match play format of the Cup. Her presence wouldn't generate the envy among the Americans that Michelle Wie's would. The party line could be that stellar performance in the recent US Women's Amateur is required for any amateur to be considered for the Solheim Cup.

I will admit that my primary concern here is not an American victory--it is getting Morgan Pressel to shut up. But Michelle Wie and Morgan Pressel have both earned the invitation based upon their golf. I doubt that Michelle Wie cares, but Morgan Pressel cares a great deal about this sort of thing. This could be the time she a gets a special invitation Michelle Wie doesn't get. And there could be some conditions applied. In the interest of team unity, all team members would be asked to take a pledge not to disparage any of their fellow American golfers. This would be part of a general effort to boost American spirit after the disappointment of the last Cup loss. Indeed, Solheim Cup team members could be asked to serve as ambassadors of American golf until the next Cup in 2007. As Michelle Wie might say, you know--that sort of thing. It is worth considering.

Memo to Jennifer Mario: Only LPGA Tour members are eligible for the U.S. Solheim Cup team. But otherwise, I'm with you :-) If Lopez truly could pick anyone, she'd be nuts not to pick Wie ... but she is nuts (when it comes to Wie, anyway) so there's no way she'd do it. Unfortuntely, Michelle isn't eligible, so it's all moot.

Morgan Pressel is very jealous of Michelle Wie now, will always be very jealous of Wie.

Michelle has the Big Driver.
Michelle has the Drive to move outside of the LPGA Tee Box.
This is why She gets the Pics, the Clicks and the Excemption Ticks.

The one with the Biggest Endorsment Contracts WINS!!!

Deal with it.

Roman, before you blow a fuse, get your facts straight. In her two PGA tour events, Michelle Wie's average driving distance was 269 yards. I can't find LPGA tour stats for her, because she is not a member. However, I know that her average driving distance in one of the early LPGA tournaments was in the mid/upper 260's a few yards BEHIND Annika, because I recall the discussion on the Golf Channel that Sunday night. And the leading driver on the LPGA Tour, Brittany Linicome, is currently at an average driving distance of 269.9. People are getting all hot and bothered by Michelle's ability to bomb the occasional 300 yarder, but they are not focusing on the fact that her average driving distance is not 300 yards; it's around 270.

Is she long? Yes. Is she much longer than the longest women? No. But she is long enough to dominate if she can find her putter.

A sidebar comment to Jim C. - I do not think being aggressively vicious are behaviors specific to any particular group of people, so why should you be responsible for another person's bad behaviors. You are no more responsible for Pressel than say some Klans torching the boat and house of an Asian fisherman in Louisiana.

Another observation: I think some of the responses posted on this blog illustrated precisely what I mentioned earlier about double-standard treatments for Wie and Pressel. Whilst some people gleefully attack every single stumble or failing of Michelle Wie, conveniently sidestep her age and that she represents possibilities for other Asian American kids, on the one hand. On the other, these same people are perfectly willing to give Morgan Pressel a pass for being 17 and "misspeak" and others defended her for being naïve. What's worse is when someone else has suggested that Pressel suppress her hostile opinions about diversity and tolerance, just for the sake of winning the sponsors' supports. Pressel is an intelligent person and quite articulate about her antagonism towards Michelle Wie over several years in prints. She is neither naïve nor foolhardy. Although someone might remind Morgan Pressel that she needs to learn to cope with the multicultural diversity of our country and that people come in all colors, religions, and background.

Lastly, the LPGA is full of Asian players from Asia, and it's more than likely that some professional Asian golfers will beat Morgan Pressel in any given tournament. How she will handle the defeat without being offensive to the winner's race and country remains to be seen. I'm sure Pressel had some unmentionable names for Birdie Kim when she won. I think being a good golfer is not a license to be consistently vindictive, mean-spirited, petty, and rude towards another golfer regardless of age or race or culture.

Michelle Wie has a putter. What she needs to find is a caddy. She is only 15 and has her father as a caddy. A first class golf professional she could work well with would be much better. Maybe a full time first class golf professional as her personal trainer/caddy? I think Nike could afford something like that. I think Nike would want something like that. And I think the rest of the LPGA should start thinking about playing for 2nd place.

Boycott Nike NOW !

STEPHEN. I am very concerned on behalf of my wife. Sometimes things like this can get out of control, and I want very much for Pressel to change her ways. Normally I am quite opposed to PC cultural sensitivity, but I believe that this is a situation taht calls for some cultural sensitivity of a non-PC variety.

