Michelle Wie at the US Open--the men's US Open
Michelle Wie had a big day today. First, she made it through local qualifying for the US Open?notice I didn?t say the US Women?s Open. Well, okay, she didn?t just make it through, she won medalist honors, beating out the other 40 competitors?including her own former coach, Casey Nakama. As my good friend Putt4Par would say, that’s pretty cool beans.
According to the USGA, this makes her the first woman ever to get through local qualifiers. No, she?s not in the tournament yet. She still has to play a 36-hole sectional qualifier in New Jersey on June 5.
She shot her even-par 72 on the Palmer Course at Turtle Bay Resort on her home island of Oahu. Yes, that?s the same Palmer Course at the same Turtle Bay Resort where Ashley Prange just beat up Jeanne Cho 5 and 4 to win Big Break V.
If Wie makes it through sectionals, she’ll be playing in two US Opens within two weeks of each other. She’s already accepted an exemption for the US Women’s Open that will be played June 29-July 2nd. It’s looking to be a good summer for golf fans.
Wie also announced today that she?ll be competing in her first European tour event later this year: the Omega European Masters. Hopefully the big sparkly watch logo on the first tee won?t distract her too much.
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363 comments
If she passes then, that will be a REAL big deal.
As people have been saying, LPGA is missing out on opportunities to cash in on Wie. Increase the exemptions from 6 to 9 or so. I certainly would like to see her play more in general. What's the big deal with 6 ? The excuse was that they didn't want youngsters to get burned out with too much competition, but Wie is already taking on competition left and right all over the globe.
Keeping my fingers crossed for her to make through the sectional. Imagine the hype, crowds, worldwide TV audience, etc. if she's paired with Tiger & Phil for the first 2 days!!!
Jen when you said "If Wie makes it through sectionals, she'll be playing in two US Opens within two weeks of each other" I was thinkig that if she just makes it through the first 18 holes and qualifies to go to the second 18, that'd be great. But to be amongst the 30 qualifiers would be phenominal. *Dang, Baldy would bust a gut on that. Think of all the crow he'd have to eat, lol*
As for the big sparkly thing, have you noticed that it has been missing in her last few pix? She took it off cause it was bothering her arm when she was playing.
Not only that but it seems to me that not much has been distracting the young lady lately.
That girl is dead serious about her run at the US (mens?) Open
All I know is, that if these 2 things happen, then sports fans worldwide will go "ape s--t".
You've really come a long way....
I'm glad Michelle will tee it up at the Omega Masters. There is really only one golfer in the field she needs to beat, the dress wearing Frenchman Jean Van de Velde who put forth such an outstanding performance at the 99 British Open.
She really needs to humble this blowhard.
MW's drive on the 17th seemed to have been her only real nightmare shot. The description of MW hitting back toward the tee to get out of trouble and then hitting the green close to the pin sounded like pretty good "course management." Can't wait to see the video.
It's a stretch, Ahhsoo, but suddenly I want to think about the 2007 Master's, too.
Another question: why is it that Michelle is never forced to qualify for any women's tournaments? Why is she always the exception to the rule? I'm sure in getting an automatic exemption, some hard-working woman is getting knocked out the tournament field.
Looking forward to seeing how Michelle gets on in the next stage. When does she play in the sectional qualifying?
AGE 10:
Shoots 9-under-par 64 at Olomana from 5,400 yards.
At 10 years, 9 months, 24 days, is youngest to qualify for USGA amateur event (U.S. Women's Public Links), loses in first round.
AGE 11:
Becomes youngest to win Jennie K. Invitational (by nine shots) and Hawai'i State Women's Stroke Play (by two). Also becomes first woman to qualify for match play at the 93rd Manoa Cup, loses in first round.
AGE 12:
Shoots 83 with 10 penalty strokes ? in rain and 30-plus mph winds ? in Takefuji Classic at Waikoloa Beach to become youngest to Monday qualify for LPGA event. Misses cut.
Wins first-round Manoa Cup match, then loses to Del-Marc Fujita in second round on second extra hole.
At U.S. Women's Public Links, becomes youngest semifinalist in history of USGA-run amateur tournaments. Wins State Open Women's Division by 13 shots over LPGA pro Cindy Rarick.
AGE 13:
Shoots 1-over 73 to tie for 47th at Sony Open qualifying, beating 49 men.
Ties for ninth at Kraft Nabisco Championship, an LPGA major.
Youngest to make cut at LPGA event, the Kraft Nabisco Championship (third-round 66 equals low amateur score for LPGA major).
Youngest in 108-year history of U.S. Golf Association to win an adult USGA event, the 2003 Women's Amateur Public Links Championship.
Youngest to make cut at U.S. Women's Open (2003).
Youngest to win Hawaii State Open Women's Division.
AGE 14:
Youngest to play in PGA Tour event, the 2004 Sony Open in Hawai'i.
First female to shoot in the 60s in a PGA Tour event (2-under-par 68 in 2004 Sony Open in Hawaii).
Youngest U.S. Curtis Cup player (2004), wins both singles matches.
Youngest to win Laureus World Sports Academy Award (Newcomer of the Year).
AGE 15:
First amateur to compete in LPGA Championship (finishes second to Annika Sorenstam)
First female to qualify for adult male U.S. Golf Association championship, the U.S. Amateur Public Links (defeats three men and reaches quarterfinals).
Turns pro
AGE 16 Professional Golfer:
Second female to make the cut in a men's PGA sanctioned event and the first in 61 years.
FIRST female to enter the United States Open Championship and progress to the sectional level.
The resume keeps growing.
Just found out that if she qualifies for the US Open, she cannot be paired with Tiger. Tiger (2005 British Open Champion), Michael Campbell (2005 US Open Champion) and the reigning US Amateur Champion will be paired for the 1st 2 days.
David, Michelle gets exemptions from qualifying for women's tournaments because she is in the top 30 for current winnings (16th in earnings for only 2 LPGA tournaments entered) AND just happens to be ranked 2nd in the LPGA/Rolex world rankings.
David, Michelle is scheduled for sectional qualifying on June 5th & 6th at the Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, NJ.
Just found out that if she qualifies for the US Open, she cannot be paired with Tiger. Tiger (2005 British Open Champion), Michael Campbell (2005 US Open Champion) and the reigning US Amateur Champion will be paired for the 1st 2 days.
David, Michelle gets exemptions from qualifying for women's tournaments because she is in the top 30 for current winnings (16th in earnings for only 2 LPGA tournaments entered) AND just happens to be ranked 2nd in the LPGA/Rolex world rankings.
It didn't hurt that she took a second and third at two LPGA Majors last year or her five top five finishes.
There was no way the USGA would keep the second best female golfer and the first best playing in Men's events on the Planet out of the US Women's Open.
* the LPGA has been completely silent on MW, as it she doesn;t exist.
* I am reminded of a PGA player (Greg Norman? or Nick Price?) who said at a time in wihch PGA players were sick of fielding questions about Tiger that the PGA tour should thank Tiger each and every day for the gigantic purses on the tour that have come from the media circus that is Tiger. Deja Vu all over again...Before too long, the LPGA will be plastering MW's name everywhere to catch all that extra revenue...
* My guess is that MW will not have as proportional an effect on the LPGA as might be indicated by being competitive on the pGA. The LPGA courses have litle rough, wide fairways and gigantic flat-ish greens. FOr the same reason that Tiger rarely goes low in lower-tier events, MW will not have a chance to showcase her talents in most LPGA events...Here is hoping that more LPGA events get played on PGA style layouts...to separate the women from the girls...
* I wonder if what we are seeing here is akin to what the Negro Leagues felt with the success of Jackie Robinson. I mean, once JR crossed that line, the sun started to set on the existence of the Negro Leagues...if the LPGA doesn't respond intelligently they will suffer...
* I have been severely disappointed in the reaction of alpha males, inclusing some on the PGA and European pGA tour. Come guys, be MEN!! If you cannot beat MW then salute the girl for a job well done. All this whinging and protection of turf is embarassing. Gutless.
* The reaction by LPGA players has been equally enbarassing. Cristie Kerr's comments that she would only play a PGAtour event for charity is a joke. The jealously is almost made-for-TV!!! MEOW!!! MEOW!!
* More than anyone else, BJ Wie should be the diggest concern of MW. Whether he has the sense to retrest into the shadows of supportive Dad is my biggest concern.
* Final comment: the jealously and whinging coming from the brainless northeastern sports commentators is laughable. The girl is freakin' 16 years old...a girl...and her record thus far BLOWS doors on what Tiger accomplished at the same age. Un-freakin-believable.. RIght on!!
I have followed her game since she was 10 years old. Each step has been more impressive thatn the previous. Here is hoping for a successful sectional 36 hole performance!! WIll be AMAZING to watch her beat a lot of guys at Winged Foot...and watch the reaction on some faces...MAN!!
Out of the 750 players, only 85 qualify I believe.
In short any aspiring player must have the two best rounds of one's life to qualify. Par will not cut it; most likely those qualifying scores will be 5 under or better. I estimate there may be 20 spots for grab at New Jersey out of about 130 competitors.
If Michelle makes it, that would be one of the most amazing feat for a female golfer to ever have done. Her odds? I would say 5%. I would not bet the farm.
My guess she will be at the cut line +/- 3 strokes.
"* I wonder if what we are seeing here is akin to what the Negro Leagues felt with the success of Jackie Robinson. I mean, once JR crossed that line, the sun started to set on the existence of the Negro Leagues...if the LPGA doesn't respond intelligently they will suffer..."
=================
Lord, Pete, let's not get (more) carried away. Read here for my thoughts on the Jackie Robinson analogy.
Hey Jennifer are you adding chapters to your book as we blog here?
05/16/06 @ 06:44
I'sd bet on that, One-putt. And between you and Pete, you have both summed MW up pretty well.I haven't read Marks take on the JR part but will get to it.
As for Todd, you just keep believing what you want. If memory serves, you were of the opinion that she most likely wouldn't get through the regionals either. As O-P syas, Michelle just keeps chipping away at her dreams. In spite f your negativity, Todd, even you must admit she is doing amazingly well for a 16 year old and a -FEMALE... lol. Well, if you are honest you will but I have my doubts about you.
Oh, and thank you Jennifer, for that kind mention in the article.
Dang good article and some pretty obvious truths there.
I still think MW is going to open up a lot of venues to younger girls, women and minorities through her efforts. The gender issue seems to be a very touchy issue. Just go read some of the forums and blogs that are online.
This forum (http://www.thegolfchannel.com/discuss )is full of hard nosed donkeys with an attitude toward race and gender although most claim otherwise.
Read some of the comments from hidebound misogynists who make outrageous statements and claim to the Wie warriors as Baldy calls us.
Mostly I just defend anyone ( male or female) the right to be included in any sport or venue if you can qualify and the rules are followed.
Of course there are some issues that are really complex and hard to judge but I never said I was perfect. I just hate unjustifiable attacks based on age, gender or race.
Even though i am caucasion ( well, lets just say it, I am a wasp) I have been discriminated against so I know how that feels and I don't like it. Experience is a great teacher. Walking in the other person mocassins for a while teaches you some pretty hard truths.
So, go Michelle, follow that dream in spite of the Baldwins and the Toddcommish and the Alexs in life. They really don't count for much in the grand scheme of things.
You clearly did not read my posting. Instead, you saw Jackie Robinson and MW in the same sentence and went, "Oh no, not again..."
Now read carefully, son. I am questioning the reaction of the LPGA to MW. Now run with me for a second...if MW were to have success on the PGA (run with me, OK...I am speaking in hypotheticals here!!), then where would it leave the LPGA? Why watch? Who cares if these "girls can rock?" I would be watching the wunderkind go up against the best ion the world, wouldn't you??
So now to the JR analogy. Soon after JR broke the colorline, Black Americans themselves lost interest in the Negro Leagues!! So I ask, would PGA success of MW and a those who are likely to follow (i.e. other athletic girls who have been groomed as well as she has) pose the same challenge to the LPGA as the sucesses of Jackie, Larry Doby and the other early Black MLB players did to the Negro Leagues???
Don;t be so quick to jump to the completely and totally erroneous interpretation of my post as you did. You must have failed reading comprehension! :)
I am not "comparing" MW to JR in the magnitude of their accomplishments. Not at all. What JR did under his circumstances was akin to Atlas bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders....hence his premature death.
No, all I am talking about is her poential affect on the commercial viability of the LPGA versus the commerical viability of the Negro Leagues post-JR.
My feeling that she poses great risk to the LPGA. But from great risk comes increased reward. But to get such a reward, the LPGA needs to step up to the plate. Their reaction has been pitiful and speaks volumes about their ambivalence to her phenomenon...and the disparaging comments coming from the players??? Well, it reminds me of what came out of the mouth of David Ogrin in 96 and Fuzze Zoeller in 97 (after the Masters)...these comments went beyond irritation...
She will never be an elite PGA golfer, and hundreds if not thousands of PGA, or former PGA players never have been a top 10 PGA golfer either. So, there is nothing to be ashamed of. There have been hundreds of PGA players in the PGA who haven't won a single tournament in the PGA despite of so many years of being a member. Does that mean that they were useless, and were wasting their time? No, they did it because they loved to do it, and because they yearned to improve their game everyday so that they could hopefully reach that top if somehow they can figure everything out. The journey is just as important as the destination. Don't focus on the destination, focus on the journey. Those are the words of MW's parents to Michelle, and they have a point. Meanwhile enjoy the ride of watching MW, because this most likely will be a once in a lifetime situation.
Oh, who am I kidding, I'll keep just scanning them for the word "vagina."
Then under growing pressure, the Ivy leagues and other male only schools around the country went co-ed. All of a sudden young women could attend Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Princeton, etc. I would argue that the effect on the Secen Sisters has been dramatic. What is left is shell of what once was. And these colleges have gone on to be somewhat politically self-selective, less interested in science and policy subjects, and heavily weighted toward gender studies...At the same time, the Ivies get the creame d' la creme.
We have in effect a two-tiered system, a major and minor league. No one can credibly argue that by the early 1950s, the Negro Leagues turned into something like a farm league for the Majors rather than as a viable competitive league, as the AFL was to the NFL.
We all agree that MW is a phenom. However, many LPGA players are, dare I say, "soft." Before any one gets offended, look at the LPTA in tennis. Martina Navratiolva, Steffi, and the Williams sisters completely trasnformed to game from genteel, cute, and elegant to one of power and athleticism. Chris Evert was the last of her kind. IMHO, there is no doubt that Michelle, as incredible as she is, is the first of many to come. Tall, technically perfect and somewhat athletic. Bigger and stronger atheletes are sure to follow.
And so if MW and those to come all have decent shots at making Monday qualifiers at the PGA, will the commerical and institutional viability of the LPGA remain unshaken.
THe Negro Leagues did not survive what followed JR. The Seven Sisters did survive co-ed integration but became inferior in many ways. And one other...Black Colleges, with the exception of one or two, have been devastated by integration.
This type of challenge to the LPGA will not be trivial as sponsors look to follow Michelle.
LOL!! I love a good sense of humour...
Another unspoken reason for MW is of sourse her sex appeal...borderline illegal given her age...but undeniably under the surface.
I recall that when Anna Kournikova turned 18, there was a noticeable sigh of relief on just sportswriter/commentator. I don;t think the LPGA really knows what to do here. Although to their credit, they are marketing the likes of Natalie Gulbis quite well...
Next few years, everything MW will be a great lens through which to view sports business, gender and sexuality...
Actually, Pete, I was just looking for an excuse to show people that column I wrote. ```
Oh, who am I kidding, I'll keep just scanning them for the word "vagina."
You sly dog, lol
Just a question. Are there any rules from preventing a male player from entering an LPGA event?
05/16/06 @ 14:26
Yes. The rules for entry into the LPGA are that you must be born a female.
oops, i can only post every 120 seconds, rofl. sorry about that.
I don't understand that last comment of Todd's. Most golfers would give almost anything just to be able to play in the US Open and shoot whatever. Why should Wie be any different? Look at old Tom Kite, still willing to go through qualifying - and he's a past champion!"
Shanks I think everyone underestimates Michelle at one time or another. There are folks who think she is "just" trying to make a cut and play in a men's tournament. I'm sure Michelle has a different opinion inside when she tees it up with the men; she wants to win the whole damn thing.
Monday in Hawaii Michelle tamed a difficult course under windy conditions to defeat everyone who showed up to qualify that day. Shooting even par (according to some who witnessed the event) was like shooting a 65 under normal conditions.
Number 17 was a hole where in the past Michelle would have let the match get away from her, but not now. When she decided to fight and reverse the ball back onto the fairway she showed a professional maturity to her play. The next shot a mid-iron to six feet and the saving of par was the defining moment in the match for her.
I never underestimate this young lady.
1. Creamer defends Sybase Classic presented by Lincoln Mercury
2. Webb toasts second win at Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill; Seven-stroke victory sets tournament records for lowest score and largest margin of victory
3. 2006 Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill tournament summary
4. 2006 LPGA Statistical Leaders
5. 2006 ADT Official Money List
6. Duramed Futures Tour - Pipeline to the LPGA Tour
7. This week - Sybase Classic presented by Lincoln Mercury, Wykagyl Country Club, New Rochelle, N.Y., $1,300,000, May 18-21, 2006
8. Next week - LPGA Corning Classic, Corning Country Club, Corning, N.Y., $1,200,000, May 25-28, 2006
9. LPGA News and Notes
No mention of another Milestone for women golfers with MW's win.
I for one would love to see her win a couple of tournaments in the LPGA this year, just to rub their collective noses in what they are ignoring.
It would be fun to be a fly on the wall in the locker room of the LPGA biddies and hear what they all really think, lol
Despite being "hadnled" by the best, my guess is that IMG and others will be well behind the 8 ball. Chances are that intra-locker room politics will rear its ugly head to blindside MW. In the next couple years, it seems almost inevitable that an incident or two will cause her to get visibly shaken. Just imagine her getting on the wrong side of a Dottie Pepper!!
Despite being "handled" by the best, my guess is that IMG and others will be well behind the 8 ball. Chances are that intra-locker room politics will rear its ugly head to blindside MW. In the next couple years, it seems almost inevitable that an incident or two will cause her to get visibly shaken. Just imagine her getting on the wrong side of a Dottie Pepper!!
Sorry for my horrible typing...
Lord, when was the last time that woman said something nice about MW without qualifying it with a zinger or a needling little put down.
And as long as Morgan is Pepper and Lopez's pet, MW can do nothing right.
if you want to know more about the specifics on MW's sectionals, this is the wrap up story of the 2004 sectionals held at the same place: Canoe Brooks country club in New Jersey. In summary, 139 compete for 22 spots. It should be pretty much the same this year.
http://www.usopen.com/2004/press/canoe-sectional.html
* there are no crappy qualifiers. Scoring is irrelevant as the conditions and courses vary.
* Pairings?? Huh? It is stroke play, friend.
* What IS scary is her upside. She is still only 16 with very little experience on tough courses and with tough greens. With experience, except to see her at Sectionals each and every year. To think otherwise is ludicrous.
* Can she play in the Master's? Well, very few men actually do. Really a non-issue as it is the dream of playing in the Master's that motivates. If she does not or never wins a PGA tour event, she can hardly be deemed a "failure." If so, they should start calling all PGA non-winenrs a failure.
* Can she be a "factor" on any men's tour? What do mean by "factor?" She has already held her own against the likes of KJ Choi and Adam Scott, two pretty studly PGA players. She is 16...She can contend. In many ways the PGA tour may be easier. Why? the red carpet treatment will be there. the NW tour is a much tougher grind and lifestyle.
* "...make a few cuts and that's it..." LOL!! You are funny. To do so means by definition that she is PGA material. Who on God's green earth says that she HAS to win the Master's to prove she belongs? What moronic sentiments.
* No posting I have ever seen deems her a golfing god. She is an amazing phenomemnon to be celebrated by both sexes and all races; she is the best talent in women's golf since perhaps The Babe (now whether she realizes that talent remains to seen...OF COURSE); her credentials at 16 are the best the world of gold HAS EVER SEEN, male or female; she in an inspiration to half the planet--a girl kicking loads of male butt; she is technically beuatiful to watch; she will reach Tigeresque proportions in terms of her marketing appeal (like finding Google at $10/share and knowing its potential); Her track record thus far is amazing for a 16 year old--performance in USGA, LPGA, and Men's events...the wins will come, put look at all the top 10s in tough tournaments and look at those sub 70 rounds at age 14/15...remarkable; she is modest, attractive and smart--the ideal role model for this morally corrupt and hopelessly clueless generation of kids; she is ticking off loads of grumpy dinosaurs like yourself and prissy women like MP who think the world shold revolve around their definition of golf; she is a global inspiration.
A "God?" Please. Someone to watch and enjoy, absolutely.
Once again, the parallels between MW threads and discussions of a young Tiger Woods are uncanny. So much pent up bitterness...
Face it, the world of golf is no longer fat, chain smoking white dudes with feel. It is global, multiracial and all about atheticism and science. And while you stew over yet another aspect of culture gone "awry," I will enjoy my own memories of watching a young Tiger shoot an amazing 63-64 on the weekend at Pebble in 1997 and looking at the throngs that followed him. MW will and should get the same treatment.
Clearly it will be tough, but she controls her own destiny...and needs only one good day...
Must be you believe she can't drive her tee shot to a reasonable part of the fairway? or
Must be you believe she can't hit her irons to some reasonable part of the green? or
Must be you believe she can't putt worth a damn?
All the above?
Do you believe Michelle will repeat what she did in the Sony Round 1 because the weather will be the same as Day 1.
I think she will repeat what she did in the Sony Round 2 because the weather will be the same as Day 2.
I'll keep my fingers crossed.
If you don't like what you see, wait a while and it'll get worse.
We actually get some wierdos that argree with you.
I think attending college will help her mature greatly as an individual, and be able to handle the bickering, and jealousy that it inevitably will come. I can already sense a lot of jealousy and resentment by the media and players for her endorsements. Once again, I am sure a college education will allow her to handle these petty issues smoothly.
Wie knows she's not expected to qualify, but I bet she thinks she has a good chance (to think otherwise would be foolish). And if she makes it and shoots two rounds in the 80s, then so what? She'll be back to try again next year, another year older, wiser, and experienced.
When Michelle was confronted by Morgan's U.S. Women's Open qualifying comments she simply said, "She has the right to her opinion and has the right to say whatever she feels."
I gather that was her way of saying "opinions are like A-holes Morgan and everyone has one".
I don't think Michelle really gives a hoot what these gals think about her and the same goes for the men. She will just let her game do the talking.
Her theme song should be Sinatra's "My Way".
you said
AGE 16 Professional Golfer:
Second female to make the cut in a men's PGA sanctioned event and the first in 61 years.
FIRST female to enter the United States Open Championship and progress to the sectional level.
THis is not correct. Se RI Pak made the cut in a Korean mens tournament 2 years ago. ALso it is not a PGA event.
YOu all are totally crazy with this. MW shot the highest score of any qualifier location on a rather easy course. She will not get past the next round in any event. But Congrats on another achievement for a 16 year old boy or girl.
FOr someone to compare this to Jackie RObinson is ridiculous and shows that person knows nothing of racial discrimination. MW has been given special treatment all along the way.
Just listening to the local chat on the driving range and the putting practice spot, I get the idea that there are a lot of young females that are enthusiastic about the idea of being able to challenge both the LPGA and the PGA. I really believe, just from hearing these comments, that the LPGA should really pull their collective heads out of the sand and recognize that the younger generation ( minus the Morgan Pressel minority group) are more interested in pushing the envelope of ability than being a big cheese in a small cheese factory like the LPGA.
It seems that the Alexs of the world are outdated and outnumbered by those youngester willing to push farther,faster and younger than ever before. Now realistcally, not many of them can or will follow MW or go as far but that won't stop them from trying.
The genie is out of the bottle and there is no way of putting it back. Either accept it or get ready to move aside because it shows no signs of stopping for the doddering flower sniffing group.sniffing
At 14 and 15 (which is AMAZING, male or female), she missed PGA cuts by one stroke. That means she beat roughly 25-40% the field each time. If I had the time, I would go through those tournaments and list the number of PGA players she finished ahead of...most of whom were NOT having "nightmarish" days...Even with Choi shooting a 65 in the 3rd round...that was more a great round by Choi than any knock on Wie. Goodness...what does the girl have to do, shoot 59-59 on the weekend at the Master's??
* Whether she can be a factor on the weekend remians to be seen...but so far (really the only perspective relevant here) is that she is more capable than any other 16/7 year-old male/female on the planet to have such a claim...according to your (il)logic, no child alive has a chance to ever play on the PGA tour and that within ten years there will be no PGA tour!! She is the most promising young player in the world, male or female. Within two years, she will have the length, touch and experience on the greens to hold her own regularly against PGA players. 99.99% of her supporters think that anything beyond that would be wonderful but forsting on the cake. Yet you and others base your arguments on the need for her to be a multiple-winner to be a PGA success!!?! Man, thank goodness you did not raise an athlete or serve as a coach. "Hey, kid, you will NEVER make it...I don't care if you are ALL-American or could beat top PGA players on any given round...you are overrated and undeserving..." LOL!! Nonsensical tripe. She is a G-I-R-L...who NOBODY who have thought would ever be able to break 80 from the PGA tips. Face it, when Laura Davies shot 82 an a European event, just about every od fart thought, "Good girl...but see? you don;t belong here." Well, a 16 year old girl, a "frail" Asian girl at that, has broken 70 twice already at at 14 and 15 years of age. Damn. if that is not the most wonderful story in golf since Casey Martin.
* I cannot speak for the fanatics out there. FOr those that think she WILL win the Master's, well, that is a bot far fetched, as it would be for ANYONE. But damn, let the kid enjoy her dreams! It has done wonder for her so far. Were you ever an athlete or artist with dreams?
* She beats men all the time...men with loads of experience on the PGA and NW tours. Similarly, men beat her regularly. Both illustrate my point. She can hold her own. And in a couple of years when she is more physically mature, she will be hold her own more consistently.