When Michelle Wie was younger she had a run in with a certain LPGA member over the issue of walking across a players putting line. The Wies explained that they did not understand the rules and aksed to be cut a little slack. I read that something similar had happened with Morgan Pressal at age 12. The golfer in question talked to her privately, but Morgan just blew her off saying "Whatever." Since the golfer didn't see any gain in fighting with a 12 year old she did not pursue the matter at the time. I don't recall that the golfer in question was of Asian descent.

So let us start with the observation that Morgan Pressel appears to be a particularly obnoxious sports brat. Euro-Americans disaprove of such behavior, but they are often willing to condone it under the table. I very much doubt that this would be the case in Asian culture.

For Euro-American culture what Morgan Pressel is doing is looked upon as "boys will be boys". Now this would no longer be acceptable if Morgan Pressal were actually a boy--but she is a girl, and there are a lot of women who support girls doing things that were once acceptable only in boys--even when these things are no longer acceptable in boys. Men, however, may support Morgan because they feel threatened by Michelle Wie, and enjoy seeing someone do the "boys will be boys" thing to protect male perogatives even if that someone happens to be a girl.

Now we cross a racial line. What is marginally acceptable behavior for a Euro-American is totally unacceptable for Asians--and this behavior is directed at an Asian girl. For this reason I believe it is important to encourage less cross racial communication. Across racial lines people should be encouraged to shut up. Morgan Pressel is raising the bar as a far as cross racial nastiness from the golf community is concerned(I do not consider Chris Baldwin to be a part of the golf community, although I am glad he is a human being because I love animals)--but others who are older and should be wiser with cross racial comments that would have been much better left unsaid.

Consider Nancy Lopez. Question No. 1. Would you have said the same things you have been saying if Michelle Wie had been of your background--a young Hispanic girl who could play with the men? Question No. 2. How would you have felt if it had been some Anglo woman who had taken upon herself to make those statements to that young Hispanic girl? Perhaps you can honestly say yes to the first question, but I doubt very much that you would be happy in the latter situation if these comments were made by an Anglo who made no effort to consult and get the approval of the Hispanic Community before making these comments.

Although it seems that Nancy Lopez may be still antipathetic towards Michelle Wie, and will probably not give due consideration to putting Michelle on her team--she is now acting with reasonable decorum. Unfortunately the way she stuck her nose in Michelle's business helped establish a climate that encouraged Morgan Pressel to do the same with even less wisdom than that which Nancy Lopez showed.

Let us look at two ways of doing things. Michelle's way which is shut up if it does not concern you, and Morgan's way which is to mouth off about anything you want to. In this situation we can condemn Morgan as an obnoxious brat, or we can listen to what is being said. But if we listen to what is being said, we will only here one side of the story--because Michelle Wie does not engage in the kind of mudslinging that Morgan Pressel does. If we wish to listen to both sides, there needs to be somone who will respond to what Morgan Pressel has said.

Not enough press coverage of Michelle Wie's final round collapse to an 82 in the US Open. Reply. By Morgan Pressel standards her own collapse to a 75 was no different. Both started the day tied for first and both wound up losers. Tied for 2nd or tied for 23rd there is no difference.

What happens when Morgan Pressel does poorly? A lot less coverage than when Michelle stumbles. Indeed, I was shocked when I read that this year in the Womens Amateur was the 1st time since 2001 that Morgan had even reached the semis in a USGA event. From the press reports about Morgan, I had thought she dominated these types of event. Obviously Morgan has been getting extremely favorable treatment from the press. Who would have guessed that until this year, it was the girl who didn't know how to win who had more USGA wins than the girl who had learned how to win. And when Morgan did well at the US Open she got plenty of favorable coverage. Michelle Wie has gotten much more coverage than Morgan, but that coverage included her failings as well as her successes. There was also considerable criticism couched as supposedly friendly advice on how Michelle prepared herself--and in that regard, Morgan Pressel was portrayed as one of the prime examples of how things should be done. It is a situation that reminds me of the joke about the back-up quarterback being the most popular player on the team. Morgan Pressel doesn't like being the back-up--but it is she who was getting only positives in the press.

I suspect that Michelle Wie was not only happy that Birdie Kim won, but that she was also happy that Morgan Pressel didn't. Nevertheless, Michelle Wie in no sense went beyond the bounds of decorum when she joined in celebration with Birdie Kim. There is nothing wrong with congratulating a playing partner who wins a tournamnet. Of course, Morgan could respond by being particularly effusive in her happiness for Paula Creamer when Paula won the Evian and Michelle finshed tied for 2nd--as long as it was officially something positive directed at Paula and not something negative directed at Michelle.

Just watched MW on Letterman---she handled herself very well and indeed is very captivating---She did make it very clear her goal is the PGA---She says she drives the ball 310/320 and wants to add 20 yds in order to compete with the men---She truly is the Danica Patrick of golf---Her promoters are now going hypersonic and will surpass anything Tiger ever had---After all women cosmetics is a much bigger market than NIKE and Michelle is very feminine---Now all she has to do is prove she can beat Creamer or Pressel---Memo to Jim---I am surprised you did not say the PGA should start thinking about playing for 2nd place!

Like BOB and probably Wie fans, I also watched her on David Letterman. I must say for a 15 year-old, she conducted herself really well. When asked how the LPGA ladies have treated her, instead of saying anything nasty or about how their opinions vary on her, Wie replied "They're really nice." I have yet to read the Morgan Pressel article in SI, but as the old saying goes "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

I agree with BOB, with the dangling earings and her feminity, her promoters would definitely go up. It's just so incredible how big Wie's marketing potential will be. This girl has got what it takes to lure anyone into buying things: the look, the competitiveness, the drive to stand out, and most importantly, she's got the game.

What I don't get is how golfers can go out and say that Wie should play with amatuers and learn how to win. That to me is total BS. Granted she has yet to win an event, she has proven beyond a doubt she can play. With the summer that she had, it would be ridiculous to tell her to go back and play in amateur events. Also, without Wie, media coverage wouldn't be the same, and money for events wouldn't increase. So speaking out and telling Wie to play in amateurs events and her not belonging in pro-events, seem to me, inconceivable when she is bringing more revenue.

As for Wie going to the Solheim Cup, I guess she deserved it, but I wouldn't say it was wrong for Nancy Lopez to chose others. Wie is still an amateur and not part of the LPGA, that alone disqualifies her for the event. But, we have years more to watch her play it.

There is no doubt that Wie is not an LPGA member, and that the website for the Solheim Cup states "LPGA versus LET". But there is also no doubt that if Lopez wanted Michelle on the team, NO ONE, European or American, would claim that she was not eligible. It would be an easy pass on her LPGA membership question.

As for earning points, the only reason she did not earn points was because she is an amateur! As has been stated in Jennifer's blog and in many comments, if she had declared herself a pro prior to last season beginning (when points began accruing for this Cup), she would be ranked quite highly in the US Cup standings. And given that she only played in 14 tournaments in that time, there is no doubt that she is a slam dunk Captain's choice based on her results ON THE LPGA TOUR! Just because she didn't take the money for her finishes shouldn't disqualify the amazing results she posted.

There is no doubt at all that the US would stand a MUCH better chance with Michelle as a Captain's choice than with anyone Lopez will pick.

But Nancy doesn't care about winning. She cares about image and "paying your dues" and all sorts of other made up concepts. If she wanted to bring the Cup home, she would choose Wie and she would work hard to convince Michelle to take some time away from school to be a member of our team.

"People are getting all hot and bothered by Michelle's ability to bomb the occasional 300 yarder, but they are not focusing on the fact that her average driving distance is not 300 yards; it's around 270."

Yes Arnie, I am getting hot and bothered about Michelle because she is hittin 'em just about as long as Brittany Lincicome (LPGA#1).

There is no doubt in my mind that in 4 years when Wie is as old as Brittany she will be hitting longer.

Brittany Lincicome's 2005 LPGA Earnings is $112,191.00 and she has no victories and no top ten finishes.

I beleive Michelle's record on the LPGA Tour this year is better and will improve in 4 years.

Hot and Bothered? Yes!
Cool and Confident? Yes, also.

GUYS--Direct quotes from Michelle in ESPN the magazine say that she is planning to play in both the LPGA and PGA.

I'll post the exact quote if I can find my copy but she pretty much said " I'll be playing on the LPGA tour, but I also want to get a PGA tour card, I want to play both. I don't think its disrespecting anyone to sate my goals. "

The reason she was talking about the PGA on David Letterman last night because most of the questions were about her playing with the guys so it came off that she only wanted to play on the PGA tour.

She has definitely said many many times that she wants to play in the LPGA and the PGa.

So RELAX everyone--she'll be playing in both tours...

Didn't anyone notice that on Letterman last night when he asked her if she was going to turn pro soon, she said "yes!" Soon could mean on her birthday in October when she turns 16, and then she could make money playing the Samsunf World Championship a few days later. But the BIG money would come from endorsements, and that happens as soon as she turns pro.