* Your growth of males argument is nonsensical. Compared with PGA tour players, it is MW's growth that will reduce the physical disadvantage she currently has. That was my point.
* THere are thousands of strong boys who can crush the ball 330+ ALREADY...what they lack is touch, putting, control, consistency...
* You fail to understand...Men have been in competition with each other in sports forever. THere are few "soft" records out there. LIttle room for large leaps in the most competitive sports. Track, swimming, golf, baseball, etc. The improvements are incremental. 100m dash men's world record falls in increments of .01seconds. With the same equipment and same age, Tiger does not hit the ball much farther than Jack did. But with girls and women, we are witnessing improvements by leaps and bounds. Far more soft records. MW is being groomed as would a male prodigy. That is why she is light years ahead of her female competition at the same age. And as a special talent she can hold her own against many top PGA players.
* Of course, if there were 20 "supergirls" playing against 20 superboys, I would think that the boys have an advantange, albeit a slight one. Golf is more than power, hence the scores of PGA players whoa re under 5'10" who have done extremely well on the PGA tour. But, yes there will be an advantage to males on physicality. But I tell you this, if the girls are groomed as MW has been, the teaching will more than neutralize the inherent power advantage of men. that is why we call it golf. But my point here is that the old image of male versus female golfer is being replaced with one that is more "fair," male golfer verus atheltic female golfer...and with a smaller gap between them.
* Golf is funky. But here is the deal. If MW played for Stanford (her dream college and Tiger's alma Mater) and if she played on the men's team, she would hold her own and win likely iwn a couple of titles. This scenario was unthinkable even 10 years ago, where the "Ladies" were more likely to be girly-girls (with a few exceptions like Inkster and Sheehan who are tough) playing from short tees and playing far easier courses. With Wie, the golfing worls has a glimpse of what "can" be: "women" playing from the tips as athletes and playing on tough courses. That alone will be an amazing development.
* BTW I am happily married with two girls and a newborn son with no "interest" in MW but with a desire to see her get a fair shake (and her due) from a world that I know is filled with countless old boys networks who protect their intersts in a decided unmanly way. If your boys get beat out by a girl for a spot on the boy's golf team, then so be it. Hopefully, they and you won't whinge, but instead work on their game and earn their place...much like MW's has deserved the attention she has received...
Now enjoy that gated community of yours and get your index down so you can apply for a future Open qualifier!!! Cheers...
Here is an interesting article from the NJ Star-Ledger.
It appears that there is a small panic at the Canoe Brook club over how to handle the potential crowds...their normal crowd at a qualifier is 500. Their "record gallery" is 200. They suspect they may get a few more than that when Michelle shows up.
The club manager says that the PGA will have to handle the crowd contol end, the PGA says Canoe Brook is used to crowds.
Everyone better get on the same page fast, as crowd control issues normally are planned for over a 90 day plus planning horizon and they only have three weeks;-)
Canoe Brook just found out they are hosting a Superbowl in three weeks and it looks like they don't have a clue on how to do it.
Talk about a windfall for the USGA.
I see the upcoming sectionals going smoothly without a hitch, especially since the usga already noticed the large crowds at last year's pub links where she advanced to the round of 16.
With celebrity, comes secret admirers who can then become potential stalkers. Simple as that. If I were a parent, that would be my no.1 concern. I would be scared of an incident like that of what happened to Monica Seles where she was stabbed in a tournament.
One-Putt, since Bubbles is the architect of her own career and has been since she turned thirteen, since she has the business acumen to handle the finances of her far-reaching empire, and since she has mastered the arts of diplomacy and public speaking, was it necessary for her to hire her advance security team and strategically place them? Or did she risk delegating such a critical task to her agents and handlers, the ones that she and she alone hired three years ago?
05/18/06 @ 08:13
Alex, sometimes you absolutley astound me with the stupid drivel you can come up with.
Why not just go and watch and stop being such a large pain in the posterior. If there was a Jerk of the year Award, you'd be a shoo in as a winner.
Now be a nice lttle guy and FRO!!!
mrsmallrain, What is your opinion of the recent hike in the price of fish in Bangladesh?"
I have a comment on that subject Alex. It depends on the season and what type of fish are available. The price changes between 10 to 60 Taka per kilo during the course of a year on Milkfish for example.
Al Gore will blame this rise in price on the Bush administration as he takes his success at inventing the internet on to conquer global warming.
One-Putt, since Bubbles is the architect of her own career and has been since she turned thirteen, since she has the business acumen to handle the finances of her far-reaching empire, and since she has mastered the arts of diplomacy and public speaking, was it necessary for her to hire her advance security team and strategically place them? Or did she risk delegating such a critical task to her agents and handlers, the ones that she and she alone hired three years ago?
Ah the life of a Golf Superstar, she couldn't possibly handle all those things herself Alex. She has people to take care of these trivial chores. William Morris handles most of the tasks you list in order to protect one of their most important clients.
Now really Alex how would you expect Michelle to study for her AP exams in math and history, if she was burdened with running her court and the responsibilities associated with being a Golf Princess.
Surely you jest.
You ll definitely qualify for the tournament too.
Best Wihes from
All womens.
Get ready for the MW Network coming to a cable provider near you.
One-putt: If it did (MW Network) - I would watch it - I already had to "bump" up my satellite three levels so I could get the golf channel, just so I could watch the events MW was in (that were not carried by ESPN)!"
If she pulls off a win somehow in June, look for the Golf Channel or ESPN to spin off another network Toto: The WM....
By the way Toto, you wouldn't be from Kansas would you?
That's what I do so enjoy about your blogs: they are so perceptive - yes, I USED to be from Kansas - I now reside, relunctantly, in Florida but, ah, hard to give up all of your roots :}
The chances of MW even getting into the Open, as much as I would really like to see it, are, admittedly, slim to none, with proably more emphasis on none, however, it would really be great and it does present an wonderful scenario - both opens, wow!
I though Karrie Webb's career was waning until she holed a wedge at the Kraft and started a whole new career.
Golf involves some skill and a whole lot of luck. When you fire your irons on line at the target strange things happen.
If Wie does get through, it would be rather startling (in a good way).
Some additional perspective, from the age of 13 to the age of 15 Michelle's PGA Tour statistics are about 3.5 years ahead of Tiger's. That is to say at 15 her stats were better than Tiger at 18, but not so good as Tiger at 19.
So at 16, if she continues the trend, she should make it to the US Open, but not make the cut there. (At age 19, Tiger withdrew at the end of the second day with a total of +19 to par.)
Or...she may not...savor the anticipation.
Few of us think Michelle Wie will ever be competitive with THE VERY BEST on the PGA. She would like Top 10 in a tournament, I doubt she has her eyes on Top 10 on the PGA money list. Right now she probably should be a long shot to make the Open this year--but she will probably improve, and I will confidently predict that she will make the Open in the future. Indeed, before the sectionals pick any one 16 year old boy and I will predict that Michelle Wie will make the Open before he does. I may losem but I think I am making a good bet.
A blind man could see that Michelle has done very well on the LPGA tour since she first started as a 12 year old in 2002. Her performance in LPGA major championships and other tournaments has been outstanding.
She appeared in 22 events and garnered 9 top ten finishes. If you extact the 3 cuts she missed in 2002 and the one cut in 2003 Michelle has ended up in the top ten after weekend play in nine out of eighteen events she appeared or fifty percent of the times she played a complete event.
Now find how many golfers male or female end up in the top ten, fifty percent of the times they tee it up in a professional golf tournament.
It ain't a long list believe me.
Since the start of 2005 Wie is Top 3 in 3 out of 5 Women's Pro Majors--and also Top 3 in 3 out of 5 in lesser LPGA events. That is medalling or a podium finish 60% of the time."
That doesn't mean an awful lot to the high handicappers hanging out here Jim. My index is less than four and it impresses the hell out of me.
Still wasting your time on these bloggs.
I thought you said no more about 6 months ago.
I honestly cannot understand why such an intelligent guy as you wastes time on this blog. Can you explain?
Do you get your kicks from taking the piss out of other.
It must be nice to be so superior. Not
"Laughing at someone else is an excellent way of learning how to laugh at oneself; and questioning what seem to be the absurd beliefs of another group is a good way of recognizing the potential absurdity of many of one's own cherished beliefs." Vidal, Gore.
Alex. Is this true?
Alan M
The notion that she should first dominate junior golf and then dominate the LPGA and then and only then try for the PGA is simpletonian at best. Hey Michael Campbell, please, stick to golf and not to strategy or tactics. At this point in her development, playing AJGA tournaments will hurt rather than help her. What about LPGA events? Run of the mill events won't really help her too much. Courses are too easy: too short, no rough, too wide, and greens too easy. MW should, however, play in top flight LPGA events: majors and other top events.
No, the only way she will continue to develop is to play at events at or above her level. This means Nationwwide events on up. ow will know she is playing at her level? When she is making 50%+ cuts, sneaking into top 20 and perhaps top 10 on ocassion. BY this standard, she is currently playing at a level above the LPGA. BEfore you doubt me, look at her record in the LPGA majors 9which include performances when she was 13 and 14. She has clearly earned her #2 ranking.
So herein lies the dilemma for a woman golfer. She is at a level that is above the LPGA player and below the PGA player. Solution, play as many sponsor exemptions at the PGA and EPGA as she can and play in a max of 8 LPGA events a year, all at the top tournaments. Her current schedule is still too heavily weighted to LPGA events.
Side note: Currently Tiger has 48 PGA victories and 9 Int'l Zvictories; Phil has 29 PGA victories and 1 Int'l victory; Vijay 25 pGA and 22 Int'l wins. But...if you were to weight them in terms of strength of field and prestige, Tiger's dominance would be even more obvious. Tiger ONLY plays the tough tournaments. Phil and Vijay often play the lesser PGA events to tune up or to rack up victories/points.
OK, back to MW. What I recommend above pertains only to the objective of MW developing as a golfer. If she instead wishes to maximize her hardware, then play the weaker events on the LPGA, a la Phil and Vijay. If she wishes to rack of titles, then play the lesser events. If she wished to rewrite the history books her and now, then she should haev stayed in junior and amateur golf. If she wishes to make as much money as possible, then all I can say is that her PGA quest has made her 10 times as marketable as even the top PLGA players. But if she wants to develop her game to be as good as possible, then she NEEDS 2/3 of tournament golf to be with the PGA and EPGA and for her LPGA events to remain the majors and elite tournaments.
The WORST thing she can do is to listen to boneheads such as Chris Baldwin and alike and stick to the LPGA...her game will SUFFER. Two exceptions. One, if she gets hurt or in a rut, then playing a lesser event will help build confidence (time-tested method). Two, if the LPGA starts upgrading the level of courses they play (and the tees & greens), then the LPGA can help develop her game.
Final note: Annika was a great golfer before Colonial. But after she played Colonial she has been unbelievable (hopefully without steroids as she is looking rather manly in physique ever since), last few weeks excepted. And Annika herself has repeatedly said how great Colonial has been for her game.
So Michelle, the only question before you is what kind of golfer do you want to be? Personally, as a purist, I hope she chooses the path of becoming the best golfer she can be, yet with some minimum number of LPGA tournaments to help the LPGA learn how it needs to set its bar higher for women's golf.
The notion that she should first dominate junior golf and then dominate the LPGA and then and only then try for the PGA is simpletonian at best. Hey Michael Campbell, please, stick to golf and not to strategy or tactics. At this point in her development, playing AJGA tournaments will hurt rather than help her. What about LPGA events? Run of the mill events won't really help her too much. Courses are too easy: too short, no rough, too wide, and greens too easy. MW should, however, play in top flight LPGA events: majors and other top events.
No, the only way she will continue to develop is to play at events at or above her level. This means Nationwwide events on up. ow will know she is playing at her level? When she is making 50%+ cuts, sneaking into top 20 and perhaps top 10 on ocassion. BY this standard, she is currently playing at a level above the LPGA. BEfore you doubt me, look at her record in the LPGA majors 9which include performances when she was 13 and 14. She has clearly earned her #2 ranking.
So herein lies the dilemma for a woman golfer. She is at a level that is above the LPGA player and below the PGA player. Solution, play as many sponsor exemptions at the PGA and EPGA as she can and play in a max of 8 LPGA events a year, all at the top tournaments. Her current schedule is still too heavily weighted to LPGA events.
Side note: Currently Tiger has 48 PGA victories and 9 Int'l victories; Phil has 29 PGA victories and 1 Int'l victory; Vijay 25 pGA and 22 Int'l wins. But...if you were to weight them in terms of strength of field and prestige, Tiger's dominance would be even more obvious. Tiger ONLY plays the tough tournaments. Phil and Vijay often play the lesser PGA events to tune up or to rack up victories/points.