BOYCOTT nike ! ! !

Nancy Lopez should select both Michele and Paula. The advertisers should demand it. Nancy Lopez is like Joe Paterno, the Penn State football coach, who believes that paying your dues is more important than winning, an attitude that shows complete disrespect for the fans.

How do the fans moilize to bring pressure on the advertisers and Ms. Lopez to pick the future of golf not the past?

ALL of you can say this while sitting on the sidelines and NOT being in the game. When you have the titles and experience Nancy Lopez has, maybe then you can open you mouths. You ALL are pathetic and need to get a professional title before judging someone who has been there. You don't have the first clue about winning or competing. Do what it takes to be a coach and then you can be an a$$.

I have a question regarding the qualification issue. Didn't Jenny Chuasiriporn make it in topthe solheim cup squad in 1998 as a amateur? correct me if I'm wrong

Wow-Alli

You even make less sense than Chris Baldwin--that is quite a feat !

chuasiriporn played in curtis cup which is women's version of walker cup. Wie also played in curtis cup last year.

Wow-Jen

Alli isn't even close to being in the same category with Chris Baldwin. I happen to disagree with Alli, but I see Alli's position as one that a sensible person might reasonably take.

Alli's argument, however, is badly flawed--and so is Nancy Lopez's position. What has Nancy Lopez done to pay her dues as a golf coach/captain? Does anyone seriously beieve there is no one with a more impressive record as a COACH who could have been chosen instead. Does anyone seriously believe that no one has paid her dues as a COACH more than Nanct Lopez. These captaincies are handed out as a way to honor veteran or retired golfers--they are not given to people who have proven that they know what they are doing.

I think the LPGA is contemptuous of amateurs. I think the USGA should reassess its position with respect to the LPGA. The Curtis Cup exemption into the Women's US Open for amateurs was just eliminated for last year's Open. NOW I believe it is time for the USGA to elimnate any exemptions into the Women's Open based upon how an athlete performs in non-USGA events. Pros could be exempt based upon their previous performances in the Women's US Open--but professional winnings would no longer be considered. I would not even consider wins in these non-USGA events as long as their are limits on the number of such events in which a player can participate without being a member of a Professional Organization.

Jim---I'm talking about Alli calling everyone here "pathetic", and not having any clue about "winning and competing"

Its usually Baldwin's M.O. to insult people when he can't make a constructive argument on his own....

JEN. I'm sorry if my response bothered you, I was just being playful in my reply. Basically I agree with you--but I see a big difference between somone who wants to defend Nancy Lopez, and someone who wants to attack Michelle Wie. I agree it would be better to avoid using words like PATHETIC in most cases, but I would certainly like to use such a term to describe Baldwin. Indeed I think I used a worse insult earlier when I said I was glad Chris Baldwin was human--because I love animals. But again, I did not intend any serious criticism of you, and I apologize if my playfulness disturbed you.

Hey Jim! :)

No need to apologize :)
Its no probelm at all - I knew you meant no harm by it...:) :)

Want to hear something that is really pathetic--
Baldwin somehow managed to squeeze in a dig at Michelle Wie in his article about Greg Norman !!

Jen,
I noticed that. The guy is absolutely obsessed with Michelle. He must eat, drink and sleep Michelle. What a creepy character!

Jen

It's better than that. Baldwin was squeezing in a dig against you and me--Michelle Wie message board posting zealots...Reminds me of something Spiro Agnew might have said. Is there any way to get Chris Baldwin replaced like we did with Spiro Agnew?

On the subject of Jack Nicklaus, here's what I would like to see. One of those charity affairs pitting Jack and Michelle against another pair of golfers such as John Daly and Laura Davies.

I suspect Greg Norman is wrong about Jack and Tiger in their primes, but right now I doubt that Tiger at 65 will be any better than Jack is now. He almost made the St. Andrews cut at 65. It may never again happen that a man and a woman 50 years apart can each come so close to making PGA cuts.

Does anyone know what Jack thinks about Michelle Wie? My guess is that he would be very supportive.

There is one way you can compare Tigger to the rest of the "greats" from the '60's & '70's. Put the equipment of that era in Tigger's hands and see if he is capable of hitting 300 plus yard drives and sub par rounds, consistantly. The old men can't go back to Tigger's age, but the old equipment is still around. Then compare stats.

JD
When you talk about distance you talk about club head speed, do you know if Jack swing fater than Tiger when he was young?