OK, back to MW. what I recommended above pertain only to the objective of MW developing as a golfer. If she instead wishes to maximize her hardware, then play the weaker events on the LPGA, a la Phil and Vijay. If she wishes to rack of titles, then play the lesser events. If she wished to rewrite the history books her and now, then she should haev stayed in junior and amateur golf. If she wishes to make as much money as possible, then all I can say is that her PGA quest has made her 10 times as marketable as even the top PLGA players. But if she wants to develop her game to be as good as possible, then she NEEDS 2/3 of tournament golf to be with the PGA and EPGA and for her LPGA events to remain the majors and elite tournaments.
The WORST thing she can do is to listen to boneheads such as Chris Baldwin and alike and stick to the LPGA...her game will SUFFER. Two exceptions. One, if she gets hurt or in a rut, then playing a lesser event will help build confidence (time-tested method). Two, if the LPGA starts upgrading the level of courses they play (and the tees & greens), then the LPGA can help develop her game.
Final note: Annika was a great golfer before Colonial. But after she played Colonial she has been unbelievable (hopefully without steroids as she is looking rather manly in physique ever since), last few weeks excepted. And Annika herself has repeatedly said how great Colonial has been for her game.
So Michelle, the only question before you is what kind of golfer do you want to be? Personally, as a purist, I hope she chooses the path of becoming the best golfer she can be, yet with some minimum number of LPGA tournaments to help the LPGA learn how it needs to set its bar higher for women's golf.
You're 16, you're beautiful & you're right
First, she has pulled it off so far Alex and has only added a couple of events over her 2005 schedule. This looks like a schedule that will work for her on into college. Why join a tour and hitch yourself to their wagon Alex?
Second, being a Supermodel was never one of Michelle's goals, it is just a byproduct of her Nike contract and her new contract with a Korean clothier. Since she recieves more money than a Supermodel to wear their rags, I guess the title fits Alex. Hey when you are over six foot and beautiful, you can make anything look good.
Third, advanced placement classes are "high school" classes Alex and I never stated she would be "Summa Cum Laude" of her graduating class, just that she would graduate. Perhaps she will have bestowed upon her the title "most likely to succeed" by her classmates.
Fourth, based on her performances in the events she plays in Alex on the LPGA tour I think we can all assume she will win more than a few in the future.
Annika played in her first U.S. Women's Open in 1992 taking low amateur honors at 24 over par in a tie for 63rd place. Annika was 22 years old at the time. Three years later in 1995 at the age of 25 she one her first of several U.S. Open titles. So what would you have said Alex about Annika in 1992? I imagine the same things you are saying about Michelle right now. The difference is Alex, Michelle's worst showing at a U.S. Women's Open was a tie for 39th place when she was thirteen years old and appearing in her first Open also. Now I don't know which planet you live on Alex originally, but on this planet Michelle "done real good" so far. Annika was nine years senior in age to Michelle and could not equal her performance.
Based on Michelle's past performances here are my predictions for the rest of the season:
Michelle will finish in the top five in all three remaining LPGA Majors this season. Lorena turns 25 and will win her first major. Her golf mojo is just too strong now.
Michelle will make history and be above the cut line in at least two of her remaining men's events and finish in the upper half of the order in one appearance.
Michelle will make history as the first non-member of a tour to earn playing professional golf over a million dollars in one year, this year.
I also predict Michelle will return to Punahou for her senior year in the fall and be listed as "the most likely to succeed" in her senior yearbook.
After all I am the Nostradamus of the Golf Blogs. :-)
1. Michelle
2. Footloose
3. and fancy-free
4. Hey, that's illegal
5. Keep an eye out for Alex
6. Somebody call the Gucci people
7. May the best man win
8. Simple Simon says:
9. Lift your right foot up
10. Who wants to go to the bathroom?
11. Signed, sealed, delivered
12. Having a Kodak moment
World Renowned Philanthropist
Worldwide Corporate Spokeswoman
World Class golfer on any Continent
Loving devoted daughter
Supermodel good looks with a warm and ?bubbly? personality
Renowned globe trotter who speaks four languages
Well able to handle a demanding professional career while maintaining excellent grades in her studies
Alex I just can't think of a finer role model for the young women of today to emulate than a down-to-earth Superstar like Michelle Wie.
YEs, it will be demanding, but nothing worthwhile is easy. For this reason, running the table in junior tournaments is not worthwhile for her at this stage in her development. I was in Hawaii when she advanced in the all-male Manoa Cup at age 12. Amazing. She cannot and should not look back.
LOL!! No she won't be going to Stanford and earning summa cum laude (btw, something Stanford does not award), but should she decide to attend Stanford, I am sure the admissions committee would make certain allowances. But if she does get in, don;t expect the world--cut her some slack. The Chris Baldwins of the world will predictably write, "MW does not deserve to be at Stanford. She only occasionally breaks the median of the grad distribution. She should instead have first gone to a junior college and learned to dominate there. After that, she can try out a Cal State and perhaps a UC. Only when she has a 4.0 in electrical engineering and can compete for the Rhodes should she attempt to go to Stanford. And even then, she should expect resentment and bitterness from all those students who have more talent but cannot land that second-round interview at Goldman Sachs..."
Please, focus people, focus...if MW wants to develop as a golfer she HAS to play tougher courses under pressure. And in this day and age, that means against men--and the better ones at that. If she is so fortunate to attend Stanford, then BRAVO and give her the slack she deserves and the space she will need. And please, don't expect her to do more than fit in there. After all the attention she now gets, she might enjoy ebing in the middle of the pack...
But if she does attend college, classes in public speaking, drama etc. would make more sense than business. She can hire an MBA, she doesn't need to be one. Also classes in the dramatic arts would probably allow her to fit in as just another student to a greater extent than other areas--even if it is not too much.
What is the biggest complaint against the US tours by International Players and some US players who like to play overseas?
I believe it is the minimum number of events they are required to play for the tour and the fact they must get permission from the PGA/LPGA to play outside the tour.
This permission to play in another tour comes at a price some players are not willing to pay. The player will have to commit to play another event on the PGA/LPGA tour over the minimum. For Ernie Els, Reief Goosen, Henrik Swenson, Greg Norman and a host of other International Players this may not be an acceptable trade off and they are considering jumping off the Tour Chuck Wagon and playing from outside the tours.
Now toss Michelle Wie into the mix who not only wants to play International events along with regular tour events without respect to gender or tour. Michelle may becoming quite the heart breaker as she grows up, but the PGA/LPGA are hoping she does not become known as a tour breaker. Remember Ernie Els is a close friend and has been mentoring Michelle for a few years now. He advised her to turn Pro when she did and I would say he is now "stirring the pot".
So her are some more predictions for Michelle over the next five years:
Michelle will attend and graduate from Punahou.
She will not join a tour and play anywhere she can get into the field.
The LPGA will vote to increase sponsors exemptions for players outside the tour. The pressure will come from event sponsors, broadcasters and the public who want to see Michelle play. ADT, State Farm and Rolex will also demand that players from outside the PGA/LPGA tour are included in the rankings, with money earned in any of the tours events counted.
Michelle will attend Stanford and major in economics. Why you might ask? Because she said she would and it makes business sense. Michelle's sponsors would be willing partners in "The Education of Miss Wie". Remember college students and their parents buy tons of Sony and Nike gear. This will also limit her exposure and keep the mystery in play for the public. It will ultimately provide an excuse for not joining a "tour".
Michelle will continue to make history and change the world of professional golf as we know it today.
She is the Cold Fusion of professional golf and the catalyst of change. Her Google web hits are up over a million from two weeks ago while rising to over over 3,000 news hits. Believe me there will be some server crashes when she plays in June.
So come on Alex, give me your best shot old friend.
So her are some more = So here are some more
Note:
Greg Norman although not actively playing on the tour was included because of his war with the PGA on this subjevt.
One-Putt, One important facet of 16 year old Michelle's life that you Wie-nuts are loathe to touch upon is that she has yet, at least to my knowledge, been smitten by romance, you know, Dan Cupid, Eros, etc. What's that you say? BJ and Bo won't allow such a diversion? Her career will leave no time for such trivialities? Her schedule will be far too hectic; Mother Nature won't have a chance to interfere with Bubbles' march towards immortality? Yeah, right."
I don't know Alex maybe she has a few things to accomplish right now Alex. She has spent a lot of time with adults since she was twelve years old and perhaps has difficulty relating to young boys, she did say after all she thinks boys are silly.
Don't worry Alex I'm sure Michelle is not a lesbian or a high school trollup. It might surprise you to know that Korean women tend to marry later in life at an average age of 25. They want to attend college and work for awhile as they check the stock for a mate. I wouldn't expect you to understand Alex, it is a cultural thing.
http://www.mylpga.com/boards/showthread.php?t=975
One-Putt, it would be ludicrous for the LPGA not to increase Michelle's exemptions for next year. The LPGA should be more flexible in this regard, especially when that player shows the capability to handle that need. And you're right when you said that sponsors and fans alike would be exerting the pressure to make this a reality.
One-Putt, it would be ludicrous for the LPGA not to increase Michelle's exemptions for next year. The LPGA should be more flexible in this regard, especially when that player shows the capability to handle that need. And you're right when you said that sponsors and fans alike would be exerting the pressure to make this a reality."
Tournament Sponsors want Michelle in the field in men's and women's events. It is quite simple really, revenues are up across the board when she plays and their out-of-pocket expenses are lower. Ginn and SBS as sponsors were quite miffed at the LPGA when they didn't offer up a couple more exemptions for Michelle. Yes it would be ludicrous Wayne if the LPGA continues to "bite the hand that feeds them".
Nancy Lopez might have had a network broadcast her orange juice event if Michelle were in the field.
We don't need no license to practice out West. If you have the dough, just tee it up and let it go.
Licensed in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and DC to do what? You don't bother to mention that yourself, Dear Alex.
As for my professional qualifications and my assets, they are what they are, whether you believe it or not. I am quite certain I exceed you in one regard, and I am at worst a near equal in the other. But you won't believe that either. Immaterial to me, I only mentioned anything about myself because you asked.
As for my counsel to you, I never expected you to actually listen, but I thought I should try. You do very little of either (listening or trying to help). Come to think of it, you are probably a surgeon. Cut first, ask questions later.
Ah, but now you are getting me to say nasty things. Good night Alex, and sleep well. I am sure you will, as it's your time of day. As Simon and Garfunkel once said, "Hello darkness my old friend." And we'll all see you back here, harping away tomorrow.
Alex is a really funny guy. I am glad that he is now recognising Bubbles talent. Having probably realised that she is a fastastic player, he has now decided to grasp at straws and predict her to consentrate more on boys.
Alex, when I was a younger I too found members of the opposite gender and was certainly distracted from golf. Every player goes through this. However, please don't pin your hopes on this.
Even if she had a bad result or two, it is not a permanent condition. Let me tell you, in golf if you don't take it completely seriously there is no hiding place.
If Michelle were in a football team, bad performances could be masked by the overall quality of the team, but in golf, there is nobody going to carry your mistakes.
So basically, if you are distracted too much, you get immediate feedback, there is no hiding place and no kidding yourself.
That is why I think there is absolutely no chance of boys affecting her game.
Just one question Alex. Why is it you think it should affect her more than others.
I think it will be the same for her as any player, but given her clear ambitions, I think she will stay pretty well focused on her goals and her golf.
By the way, I'm just curious. What do both sides of the Wie fence think should be her GOAL this year; win an LPGA event or make the cut at a PGA event? I think we all agree she's capable of doing both, but most of the "discussion" revolves around what would represent "success".
You have just caused a 10% drop in alumni giving to Old Blue.
You call yourself a "Wie skeptic." But I ask you, you are skeptical at what? From a purely objective standpoint, she has been without doubt, the world's best ever 13, 14, and 15 year old golfer, male or female. At 16 and beyond she will have stiff competition. Tiger won the first of three US Amateurs at 16. But at this point, her record for her age has been remarkable. Being skeptical over her accomplishments up until now shows more than anything how far Univ. of Michigan has fallen in prestige than any logical critique of MW's performance up until now.
Are you skeptical of her ability to play with the boys? Again, maybe less mickey mouse and more statistics at Michigan would have helped. She is taller than the average PGA player. This should enable her to preserve her swing arc and clubhead head spped quite nicely going forward. While she regularly hits 300 yd drives, they say she has another 20 ayards or so in her, given current equipment. This drivign ability is probably in the 40th percentile of PGA players. She is fairly limber and neither a smoker, drinker, or partier. this should enable the peak of her career to last longer than the average Tour player. She is less likely to pull macho crap on the course. Probably 1-2 strokes per round. By all accounts, she is pretty intelligent. Punahou is an excellent school and she would likely fit right in with an Ivy League crowd (sorry, this does not include UM). So she is unlikely to make dramatically foolish jock mistakes in handling her finances. By playing tougher PGA courses, she is finally starting to miss greens on the right side and avoid dreaded three putts. Had she stayued in junior golf, she would have masters the large flat greens and would be hopeless on PGA undulations...less and less the case. Finally, for a 16 yeard olfd Korean girl, she is remarkable confident in public. She is far less of a manufactured good than Tiger was at the same age. Good for her. SO quite frankly, the girl is fare more likely to gain on her peers and age-group than fall by the way side. Her numbers are genuine, gathered from all the toughest women's tournaments and men's pro events. Her female rivals, such as Morgan Pressel, spent a year too long in junior golf and filled up her Bottom line, over the next few years, there is no reason to get skeptical over her prospects. During the next few years, I think it is quite reasonable to expect a coupld of top 25's, journeyman numbers for sure, but there are millions of golfers worldwide who would give their right nut for a a top 25 finish in a PGA event. Beyond that would be beyond comprehension.
How about from 25-35? This will be tough, as it has been for any players. Look at Sergio Garcia. As his body changes, so too must the mechanics of his swing. Undoubtedly, MW will face similar challanges. It is inevitable, male or female. She has two other issues to deal with: physical maturity and future motherhood. On the former, one never knows what Mother DNA has in store for us. A girl I grew up with had 40+ Double D's in 7th grade. Poor thing. Others are a flat as a board and can stay that way forever. On the latter, just look at Juli Inskter, one of my favorite golfers. So freakin' tough. The match-tough mind of a Steffi Graf. But there is condiderable evidence that suggests that female athletes get stronger after childbirth. FInally, there is motivation. She will be worth nine figures within 10 years time. Does she have the hunger of Tiger? Nope and no else has as well. But I can see her career hitting rough spots during this period. Although her lows should be balanced otu witheven higher heights as her experience will probably give her a few victories on its own. However, by the time she is 30, she will have to many that all the current hype was in hindsight reasonable. A top 25 or two her would also be erasonable to expect.
Beyond 40? Who cares. By that stage it is frosting on the cake.
So no reason to be skeptical...
Dr. Pete
Logic University
At 16 and beyond she will have stiff competition. Tiger won the first of three US Amateurs at 16.
*****************************************
Pete,
At 16, Tiger won a BOYS US Amateur which is just for under 18's and really isn't comparable to what Michelle has achieved.
At 17, he won the BOYS US Amateur again, but he could only reach the last 32 of the MENS event.
At age 15, Michelle reached the last 8 of the MENS us amateur publinx. So she definetely ahead of where he was at 17 years of age.
At 18, Tiger won his first MENS us amateur and that was his first really really big achievement.
3 boys amateurs in a row, before that were very good, but they were just against BOYS. The MENS Amateur was a huge deal.
Pete said:
At 16 and beyond she will have stiff competition. Tiger won the first of three US Amateurs at 16.
*****************************************
Pete,
At 16, Tiger won a BOYS US Amateur which is just for under 18's and really isn't comparable to what Michelle has achieved.
At 17, he won the BOYS US Amateur again, but he could only reach the last 32 of the MENS event.
At age 15, Michelle reached the last 8 of the MENS us amateur publinx. So she definetely ahead of where he was at 17 years of age.
At 18, Tiger won his first MENS us amateur and that was his first really really big achievement.
3 boys amateurs in a row, before that were very good, but they were just against BOYS. The MENS Amateur was a huge deal.
Michelle started rewriting the history of women's golf at ten years old Norman and it is just beginning:
AGE 10:
Shoots 9-under-par 64 at Olomana from 5,400 yards.
At 10 years, 9 months, 24 days, is youngest to qualify for USGA amateur event (U.S. Women's Public Links), loses in first round.
AGE 11:
Becomes youngest to win Jennie K. Invitational (by nine shots) and Hawaii State Women's Stroke Play (by two). Also becomes first woman to qualify for match play at the 93rd Manoa Cup, loses in first round.
AGE 12:
Shoots 83 with 10 penalty strokes ? in rain and 30-plus mph winds ? in Takefuji Classic at Waikoloa Beach to become youngest to Monday qualify for LPGA event. Misses cut.
Wins first-round Manoa Cup match, then loses to Del-Marc Fujita in second round on second extra hole.
At U.S. Women's Public Links, becomes youngest semifinalist in history of USGA-run amateur tournaments. Wins Hawaii State Open Women's Division by 13 shots over LPGA pro Cindy Rarick.
AGE 13:
Shoots 1-over 73 to tie for 47th at Sony Open qualifying, beating 49 men.
Ties for ninth at Kraft Nabisco Championship, an LPGA major.
Youngest to make cut at LPGA event, the Kraft Nabisco Championship (third-round 66 equals low amateur score for LPGA major).
Youngest in 108-year history of U.S. Golf Association to win an adult USGA event, the 2003 Women's Amateur Public Links Championship.
Youngest to make cut at U.S. Women Open (2003). Youngest to win Hawaii State Open Women's Division.
AGE 14:
Youngest to play in PGA Tour event, the 2004 Sony Open in Hawaii.
First female to shoot in the 60s in a PGA Tour event (2-under-par 68 in 2004 Sony Open in Hawaii).
Youngest U.S. Curtis Cup player (2004), wins both singles matches.
Youngest to win Laureus World Sports Academy Award (Newcomer of the Year).
AGE 15:
First amateur to compete in LPGA Championship (finishes second to Annika Sorenstam)
First female to qualify for adult male U.S. Golf Association championship, the U.S. Amateur Public Links (defeats three men and reaches quarterfinals).
AGE 16:
First woman to make the cut in a top-tier men's professional golf event since 1945. First woman to complete all rounds and finish a men's event.
First woman to advance past regional to a sectional qualifications event for the United States Open Championship. She also took Medalist Honors for her regional qualifier creating another first for women in the history of golf.
To the Wie Bashers this means nothing for Michelle should have been beating up on little girls in amateur junior golf matches instead of beating adult women/men and making history.
Yes Wie Bashers when you finish ahead of someone at a event you "beat" them at that event. Michelle has never ducked the toughest competition available male or female and that is the rub. When you tee it up against the best golfers available on the planet each time you enter a tournament as a teenager winning is nearly impossible.
Michelle is a big girl now and winning becomes very possible in the near future.
a) win a LPGA major: McDonalds LPGA Championship or Women's Open or Women's British OPen.
b)win a nonmajor women's event: Evian Masters.
c)make a PGA tour cut at John Deere or Lumber classic.
d)somehow qualify into the Men's US open.
e) more than one of the above
f) none of the above
What do you guys think will happen this year?
If option f happens, then MW will need to reassess her direction; perhaps play a couple of women's tournaments in the Japanese, Korean or European LPGA just to see if she can actually deliver with the wins.
To answer your questions, I am doing very well and most importantly injury free.
As regards the Omega Masters the answer is yes at this stage. I don't think being grouped with Michelle Wie would be that great of a prospect though. I think it would really hurt my game.
HC2,
You are forgetting her Japanese and more importantly her European Tour event. If she makes the cut on the Euro tour that is another huge milestone. Of course if she has already made a pga cut, it wouldn't mean as much.
Wie has done well so far this year and I think she will continue to progress nicely.
One-Putt, You said recently that maybe you had gone over the edge. I don't believe there is any doubt. Bubbles is teeing it up with the best golfers on the planet every time she plays? That recent qualifier in Hawaii had 40 world beaters that included, besides Michelle, another teenage girl and a 14 year old boy(who also made it to NJ) and the rest of the field most of whom aren't listed in the phone book. And then we have that world-class field at the SK Telecom including the immortal Ty Tryon, Korean tour regular. Then there will be the star-studded lineup at the Casio. You just can't be serious."
Now you have selected words from statements Alex and have manipulated them into something else altogether. Maybe I underestimated your prowess as an attorney.
I imagine the best golfers ?available? showed up at the Sony, SK, Casio and the Hawaiian United States Open Qualifier Alex.. The field was ?Open? to Tiger, Phil and VJ and some other top players at these events minus the qualifier and I guess they just chose not to enter or were ?unavailable?.
You don?t handle litigation for the automobile industry do you Alex?
The moment of truth starts in June. MW has to either:
a) win a LPGA major: McDonalds LPGA Championship or Women's Open or Women's British OPen.
b)win a nonmajor women's event: Evian Masters.
c)make a PGA tour cut at John Deere or Lumber classic.
d)somehow qualify into the Men's US open.
e) more than one of the above
f) none of the above
What do you guys think will happen this year?
If option f happens, then MW will need to reassess her direction; perhaps play a couple of women's tournaments in the Japanese, Korean or European LPGA just to see if she can actually deliver with the wins.
a) Win a LPGA major: McDonalds LPGA Championship or Women's Open or Women's British Open.
There is an outside chance at the Weetabix because the course sets up well for her game, but Lorena is a better bet right now or Karrie who is riding high to win majors. I predicted a top 5 finish for Michelle in all the majors.
b) Win a non-major women's event: Evian Masters.
Lorena was tied with Michelle at this event last year and is playing outstanding golf right now. The Evian is played before the Weetabix so I would give Michelle a better chance on the links course.
c) Make a PGA tour cut at John Deere or Lumber classic.
The Deere for sure and not a chance for the 84 Lumber.
d) Somehow qualify into the Men's US open.
Not this year, there are just too many guys shooting in the mid sixties who will be in the field. .
What do you guys think will happen this year?
If option f happens, then MW will need to reassess her direction; perhaps play a couple of women's tournaments in the Japanese, Korean or European LPGA just to see if she can actually deliver with the wins.
No way since she would have to use valuable LPGA exemptions to play. Remember all the tours are tied together on the ladies tour.
It all depends how you measure success for a sixteen year old golfer. A second or third in an LPGA Championship is nothing to be ashamed of and displays a potential to win in the future. Natalie Gulbis has played on the LPGA tour since 2003 and how many wns does she have to her credit.....NONE. Has hse had a successful LPGA career.......YES. She is always high on the LPGA money list. Will she ever win...I don't think anyone cares.
One Putt,
To answer your questions, I am doing very well and most importantly injury free.
As regards the Omega Masters the answer is yes at this stage. I don't think being grouped with Michelle Wie would be that great of a prospect though. I think it would really hurt my game."
That is wonderful news Norman I'm glad your feeling well. So how do you think attendance will look at the Omega this year and do you think Sergio can defend his title?
Playing with Michelle could be a bit distracting with the large gallery that follows her around. You guys are not used to large crowds at golf events on the Continent. I noticed attendance is much better in the UK and Ireland. With Michelle and Paula in the field at the Evian attendance was up sixty percent over the year before. This may be the case at the Omega. That beautiful little resort town may never be the same after the Wie Tsunami comes ashore. :-)
Best of luck to you friend and hit them long and in the short stuff.
Perhaps next year Michelle will be playing a men's event in China, Mongolias neighbor on three sides and former occupier until 1921.
Alex, when I get tired, I am barely legible...hopefully you can me more slack than you give MW.
Grandiose? Hardly...optimistic,yes. I don;t think a couple of top 25 PGA finishes is terribly unreasonably given how well she has competed thus far.
Norman and One-Putt--You are so right on Tiger...damn I am getting old...
Alex, when I get tired, I am barely legible...hopefully you can me more slack than you give MW.
Grandiose? Hardly...optimistic,yes. I don;t think a couple of top 25 PGA finishes is terribly unreasonably given how well she has competed thus far."
I've never heard a Wie fan deny that Tiger is one of the greatest players to tee up a golf ball ever. We watched Tiger develop into the superb player he is today before our very eyes and it was a great trip that we all enjoyed.
This is the journey Wie fans are on now as they watch Michelle develop her potential as a player. Maybe she will never have a PGA top 25 in her life, but she will play some competition rounds against some of the finest golfers and gain bucket loads of experience along the way. Most people love to root for the underdog and hope they break through in the end.
Michelle's experience playing in PGA fields will help help her dominate the women's field in the future. Tiger changed the men's game forever and Wie fans can see Michelle doing the same for the women's game in the future. Michelle needs a chance to play in her chosen vocation and the LPGA restricts her ability to do just that.
So go ahead Michelle, play wherever you can for now and prepare yourself to kick some serious butt in the future. Wie fans will be patient while your game keeps developing.
That is wonderful news Norman I'm glad your feeling well. So how do you think attendance will look at the Omega this year and do you think Sergio can defend his title?
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On Sergio, not very well. I think he won't win anything for the next while.
I'm glad you mention Sergio winning last year though because it raises an interesting point.
When it was announced that Michelle was entering this event, Wie critics started to bash the tournament and say it was a minor event, and lots of other rubbish.
The reality is that this is a prestigious event:
To prove that the last 3 winners were: Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald and Ernie Els. Many pga tournaments would love to be able to boast this.
Other previous winners:
Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal, Craid Stadler, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Nick Price.
If Wie makes the cut, she can be very proud.
One-Putt, I think hc2 has an excellent idea concerning Bubbles' ongoing quest for a "W". Trying for victory on the Japan, Korea, and Euro LPGA tours might be just what she needs to get off the schneid. And if that doesn't work, maybe she will try the annual Ramadan skins' game in Outer Mongolia. Of course, Vijay, Phil, Tiger and Ernie won't be there even though they could be, but the best available golfers will be competing. That is, provided they can get time off from their goat and yak herding duties.
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If you are willing to accept a win in one of those places, then you should be willing to accept her win in the US local qualifier.
I find it hilarious that you insult her achievement of comming first there, by insulting her competition. What position do you think she should have obtained? Something better than first? Zero position maybe?
Nobody expected her to win on the Asian Tour at this stage of her career.
A cut was the benchmark by which she would be judged.