To poster 'sm' - I hate to be the one to break this to you, but "clubhead speed" is certainly not the ONLY variable that controls the distance of a golf ball's flight. Sure, it is an important factor, but it is by no means the only one.

** Michelle Wie:
" I'll be playing on the LPGA tour, but I also want to get a PGA tour card, I want to play both. I don't think its disrespecting anyone to sate my goals. **

I presume you meant "state" Wie's goals. But considering the media obsession with Wie, perhaps "sate" is inadvertently appropriate! ;)

-George

If you want Lopez to make some sort of outside-of-the-rules exemption for somebody, shouldn't Morgan Pressel be the one getting a special invite?

Pressel is the woman who won the U.S. Women's Amateur this week -- not Wie -- right?

-George

from Allan Durning

** Nancy Lopez should select both Michele and Paula. The advertisers should demand it. Nancy Lopez is like Joe Paterno, the Penn State football coach, who believes that paying your dues is more important than winning, an attitude that shows complete disrespect for the fans. **

[boggles]

Umm ... Isn't Paula Creamer in good shape to *earn" a Soldheim berth through having enough points?

-George

John D, why did you keep spelling Tiger "Tigger"?

Some educated people will catch you using "Tigger" as a derogatory term.

Are you a racist? If not, why acting like one?

George-

That was Morgan Pressel's first USGA championship at age 17 --

Michelle already won one when she was 13.

Michelle also finished in the Top 3 at 4 LPGA tournaments.
2 of these 4 were LPGA majors.
She's also finished ahead of Annika two tournaments in a row.

Most of Morgan's tournament wins are in the USJA--which has VERY WEAK competition.
Michelle is very hyped by the media, but she can back it up at least.
People are knocking Michelle to somehow build up Morgan Pressel -but if you look at Pressel's achievements they're not anything to write home about.

The only time she ever gets press is when she rips apart Michelle in the media--pretty sad if you ask me.

You know what-- its a VERY GOOD thing that Chris Baldingwin hates Michelle Wie--he is a total jinx !

Writes about how great Paula Creamer is---she ends up triple bogeying a hole at the British Open and goes from 4th to 15th !

Writes about how great Tiger will do--he bogeys a ton of holes and barely makes the cut !!

Poor Morgan Pressel will probably lose in the North and South Amateur championship now....

James [Visitor]

George-

* That was Morgan Pressel's first USGA championship at age 17 --

Michelle already won one when she was 13. *

Wasn't that a junior amateur tourney? Or was it a women's publinx? I can't remember.

That wasn't the U.S. Women's Amateur, right? Like I said I didn't see Wie's name on the list.




* Michelle also finished in the Top 3 at 4 LPGA tournaments. 2 of these 4 were LPGA majors. *

Didn't win, though, right?

* She's also finished ahead of Annika two tournaments in a row. *

And in one of those, Michelle finished behind Paula Creamer, right?

* Michelle is very hyped by the media *

You are being realistic -- unlike some of the more frightening people who post here.

* but she can back it up at least. *

How, exactly?

* People are knocking Michelle to somehow build up Morgan Pressel *

And I'd argue that some folks have to knock down Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel and a lot of other talented young golfers to justify the lack of wins by Michelle Wie.

* -but if you look at Pressel's achievements they're not anything to write home about. *

What about Creamer? Can you at least concede that for Creamer to win two pro tournaments -- including one in France where Creamer chopped up Annika head-to-head in Round 3 -- at the age of 18 is a historic accomplishment? Or is being the youngest LPGA winner ever "nothing to write home about?"

* The only time [Pressel] ever gets press is when she rips apart Michelle in the media--pretty sad if you ask me. *

Really? I thought Pressel got some media attention when she won a championship the other day.

-George

I finally got to read the Morgan Pressel piece in SI. It didn't seem quite as bad as I thought it would be with the anti-Wie comments spread throughout the article. Sort of diluted the effect. BUT I did notice a few points. There was great attention played to all her wins, but no mention of the fact that at the time she had no USGA Tournament wins. The press coverage she got was totally one sided in her favor, at least if you don't read between the lines. I had not realized that she walked out on her father after his wife died and went to live with her grandfather. Grandparents are notorious for spoiling their grandchildren--perhaps her father did not want Morgan to act like a spoiled child. Could that be the unexplained reason for a falling out between Morgan and her father?