She made the cut and that meant that it was a successful tournament.
If she had shot 80, it would still have been a successful tournament, because she made her first cut.
When Tiger made his first pga cut, he went on to shoot 77 in his 3rd round. It is perfectly understandable and normal that when a player makes their first cut, that their next round won't be quite so good.
After her 2nd round she was in a tie for 17th. When she makes her next cut, if she is in a similar position, she will have the added experience of having made a cut and it won't be such a big deal.
IO do feel sorry for you sometimes that I have to explain such basic things to you, but please don't hesitate to keep your comments coming, because I don't mind putting you straight.
---
One Putt, the potential for MW has already arrived, and it is now. I agree that last year was too early for her to win since she lacked the course management and maturity. But considering that she already has improved her course management, short game, and mental game down the stretch, I think it would be a disappointment if she doesn't win a tournament.
In order for her to maintain or grow her celebrity status she must win one of the following: US Women's Open, McDonald's LPGA Championship, Match Play Championship, Evian Masters, or Weetabix British Open. We are talking of the supposedly number 2 ranked Women's player in the world, and that is a reasonable expectation.
If she doesn't win this year, I predict her celebrity status will wane because the more endorsements she gets the bigger the question will be: is MW worth the hype and dollars? Nothing speaks louder than a win.
I will admit that making the US Open would be as important as winning a LPGA major since that would go into the record books. I wouldn't count the Samsung because it's not a full field event.
But it has the 16 best players. It is a bigger win than The Fields Open for instance.
If she doesn't win this year, I predict her celebrity status will wane because the more endorsements she gets the bigger the question will be: is MW worth the hype and dollars? Nothing speaks louder than a win."
You are expecting something no sixteen year old girl has ever accomplished in the history of professional golf hc2.
Good things can happen if you place yourself in a position to win a tournament. Golf is a game of what if and what you learn by the experience.
What if Karrie had not holed out her shot to the 18th green at the Kraft?
What if Lorena then decided to be more conservative on her second shot if Karrie missed?
What if Michelle had putted, rather than chip the ball?
I can't fault Michelle for going for the win with a chip. It was the shot she felt most comfortable standing over at that point in the match and in her mind it was in the hole.
The point is, did Michelle place herself in a position to tie or win the match if the what if/s happened and the answer is yes.
WEll, it is clear that when (not if) she makes a PGA cut and a European PGA cut and the final field at at US Open, you will be waiting to "expose" her as a fruad the moment she shoots north of 75. Again you are funny and clearly have no knowledge of golf or golf history. Sergio shot 89-83 in one his first British Open's, crying on the shoulder of Mama Garcia after his second round. Yet the guy has gone top to win something like 7 PGA events and a number of EPGA events. Two bad rounds are meaningless. However, two good rounds demonstrate that you can play.
But your courage is commndable...to write so many ill-conceived and illogical posts is impressive.
Alex,
Nobody expected her to win on the Asian Tour at this stage of her career.
A cut was the benchmark by which she would be judged.
She made the cut and that meant that it was a successful tournament.
If she had shot 80, it would still have been a successful tournament, because she made her first cut.
When Tiger made his first pga cut, he went on to shoot 77 in his 3rd round. It is perfectly understandable and normal that when a player makes their first cut, that their next round won't be quite so good.
After her 2nd round she was in a tie for 17th. When she makes her next cut, if she is in a similar position, she will have the added experience of having made a cut and it won't be such a big deal.
IO do feel sorry for you sometimes that I have to explain such basic things to you, but please don't hesitate to keep your comments coming, because I don't mind putting you straight."
I know it is not relevant since girls mature faster than boys, but how old was Tiger when he made his first professional cut? He did make the cut at the Masters as a 19 year old amateur, finishing in 41st place..
At age 16, Michelle has attempted to make a PGA Tour cut 5 times and has not yet done so.
As for your ridiculous Men vs. Women commentary, more shifting of the frame or reference to make your thoughts fit into the discussion by realigning the topic. I seriously doubt anyone here thinks women are the equal of men on the golf course. They have Junior, Senior, Amateur and Women's tours specifically because men aged approximately 18 to 50 are physically the most likely to be the best at golf in the world. So the other tours are restricted in their participation to generate competition at lower ability levels based on various characteristics. This is why the "if Wie can play in the Men's US Open, can a man play in the Women's US Open" argument is so stupid - there IS no "Men's" US Open. It's simply the unrestricted US Open, for the best of the best. The Women's Open is restricted to women so that there can be a (lower) level playing field among female golfers.
And that gets back to your incredibly lax logical conculsion, that because men are better than women at golf, on the whole, that no women can be better than men at golf. A truly lazy and non-sensical construct that even you know, as you type it, is ridiculous. Yet you post it here. This is why we call you bitter. You write things that even you know are logically ill-founded.
Will many women start playing on the PGA Tour all the time? No. Will there be an occassional woman who can compete on the PGA Tour over the next fifty years? Quite possibly. Compete. Not dominate, not win lots of tournaments, but compete. Make cuts, survive on tour. Maybe win a tournament or two, even, though that is a long shot. It seemed impossible five years ago, but Michelle is making it seem possible now.
And THAT'S what is so great about her story. The little girls learning the game now will consider the PGA the ultimate achievement, even though the odds of getting there are probably similar to every basketball playing five year old boy's chance of making the NBA.
If you are going to try to maintain the short side of the argument, at least bring passable logic to the table, Alex.
At age 16, Michelle has attempted to make a PGA Tour cut 5 times and has not yet done so.
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Correction John, Michelle has played on the pga tour 4 times so far, 3 times at the Sony and once at The John Deere.
She has 3 more tries to make a cut in less events than Tiger. That would be a massive achievement, given that she is so much younger than he was when he did it.
There is no reason to believe that all the miracles Miss Wie's fans hope for will become reality. In fact, there is a distinct possibilty that NONE will come to fruition.
***********************
Actually Alex, she has started to achieve major goals.
- first to qualify for mens usga event.
- first to make a cut in a mens asian tour event. First cut on a major mens tour in 61 years.
- first woman to pass local qualifying for the US Open.
She has already started to achieve things playing in traditionally male dominated events.
Dismissing this accomplishment out of hand seems quite petty for someone in your position.
They are major accomplishments for a 16 year old.
If I had to go through local qualifying I would be very disappointed not to get through, but for a young girl who is attempting to be the first female to ever do it, that is a big deal.
On the Asian Tour front, again that is a big achievement because it was breaking a barrier that had not been broken in 61 years. Also, it is a major tour, even if you don't like that.
As regards those other achievements such as top 25, Michelle Wie is a fantastic qualifier, but a top25 on the pga is a little bit much to be asking of a 16 year old. A cut would be a remarkable achievement at this stage.
On the winning lpga events and majors, that could come quite soon.
On racial tolerance, we could all use some and some of us more.
I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand.
-- Confucius
Let's do it!
I think most of you are missing the point on MW playing against the men.
Wie supporters think that MW can actually become a force in the PGA tour. Not so, smell the coffee, and wake up to reality. I am sure that is not even Michelle's goal. What is her goal in the PGA? Her goal is simply the following: to do something that no woman has done before; and at the same time bring attention to golf, and women's golf. What does that mean? It means making a PGA tour cut, and qualifying through a major. It does not mean that all women should join the PGA or men's tour. The message she is trying to send is to be an inspiration to young and old in that one can achieve and overcome obstacles provided you have the determination. For example, she is saying: yes, women can make good scientists, yes, women can make good NFL referees, or MLB trainers or astraunats. She is not saying 'women make great PGA golfers.' She has even denied that implied message when asked by reporters when she was asked if she was trying to prove something against pga players.
Wie bashers think that MW has got it all wrong, and she should win many many trophies. Wrong! Once again, her goal is to do unique things through golf, be a pioneer, be a celebrity. Yes, she will never win a PGA tournament, but does that mean she is wrong to try? No! the goal again is to try to do something no other woman has accomplished before. If she stays in the LPGA, noone will care, many trophies, little attention. That would bore Michelle to death! Will she inspire others if she wins many trophies. Not really; perhaps golf aficionados; but certainly not those outside golf.
So, there is a middle ground guys that you need to understand on this MW playing agains the men issue.
To both Wie supporters; and Wie bashers,
I think most of you are missing the point on MW playing against the men."
Wie can only base our opinions on what Wie hear Michelle say about her playing on the PGA tour.
Michelle's Goals:
Finish in the top ten of the PGA tour.
Play in the Master's one day.
Play in the U.S. Open someday.
Hold a PGA card.
Now maybe you think she is in it for the show hc2, but I think this girl believes she can accomplish these lofty goals.
All I can say it is going to be fun to watch her try. Who knows hc2? Stranger things have happened.
Grown men kissing the ass of an insignificant 16 year-old girl and her overbearing stage father is pathetic.
A guy whose blog name is Joe Cool is giving me a hard time about vanity, that's almost funny. I bet you're a real cool guy. Go back to looking at porn and popping the pimples on your back you pathetic little loser.
And did you notice the word "win" didn't appear anywhere on that list?
She's chosen the trailblazer path over the path of conquest and victory, which is entirely her right. Unless it's her father's path, then he's just an Earl-wannabe.
As for the logician's article of faith - yes, a random walk is the best predictor of any statistic. But saying that it won't be done because it hasn't been done is both foolish and harmful. No one had ever landed on the moon in 1961 when President Kennedy said we would do so. You must set a goal for something that has not been achieved and then pursue that goal with all your might if you are to break barriers and advance the frontiers. The hurdles Wie is trying to cross are far lower than landing on the moon, yet you make it seem as though she has less chance than Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins did when they flew 200,000 miles from home in a ship powered by as much electricity as your refridgerator uses.
As others have pointed out, she has already done things that have not been done before. You don't find some of those things noteworthy, yet the things she has not done but has stated she will try to do you DO find noteworthy. And impossible, or nearly so. This is why your actions make your statement about bitterness appear false. When she does accomplish something, you dismiss it and continue to make promises of her future failures, even as you deride Wie supporters who make promises of her future successes.
What ever you think, Alex, Wie is a trailblazer and an inspiration. She already has and like will continue to prove the "logician's article of faith" is not an absolute truth, but a rule of thumb that does not apply in certain, exceptional cases.
HC2 has it right when he says that she will not dominate the PGA or win multiple majors (or tournaments at all, most likely), but she will do many things that have not been done before. And on her shoulders others will climb - and not just in the world of golf - despite people like you, Alex, standing on the sideline, telling them "you can't, you aren't good enough, you should quit, you should do other, easier things."
Again, as President Kennedy said, "we choose to do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard." That is the road Wie has chosen. And you deride her for it.
Disagreeing with her or her choices is one thing, but your need to tear at her constantly is why I call you bitter. It serves no positive purpose in this world.
Wie supporters think that MW can actually become a force in the PGA tour. Not so, smell the coffee, and wake up to reality. I am sure that is not even Michelle's goal. What is her goal in the PGA? Her goal is simply the following: to do something that no woman has done before; and at the same time bring attention to golf, and women's golf. What does that mean? It means making a PGA tour cut, and qualifying through a major. It does not mean that all women should join the PGA or men's tour.
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hc2,
You are not Michelle Wie's spokesperson.
There are a number of false assertions in what you have said.
She does want to win pga events. She has stated that she knows it is not realistic for her to win at this stage, but she wants to do as well as she can at this stage.
She has said she wants to be a pga top 10 player. That is something way beyond making a few cuts.
She wants to hold a pga tour card. She has stated this on many occasions.
So what she has been saying is far different from your opinions.
--
I will point out that MW, and her team are forgetting one important thing; and that is the danger of the rough in PGA events. I would be very afraid of Michelle trying to swing in thick rough; and hurting herself. We already saw how she tried to hack it out of the rough in the fourth round of last year's women's open, and she had trouble doing that. So, consider the British and the US Open where the rough is so thick and high, and I could see MW getting hurt trying to hack it out. And that, folks, could easily lead to an abrupt end to her golfing career.
you really don't get it do you.
The quarter final of the publinx was a MENS field, and she was 15 years old.
By age 17, Tiger Woods best performance at a usga MENS event, was to get to the last 32.
Surely you understand the difference.
You are probably like many people and get confused as to what Tiger won and when.
Now that you have been corrected, hopefully you will admit that this was a considerable achievement to reach the quarter final stage.
Many suggests she should have stayed playing in junior golf...a suggestion as assinine as insulting. If one has played in the final group of 3 majors, played to the qyarter's of the Men's Public Links, Made the US Open Sectionals, twice got within a a hot of making a PGA cut, why on the green earth would you ever entertain the suggestion that you belong in a tournament on 6000 yd courses with pimpled kids shooting in the 80s and 90s from the red tees??
MW is not "trying to prove anything," perhaps the stupidest comment ever to come out of Brad Faxon's mouth. Brad--how arrogant can you be? Her quest has nothing to do with you or any other overrated player. She wants to be the best women's player EVER. Period. His comments show how soft a "sport" golf truly is.
In WOmen's tennis, the top women's players practice ALL the time with Male pros. In track and field, the top women runners run against men ALL the time in workouts. But in both cases, women don;t compete in meets directly against men because the strength and power advantage of men is simply too much to overcome.