And then on a more frivolous note, there is the matter of Morgan Pressel's SAT scores. SI mentioned that she got a 1350 which is impressive. Elsewhere I read that she got a 790 on the Math section, which is extremely impressive. Nowhere did I read anything about her Verbal score. I can, however, do the subtraction, and the score comes out at 560, a rather average score. Talking about the math but not the verbal in this case is obviously part of an effort to present her in a favorable light--so what is so wrong if the press does the same thing for Michelle Wie?

I think it was at the British, or possibly at the Evian that Michelle was asked the Morgan Pressel question about whether she felt an obligation to promote women's golf. This was an unfriendly question that she faced, a thinly veiled attack on Michelle Wie for playing against men. Has anyone ever asked Morgan Pressel any similarly unfriendly questions? For that matter, Michelle Wie discussed her final round 82 on the Letterman show. How would Morgan Pressel like being asked about one of her worst rounds in an interview?

Michelle also spoke only of the positive acceptance she received on both the PGA and the LPGA tours. Wouldn't it be nice if Morgan Pressel could pick up on the idea of saying only positive things about other people?

George--if you compare what Morgan Pressel or Paula Creamer acheived at age 15 --they do not even come close to what Michelle Wie has accomplished.

People have already listed how Michelle has fared at the pro tournaments and her other accomplishments this summer.

By the way Michelle has won a USGA tournament at age 13--not the U.S. Womens Amateur, but the U.S. Women's Amateur Pub Links--I believe ? It is still a USGA championship , however, which means Pressel is just catching up to what Michelle Wie did at 4 years older.

Paula Creamer never accomplished much until this year. When Creamer was 15- NADA !!

Several points came to mind as I read this blog and others: 1) those people who want to justify Balwin's antics, Pressel's bad behaviors on and off the greens with her golf and SAT scores, then they must be really proud of themselves when some white Americans to mouth off trashy intolerance of people of colors in the 21st century. It's the kind of American win-or-die obsession in this country that have already produced many psychotic parents of children playing in any sports. Some parents have threatened and harmed coaches, umpires, and even kids from the opposing teams. Let's not forget the father who killed another dad just because of his kid losing.

2) The ones that are obviously against Wie will spout off their attacks against her, no matter what. It is not clear that they're really for Pressel and Creamer (white girls) or that they are just against people of color in general and especially the one who garners attention for crossing the race and gender lines. These folks will always find some excuses or reasons to justify their base instinct to hate non-white for daring to cross their defined lines of what is acceptable and what is not. That is the reason for those who think Pressel is OK, Balwin's and his cohorts' transparent racism are also justifiable because Wie's lack of win entitles them to gleefully tear her apart, then justify that they're "only" discussing golf statistics.

3) These blogs draw some public readers' participation and it is telling how some folks will find ways to attack Wie. If Wie had been white, these same people will have praised her accomplishments to date. Read the European golf blogs and you'll find that people in Europe do not have the kind of racially motivated fanaticism as some Americans do. It is sad and embarrassing that this country is made up of multi-colored immigrants from all over the world, and particularly among those who once suffered injustices in their ancestors' homelands turned out to be the most bigoted people with a high level of racial intolerance.

Is it so difficult to just cheer for a young Asian American golfer to play exceptionally well and also excelling in school enough to aim for Stanford University?

To "Visitor", I am not sure that there is racial motivation in the Wie bashers. I am not sure there ISN'T, either, but I think it is too easy to simply write off the ridiculous comments made by the likes of John D to racism or sexism. Your last line is the best point, though - it's fun to see what a young player with seemingly unlimited potential has done and might continue to do. I don't see the value in tearing down what she has accomplished and glorying in how she might turn out to be only ordinary. For some people, I guess there isn't enough rain or darkness in their world, so they look for the shadows.

George,

You are drifting into unbridled aggressiveness. The issue at hand is the Solheim Cup. Creamer will easily qualify on points, and rightfully so. No one is saying Wie should get Creamer's spot on the team.

The two captain's choices, however, are the interesting situation. The case for Pressel to be a choice is quite thin: she won the US Amateur, and finished second at the US Open. Good recent play, but not a two year stretch of quality combined with good recent play, which is what a captain's choice usually combines.

Wie, on the other hand, has played in 14 LPGA tournaments in the last two years, which is about one-third, or less, than anyone else just outside the top 10 in Solheim points. In those 14 tournaments she would have amassed enough Solheim points to rank 14th on the list. Combined with her recent excellent play, as witnessed by her finishes in the four majors plus Evian, and Wie has more than just a strong case. If this were the Ryder Cup, there would be no doubt she would be a captain's choice. If she were already a pro, there is no doubt she would be a captain's choice, or it would be a MAJOR snub if not.

Because she is an amateur, and Nancy Lopez has problems with people taking the Bobby Jones route and competing and beating pros without taking the money, she will likely not be picked. And we, as the U.S., will field a weaker team than we should as a result.

That is the topic - and none of your posts give any good reason why it should be OK for Lopez to ignore Wie as a candidate.

I can give you a good reason why Nancy Lopez should ignore Michelle Wie as a candidate. If Nancy did pick Michelle as a member of the team, there would be incredible pressure to play her in a match against Annika.

In recent tournaments, even when Michelle is playing at her worst(the US Women's Open) Annika could not beat her. Michelle has now finiashed ahead of Annika two tournaments in a row, including one where Annika led by two strokes with one hole to play. Nancy Lopez knows very well that there is a very good chance that Michelle would beat Annika in a Solheim Cup Match--and for Nancy Lopez that is a very good reason for not putting Michelle Wie on the team.

I think we have been missing an imprtant point that Jennifer referred to in her blog. Koreans will not be dominating the Solheim Cup.. Why? This is a competition between the LPGA and the LET. But Korean or for that matter Mexican born members of the LPGA are not allowed to compete. There is an ugly little racist requirement that only ladies born in America are allowed to compete for the LPGA. If Nancy Lopez does not wish to pick Michelle Wie, fine. What will be her excuse if she does not pick Lorena Ochoa? Is she simply going to sit by and accept a no Mexicans allowed rule for the Solheim Cup without at least trying to put up a fight.

June - Absolutely

Well- John D -- you and Chris Baldwin are perfect for each other then...

I was right!

Chris BALD-win-- just jinxed Morgan Pressel!

She lost in the finals yesterday by bogeying the final hole!!

Jennifer Mario should learn that Nancy Lopez cannot name Michell Wie to her Solheim team because the RULES say it is for LPGA members only.

Morgan Pressel is refreshing that she is willing to be truthful and not PC as so many phony people are now.

People should be patient a let Michell Wie get some experience and learn to win so that she can have a LONG career and not burn out before her time. Only time will tell but for now I doubt she can beat Morgan P or Paula C head to head in any match. They have learned how to win like Tiger and others before them. I hope Michelle acheives her potential but I fear she may nmever reach her potential because not only her parents but the golf world did not let her mature fully.

If ignorance is bliss there are some very happy people on this blog. The Solheim is patterned after the modern Ryder Cup. It is American born LPGA players against European born LET players. This was done for good reasons to benefit and promote golf with good sportsmanship. There is nothing racial or discriminatory about it. If someone wants the players from other countries like Mexico, Korea, Taiwan etc then create a womens version of the Presidents Cup. We should be thankful that the Solheim family created this competition in 1990 and stop whining about who it does not include.

I wish more people had seen Morgan Pressel and Michelle Wie play in the same group in a tournament. They get along very well, chat with each other and have no obvious problem with each other. The negative things come from the media asking them questions that they both try and answer honestly. The negative things I read above are shocking and stupid. They have each chosen a path for their career and we will all hopefully get to see them play a lot of golf and it will be obvious that they are both talented and will each win a lot of tournaments. The adults who are writing some of the iognorant mean things should give them both a break and enjoy the great competiton that will mean great golf in the years ahead. Analyzing SAT scores and making racist accustations show how small minded some of you people really are. Enjoy the golf and give them a break!!!!

Joe--Check out the previous stats...

HEAD TO HEAD --MICHELLE WIE HAS A BETTER RECORD AGAINST BOTH PAULA CREAMER AND MORGAN PRESSEL.

JOE

Either make the Solheim Cup the LPGA vs. the LET with no birth requirement, which would be no contest. Or simply make it American born vs, European born like the Curtis Cup but without the amateur requirement. I think it makes the LPGA look bad to have their name directly associated with a competition that sounds so close to whites only.


I agree that people should be patient with Michelle Wie. If you want to ctiticize what the golf world is doing with Michelle Wie, that is one thing. BUT PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY YOU ARE CRITICIZING HER PARENTS. It seems to me that giving Michelle Wie time would mean not putting pressure on her to win. By emphasising Michelle Wie's losses, her critics are certainly not easing the pressure on Michelle Wie. People who act like only winning counts for anything and a second place finish in an LPGA Major is nothing ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PUTTING THE MOST PRESSURE ON MICHELLE WIE. and I wish they would stop.