Well, in golf things are very different. Golf does not require superior physicality. Lumpy, Woosie, Charles Howell III, Kenny Perry, David Duval, etc. all have had aor continue to have excellent careers, but my female sisters and cousins would run circles around them from sun up to sun down...i.e. they are not exceptionally conditioned athletes. Not even close.
Instead, they are/were simply brilliant golfers. Great tough, excellent meachnics, limber, creative, experienced and confident. MW has all of these in spades.
Detractors forget that MW is not competing against the men in a fist fight. She is battling and will always battle against the golf course. And unless I have gone to sleep for 20 years, someone who can regularly pound 300+ drives has enough physicality to plce her withing the range of the average PGA player. What remains for MW to conquer these courses and do so during a tournament is 90% mental and only 10% physical.
I do think she has a way to go. She won't peak until her 30s. But an extra 10 yards off the tee is not gong to win her golf tournaments. It will be something far more boring: fairways and greens, but under tremendous pressure. And last time I checked, the difference between hitting a 300 yard drive into a narrow fairway and hitting a 320 yd drive into the woods has to do with mechanics and focused relaxation and not muscle or hormone.
Tournaments with morons like Brad Faxon, neandrathals like Michael Campbell, deeply jealous whingers like Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel, loudmouthed PMS has beens like Dottie Pepper, and strkingly silent competitors like Annika Sorenstam are EXACTLY what she needs to touhgen up mentally. Why? Each of these people want to win and want to keep MW from winning and stealing the thunder and coin.
But Alex and friends...know that her challenges have little to do with golf. She has already shot in the 60s twice on the US PGA and has had several rounds under 67 at LPGA majors. No, she already has the game. What is yet to be seen is whether she has the heart and courage to win by commanding margins like Tiger did. To me, this is the drama I am looking forward to.
A closing note...I was at the US Open at Pebble the year Tiger won by 15 strokes. An interesting side note: he benefitted ENORMOUSLY from the weather-like magic, always playing under the ideal weather of the day--seriously the guy lucked out, always playing is still damp conditions and never playing with any sort of wind. But I digress...what I remember most was how freakin focused he was to not only win by as many strokes as possible, but to go bogey free on Sunday. To a fan unfamiliar with Tiger, he/she would have thought he was in a duel.
Tiger is the stud he is not because he is a better golfer, but because the guy HATES to lose to Phil and Vijay. I mean, on the course and a bit off the course, he dislikes them with a passion. This virtual "hate" fuels his competitive drive to such an extent that he seeks to CRUSH his opponents. Tiger rarely shoots a low round in a tournament...rarely at 66 or under. But when he is hot, he never shoots a bad round. He wills himself to win and lets lesser competitors wilt in the spotlight.
My question: Does Michelle have what it takes mentally to be the Tigress? Personally, I don't think so....but few ever had. To me the only question is, at what level of competitive intensity will she equilibrate? She says she wants to be the best...My response? Prove it! And step one is to tell and show all her detractors to f**k off. I think a couple of cool 67s at the Sectionals and LPGA would be a nice way to do that! The worst thing she could do is relegate herself to playing dreary second-tier LPGA events. She won;t be happy and her game and metnal outlook will suffer. No, stick to the top events, PGA and EPGA events. Kick some ass and hold not prisoners.
Signing off this blog!! From a guy who dominated the silly neighborhood events and local competitions but never knew any better to push beyond, Pete
sorry but I am not convinced by your alledged concern for Michelle Wie.
I believe I can fly, doesn't mean it's going to happen.
Grown men kissing the ass of an insignificant 16 year-old girl and her overbearing stage father is pathetic.
A guy whose blog name is Joe Cool is giving me a hard time about vanity, that's almost funny. I bet you're a real cool guy. Go back to looking at porn and popping the pimples on your back you pathetic little loser."
"Pinto" you listed your major accomplishments in life and it appears the only thing lacking in your bio was any form of common sense. Michelle's web hits are up to 6,000,000 today which is 500,000 more than last week and she is not playing in any tournament, she is at home attending school. Morgan Pressel who is playing this week lists 187,000 web hits.
For a golf blogger who writes for any forum to get a response they must place the name Michelle Wie in their posting. For a sports reporter to get anything published outside of Boondock, Iowa they must drop the name of Michelle Wie into the article.
Jennifer Mario will have a "best seller" on her hands not because of who she is or her wonderful writing skills, but rather by what name is listed on the book cover.
So wehere does that place you "Pinto" or Alex and your opinions in the grand scheme of all things golf? In the minority my friend and your numbers of people who agree with you are diminishing each passing day.
The curious thing are the comments from each of the PGA/LPGA players who have played rounds with her or watched her play over the years and the level of respect they give the development of her game. These guys/gals are not pandering to anyone, just stating what they observed:
"She belongs here. Anyone who don't believe that has rocks in their head." - Laura Davies after Wie's runner-up finish at the 2005 LPGA Championship, where Wie was the only player to break par all four rounds
"She's an amazing player. There's no doubt about it. She's going to give us a lot of challenges and make us work harder." - Jennifer Rosales following 2005 LPGA SBS Open, where she won over runner-up Michelle Wie
"Annika (Sorenstam) is a champion and watching her play was awesome. She is so accomplished. I have only seen Michelle play a little, but she has all the potential in the world to be as good. You see that swing, it's so powerful and athletic, and you just know she has a great future." - Dean Wilson, who played with Sorenstam at the 2003 Colonial, following the 2004 Sony Open
"That golf swing of hers, it's the best golf swing I've ever seen in my life." - Bobby Verwey, Wie's caddie at the 2004 Sony Open. Verwey is Gary Player's newphew and a veteran caddie
"Michelle is 14. Give her a couple of years to get stronger. I mean, she can play on this tour. If she keeps working, keeps doing the right things, there's no reason why she shouldn't be out here." - Ernie Els following a practice round with Wie at the PGA Sony Open
"She probably has one of the best golf swings I've ever seen, period. She's got a lot going for her. Plus, she's tall and strong. No telling what she's going to do when she gets a little older." - Davis Love III
"There's a lot of guys who got kicked around by a 13-year-old girl." - Andy Miller, Monday qualifying medalist at 2003 PGA Sony Open, after Wie finished 47th (out of 97) with a 1-over-par 73
"You watch her swing and say, 'That's normal.' Then you realize that she's only 13 and that's ... that's unbelievable." - Vijay Singh
"When you see her hit a golf ball ... there's nothing that prepares you for it. It's just the scariest thing you've ever seen." - Fred Couples (from Golf World)
"Her poise is unbelievable. Either you've got it or you don't. And this girl's got it." - Tom Lehman (from Golf Digest)
I rest my case golf neophytes, you obviously "don't have it".
Maybe we can break the record for number of posts on a single blog in here. Who holds the record right now, Baldwin the bloggart? lol
MW's LPGA record is exceptional. In the not to near future she will be completely dominating its courses and most assuredly its competition.
She needs the PGA courses and its tougher greens to develop as a player. She needs fields where anyone playing on Thursday can win.
Faxon misspoke, plain and simple. While he is certainly entitled to an opinion so to is everyone else. THe debate over MW is NOT about golf (how many times does one have to say this??). It is about access to a dream...for MW the dream has not been about some well-define path (the notion of having to clean up everything before moving on is patently ridiculous and empiricaly flawed--Tiger Woods won only one NCAA title and never helped Stanford to a team title--should be have stayed in school? Of course not.).
As I said, MW is chasing her dream: to be the best female golfer EVER and certainly the best she can be. As far as I am concerne she is doing EXACTLY what any competitor would do--seek out top competition in the biggest arenas. All you armchair wannabes probably do not understand that drive. Respect it...it is special, once in a lifetime. While the Faxon's of the world speak in self-righteous terms and defend their turf, they fail to see how ridiculous their position is...over a 16 year old girl that can beat the men!! HILARIOUS!!! What a sap!
Right now, MW deserves a ranking in the top three or four in the LPGA. Only took ten plus events. If the LPGA gave her her card, she would have won several tournaments by now.
History lesson on the 'ol, "where is the hardware." Well, at age 10, she was competing against the best women in Hawaii and winning. Age 12, making it to match play against the top Hawaiian amateur's. Age 13, playing in the final group at an LPGA major. and so on...
She has not bothered to win against inferior competition, but to push her self to compete at the next level. So far, she has been brilliant at it.
To the short-sighted who complained of Tiger's accolades before winning, they have all dropped out of sight...but to those that followed him early, she was diong great things 5-6 years before although only against his peers. It was not until he won on the PGA that one could say that he was doign great against the best. Yet MW has not bothered with her peers and has tried to compete with the best. She has done that quite effectively.
Honestly, so dense...
"I think Michelle Wie's resume does not match her hype..."
--LOL!!! 99.9999% of registered MALE golfers would give their right nut for her resume...LOL!! You are funny...Barring injury or mishap, she will be worth a billion US$ some day soon.
"...I think her dream of...even truly competing on the PGA tour is unrealistic..." LOL!! She has ALREADY done that at age 14, amigo!!
Don't you get it? She is already competitive enough to hold her own...at 14, 15, 16 years old. Bloody amazing, something Tiger would not do at the same age...
Winning a small LPGA tour event will do little for her development as a player...but I can hear you now, "But it was not even a major...let her win the LPGA Grand Slam before trying out for the PGA...or...let her earn her tour card and compete on the weekend for a title before she can 'truly compete'..." Well, I guess that excludes a good 50% of the PGA...
Sorry, hombre, but you just don;t get "it." That is why MW is worth nearly $50 million already, playing in PGA, EPGA events and playing in a bloody US Open Sectional at 16 and you are bitching about her qualifications!! LOL!! Get a life dude...later
You haul out a driver on a PGA par five and swing away and on the LPGA hole you hit a three wood so you won't push it thru the fairway.
Your hitting mid irons on a PGA par four and the next event a lob wedge at a LPGA event.
One week you putt on 11 to 12 plus greens on the PGA tour and the next they are barely pushing 10 on a LPGA green.
One week you play a course with rough so deep it makes a grown man wince and the next you are hitting out of fringe grass.
I really don't know how Michelle adjusts so well as it is folks. She should stop playing the Junior tour and her game will pick up steam.
Put another way, the medalists shot 12.9 strokes under the USGA rating. The last qualifier shot 6.9 strokes under USGA rating (and had to win a shoot-out to qualify).
How does this compare to Michelle's performance in the Local Qualifier at Turtle Bay? Turtle Bay has a USGA rating of 74.4 or 2.4 strokes over 72 par for 18 holes. For 36 holes, this would be 148.8 rating vs 144 par. Therefore the Canoe Park and Turtle Bay courses are essentially equal in difficulty by the USGA's measurement.
Michelle's par 72 doubled would have been 144 for 36 holes or 4.8 under rating. By that measure she would be expected to miss qualifying at Canoe Park by 2 strokes against the 2004 standard.
However, the weather at Turtle Bay was definitely adverse. Therefore (as the USGA suggests), the USGA rating should actually be increased by a few strokes...the question then being: How many is "a few"? Here are your choices:
Weather Affect predicted score result
0 strokes 142 bye-bye
1 stroke 140 SHOOT-OUT
2 strokes 138 MAKES IT
3 strokes 136 SAFE
4 strokes 134 MEDALIST
Or in other words, if the weather at Turtle Bay affected Michelle's score by even one stroke, she only has to continue to play at that same level to have a fighting chance of making the cut.
I watched 30 minutes of the Corning Classic today (all I could stand) and I have been more excited watching grass grow!! Without the top 10 players at the tournament, it really is booooring. The course is 6100 yards long and many of the "PROS" are struggling...MW breaks par on 7100 yard courses, this is something that the "Wiemongers" really do not like to hear. The jealousy from most of the LPGA players in regards to MW is really pathetic. She has been a professional only six months and has already given $800,000 to charities. The Golf Channel did a short segment that K.J. Choi was upset that he only received $350,000 in appearance fee while MW received $700,000...of course they failed to mention that she gave $300,000 to a Korean hospital for sick children. I wish MW success in the U.S. Open qualifier next month...I hope she makes it. As far as the Pressel, Pepper and Lopez and their envy for what MW is doing...who cares, I know MW could care less.
Wayne, Do you understand my explanation of the betting odds? Please don't berate me , I'm trying to be helpful. I've got to get out of here. Did you see Pete's last post? He's brought out the heavy artillery! Forget ten's of millions, Bubbbles' net worth will soon be a BILLion on the Wie-wee futures market!"
It is estimated Tiger will have earned a Billion dollars Alex by 2010 from just his golf/endorsement income. Tiger turned professional when he was twenty years old and has ten years of earnings behind him. Michelle just started earning her income from golf four years earlier than the age Tiger started.
Just for grins Alex just try to imagine that Michelle lucks out and makes it thru sectionals to play in the Open. Then imagine she has a reasonable performance in the Open and finishes slightly higher than midpoint in the order.
She would now enter the 100,000,000 dollar a year range for worldwide endorsements alone. This without ever winning a professional golf tournament.