I believe that all the criticism of the Wie family is an attack on Michelle Wie mad in the hopes of putting so much pressure on her that she will break. The idea that these critics are trying to help her is nothing but a smokescreen.

Michelle Wie can't beat Morgan Pressel head to head in any match? Do you really believe that? Michelle Wie gets to choose the course? What about the course used in the John Deere Open? Could Morgan Pressel beat Michelle Wie over that course? If Morgan gets to choose the course, she should propbably be the favorite, but if Michelle chooses the course, Morgan won't have a chance.

Joe,
"I wish more people had seen Morgan Pressel and Michelle Wie play in the same group in a tournament. They get along very well, chat with each other and have no obvious problem with each other. The negative things come from the media asking them questions that they both try and answer honestly." That's what I thought as well, grandpa Krickstein even said their on friendly terms. And that's what bothers me about Pressel. If she is supposedly friendly with Wie why the snide remarks. She gives me the impression of someone immature, jealous, and selfish. And Wie never dissed Pressel as far as I know.

Jim,
It seems your hang up with "whites only" metality clouds your objectivity. We will be able to see in time if the traditonal approach is better or the non traditional route of Michelle worked. I am sure their respective records in a few years will tell the tale. Unlike other sports where polls pick the teams or players, here they will get to play it out in competition and we should all enjoy it.

Alan,

I hope you get to see Morgan interviewed and not just read what the media writes. If you do I would be surprised if you still had the same opinion. She does not speak in a tone that the written versions take.

To keep the records straight, Michelle Wie is American, not Korean.

Also it has been pointed out that the Solheim cup website states that a player must be an LPGA member.
Could someone confirm that the actual Solheim Cup rules or constitution actually state this. Forget the website.
Alan M

Alan, the web site says LPGA versus LET, but this is not at all a problem. Wie has competed on the LPGA for the last two years, she is American and a woman. If Nancy Lopez said she wanted to make Wie a Captain's Choice, it would be immediately accepted by the Solheim Cup organizers and the European team. How could anyone complain? The organizers would love the added attention, the European team would never complain about having to compete against an amateur (how scared would that make them look?), and no one on the LPGA can complain, because the top 10 are chosen on points earned during the year - if you didn't earn enough points to be top 10, you have no room to complain that you should be on the team.

So Lopez can make this happen very, very easily, by simply saying she wants to ask Wie to participate. Even she is not trying to hide behind the "LPGA versus LET" fine print. Her excuse is that it would be "unfair" to other LPGA members to choose someone not officially on the tour.

Look for the Solheim Cup constitution all you want - Wie "status" is not an issue.

Solheim Cup is ONLY for MEMBERS of the LPGA and the LET. Michelle Wie is not a member of the LPGA. She played with exemptions. She certainly would not be accepted by anyone as she is not eligible, "status" is an issue. Why do people these days have so little respect for rules? Her time will come and when it does, hopefully she will dominate as many think she can. Nancy Lopez is trying to be nice about the issue.

JOE Michelle Wie is not a member of the LPGA today. Do you know of any rule that says she could not be made a member of the LPGA the day before the Cup starts? Is there any rule that states how long a player must be a member before competing?

Jim we will see Michelle as a pro soon enough. Of course there are requirements to get an LPGA card, Q school, turning pro and/or winning a tournament on the LPGA AFTER turning pro. She probably is not interested in turning pro yet so she can play in some of the amateur tournaments like the Mens Publinx next year.

I think it would have been better to have also competed in Junior amateur tournaments and play in the Junior Solheim but even there she did not do what is necessary to qualify. Last year she played on the successful Curtis Cup Team and seemed to enjoy the Team invovlment.

Perhaps this is part of the price one must pay if they choose a non traditional career path.

Michelle is the epitomy of good manners...no matter what criticism is thrown her way...and what's wrong with dreaming big? In this world of conflict, she is like a breath of fresh air that makes all of our days better no matter what comes out of the vitrous mouths of her critics...Go Michelle...good people love you lots!

Somebody made a comment that Nancy was too "old school"
to put Wie on the team. That is the problem with people today!! Giving freebies and shortcuts, When did it become old school when a person believes that a player should do loke every other player and EARN a spot on these teams.
Yes Wie has a ton of talent.... but she has by NO MEANS
proven herself as a professional player. Also, enough is enough! It was very interesting and amusing at first to watch
Wie compete against the men. She can't compete with them
bottom line! Hey, give anybody enough chances and they are
likely to get LUCKY and make the cut. Hey Wie come on YOU are not the "ONE" to break barriers between the "PGA" and the LPGA.