I'm sure you would love the irony Alex.
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/assets/gif/M129169524.GIF
Dottie Pepper was making excuses for Morgan......"Oh this how a rookie learns when they play a course for the first time and she will learn from her mistakes". I almost gagged when I heard her spew this crap. If Morgan doesn't wake up soon she will have another free weekend to work on her game.
Morgan only scored two shots in front of fouteen year old Kristina Wong playing in her first LPGA event. Morgan ain't looking too professional out there. Come on Kristina...Beat Morgan.
In regards to Morgan not being as dominant as expected, I must say I am surprised that so many highly touted amateurs have really struggled in their game recently: remember cool girl Jane Park from the LA area? She won the women's Amateur a couple of years back, and now she is playing for UCLA. Yet, she really hasn't dominated college golf. She shot three rounds in the high 70's to be way back in the ncaa finals which have been happening the past three days. Also, I've been following on the No.1 girl junior right now, Mina Harigae and she shot 83 at the US Women's Open local qualifier to miss the sectionals. So, there you have it: a bunch of highly touted amateurs not quite measuring up as advertised. If you look back, Dorothy Delasin and Virada Nirapathpongporn also were highly touted amateurs, and yet now are mediocre players in the LPGA. By the end of this summer, we'll find out if Pressel should be lumped with Creamer or with Delasin instead.
Alex you forget we are blogging and not attending a English 101 class Mr. Headmaster. We all have fat fingers at our age including you and sometimes we are between prescriptions on our reading glasses.
What is important in blogging is not how well you spell or use language when you state something. The message you convey to your fellow bloggers should be what is important.
I was wondering Alex if you have played some rounds since your hibernation period ended? Yesterday I played 36 holes on my home course ending up at even par. I was disappointed with not going lower, but the winds were up and it was a day of low fades and draws that left me scrambling for par on some holes.
My game is coming along well with my USGA index dropping to 2.2 from the 3.25 I carried a month ago.
In any case, it will be an interesting 36 holes no matter what happens. Those interested can find the full field, tee times and pairings here.
Grandpa must have taken Morgan to the woodshed yesterday after her round. She really picked up her play today on the minature golf course.
What a difference a day makes, yesterday I was even for thirty six and today five over on my B course for 18. I had to put together a string of four birdies at the end to get it down to five over and stop the bleeding.
Twenty knot winds and wet fairways tore my butt up until I finally had the wind at my back coming home. I felt like Tiger with that wind behind me hitting a six iron 220 onto the green of the last par five.
"I am Tiger Woods" I thought, until I remembered the three other par fives I played at two over with the wind in my kisser. Oh well at least for four holes I was feeling it today and I'll be back out there tomorrow on the A course.
I am an addict..........
Jim COULTHARD--that is also a good point.
In any case, it will be an interesting 36 holes no matter what happens. Those interested can find the full field, tee times and pairings here."
The Michelle Wie Network (MWN or TGC whatever you prefer) will broadcast her entire qualifying round live. Now when can anyone remember a USGA qualifying round being broadcast live? Hey it must be another First for Michelle Wie. They are calling it "The Michelle Wie Special", now ain't that special.......
I understand the Wie's have requested that Dottie Pepper be banned from covering the event. I think she will be covering the LPGA tournament in Outer Mongolia Alex was referring to.
In the case at hand, betCRIS and Skybet both have lines on Michelle qualifying. BetCRIS remains 6.75 to 1 (1 to 10) while Skybet is offering 8 to 1 (1 to 20). Both Books obviously believe that a much smaller group will bet against Michelle than bet for her and hence want to get a 3.25 to 4 edge on the action. If total action (exposure) is low the books will look on any possible loss as an advertising expense. If the exposure gets too large, they will simply close the line.
In the meantime, they get lots of free press. Nothing to do with the "true" odds of whether she will qualify or not.
By the way, how are you making out on your bets? Watch out for the sure thing, they usually turn out to be a fool's bet.
During 2005 there were 107 players worldwide on the men's tours who made a million dollars plus.
Seventy-seven on the list were PGA Tour members. On the ladies official money list only six players exceeded one million dollars worldwide. All six were LPGA members.
Over the next year and a half Michelle will have to pick up her game to a new level, if she hopes to compete with the men fulltime and finish in the top 125 on the PGA Tour. Distance is not her problem as she outdrives nearly half of the top 125 PGA Tour players.
Hitting fairways and tee to green have not been Michelle's problems on either tour lately. The putter has let her down the most when it counted to make a cut or close the deal.
To win on the PGA Tour takes an average of 26 putts per round and on the LPGA Tour 27 to 28 would put her in the winners circle.
Michelle may develop the skills to be a solid journeyman player on the PGA Tour and work her way somewhere into the middle of the millionaires list. On the LPGA Tour when she gets her putting down to 27 a round she will dominate as she is the stat leader in GIR whenever she plays an LPGA course.
One-Putt, remember this quote from Danielle Ammaccapane: "You're the worst kid I've ever seen play golf. You'll never make it to the LPGA. I will make money. You will not."
Go down memory lane and read it right here.
If Michelle progresses the way she has so far, I don't see why she can't make cuts on the PGA Tour on a consistent basis.
One-Putt, remember this quote from Danielle Ammaccapane: "You're the worst kid I've ever seen play golf. You'll never make it to the LPGA. I will make money. You will not."
BJ put a Korean hex on her after the 2003 incident and here are the results:
2004 Best Finish T-27th place, Total Earnings: $42,577
2005 Best Finish T-24th place, Total Earnings: $47,747
2006 Best Finish T-35th place, Total Earnings: $12,632. Missed cuts or withdrew in 6 out of 9 events this season.
Most money earned in a season on LPGA Tour 1992 when she earned $513,639.
Money Michelle Wie has donated to charity in the past 9 months $850,000. LPGA earnings in 2 events: $181,499.
I wonder if Danielle is having whine or crap salad with the Crow she is eating since 2003.
Bad things happen to bad people...
She should get the wheel fixed on that shopping cart it was shaking really bad when she was pushing it down the street. Or then again maybe she could just steal a replacement.
Michelle was so traumatized by the whole incident with Danielle at the 03 Open she let it affect her game. In a positive way.......MOTIVATION!
Anyway, you Wiemen certainly have missed your calling: you seem to have a proclivity for writing fiction. Bubbles chances of beating eggs in the US Open are between slim and none, and slim just left town. Moreover, it's ridiculous to even think that she stands any kind of realistic chance to make it past the next level of qualifying. Have you taken a gander at the competition at the site? You dopes are delusional.
I really don't understand the basis of the above comment. When I saw the driving stats for a PGA event Bubbles competed in, she was ranked well below one-hundred in driving distance.
Not being there, I don't know what was said--but it is my understanding that the issue is closed as far as the parties are concerned and it seems best to leave it that way.
Of the top 10 on the current week's money list, she only out-drives one--Jim Furyk. However she is within three yards of three others. She out-drove a total of 5 of the top 25. I didn't carry the analysis any further, but it would appear length is not a real problem. Granted that another 10 yards would probably help. That would put her past two-thirds of the top 25 on the money list, and move her up to 47th on the driving list...
You are correct, the LPGA does not publish her stats. The PGA Tour however carries them under "historical players" which actually means "not currently active on tour".
http://golfonline.comfluent.net/cgi.pan?golfstats
Here are a few more comments from her golfing peers:
?She is on a road I don?t think any woman has traveled, and it?s pretty cool to watch.?
?PGA player Jerry Kelly
?She wants to master the LPGA before she turns pro.?
?Michelle?s father B.J.
?Michelle is unbelievable.?
?PGA star Vijay Singh
?She?s going to be a world beater.?
?PGA player Tim Herron
?I don?t know if we?ll see a woman hit this far with such effortless action. Ever.?
?Coach Gary Gilchrist
?The power of her swing, her demeanor?there?s something special about Michelle. You can?t quite put your finger on it, but it?s there.?
?All-Time Great Barbara Romack
?The thing about her is there?s nobody to compare her to.?
?PGA star Fred Couples
?I honestly feel she?s going to be one of the Top 10 athletes of our lifetime.?
?PGA official Duke Butler
?I just hope she enjoys being a kid before she makes golf her living.?
?LPGA star Karrie Webb
?I thought she was a historic player when I saw her at age 10.?
?USGA Official Rhonda Glenn
?Some people just have it. Michelle?s got it. Just stay out of her way. Just let her go.?
?PGA veteran Tom Lehman
?On ball striking she?s already among the Top 5 out here.?
?LPGA star Patricia Meunier-Lebouc
?She?s playing at a totally different level than I did.?
?Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam
?She?s one of the most astounding players I?ve ever seen.?
?Hall of Famer Judy Rankin
"She's our Tiger Woods."
?LPGA star Laura Davies
As you look over Michelle's LPGA stats understand she was using a three iron/wood on most of the measured holes. Thus her average would be lower than when she uses a driver.
GAMBLING: THE MORE YOU WIN THE MORE YOU LOSE.
Here are my "feelings" on the subject. There are 153 possible final positions, my take is:
153--102 She did not play up to my expectations.
102--51 Good finish for a first try at sectionals.
51--qualify-1 stroke Superb finish for a first try.
Qualify GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY...
So, Alex...at what point would you be impressed?
If you think you're smart enough to gamble -- you're dumb enough to lose.
Alex I've revised my statement on who Michelle needs to finish ahead of at the Omega. Go ahead and add Michael Campbell and Adam Scott to the list along with Jean. After all a teenager needs some goals in life.
That's the closest thing to a helpful statement you've made yet. Looking at the glass as half full does make life a better ride than looking at it as half empty and riddled with bacteria.
More free psychoanalysis for you Alex. At least you have some friends back to help you delve the darker side. Welcome, Judge Smails! I'm sure you sent girls younger than Michelle to the gas chamber - and they were probably being prosecuted by Alex.
Jackie was the pioneer, but there were many other great black players to walk in that door, once it was opened. Who are the other great women players who can play the PGA tour? IMO, they don't exist. As of now, there is one, and one only.
The Negro Leagues were already on par with major league baseball. No women's golf league is. The LPGA is safe, at least for now.
The problem with Wie Critics is they are dealing with something they have nothing to compare it with. Michelle Wie is already unique in the annals of Professional Golf. Wie Critics expect a win immediately although it has never been done by someone her age in a Women's Professional event. I have a feeling that will change soon and history will be rewritten once more by Michelle Wie.
Laura Davies the Gentle Giant put it quite succinctly when she stated, "She's our Tiger Woods."
Believe me Alex, the women in unisex shorts and frumpy shirts notice when Michelle Wie is in the field and they recognize the talent. She is a little difficult to miss when most of them are behind her on the leaderboard.
Interestingly, no one knows this kid's name. I guess he should see B.J. Wie for marketing advice.
At the Open, he missed the cut at +26.
However he did qualify for the US Open. As far as I know, he has not been heard from again in the world of pro golf. Perhaps someone told him he wasn't good enough to play with the pros.
Incidentally Judge, your point would be better made by citing 14 year old Tyrell Garth who qualified in 1941. Likewise, he missed the cut and was never heard from again. Perhaps he was told to go dominate the amateur ranks before playing with the big boys.
I think both lads deserve great credit for their accomplishment. To step on the first tee of any US Open has always, and always shall be a signal accomplishment in any golfing career regardless of what that person did before, or does after.
Isn't it possible for you to state a score or finishing position that would be in your opinion "laughable", "ludicrous" or "humiliating" should she not better it?
I have said that I would be "disappointed" if she finishes in the bottom 1/3 of the field, "satisfied" with a middle 1/3, "delighted" by an upper 1/3 and would "jump on Oprah's couch" if she qualified.
Care to quantify you feelings?
I haven't bothered to read all the comments, but from the last few, I am glad to note that Alex really has changed his tune.
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Alex said:
To my way of thinking, and I am serious, Bubbles should finish no worse than 30th or a tie for that spot.
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At one time, Alex argued against women playing with professional men.
Now he thinks that Michelle should certainly be near the top of a very difficult field.
And make no mistake about it Alex. This is a very difficult field. I have experience in similar situations and I certainly don't expect her to qualify.
My expectation is that a top 50 finish would be very very good for her and would signal an excellent chance of making a pga cut fairly soon.
I am also glad that Alex thought it good to look up previous qualifiers. For that 16 year old that qualified a few years ago, he certainly had an easier route than Michelle has, but it was a great achievement none the less.
The big difference is that Michelle has so many other achiements as well. There will be many one hit wonders, but Michelle has repeatedly shown how good she is.
It would have been disappointing if Michelle Wie had failed to advance, like last year. For Michelle Wie making the sectionals butnot advancing would be par for the course. She has lived up to her seeding, we will now see if she can better her seeding.
I have never seen the rule in golf that a bottom third finish in an Open Sectional Qualifier at age 16 proves that a player is not PGA material. Is that one of golf's unwritten rules?
I expect Michelle Wie to finish school next year and join the LPGA--quite possibly when she does turn 18. I expect her to play 20 LPGA events per year--and maybe up to a dozen men's events. Regarding the latter, the LPGA will either give its blessing or look the other way.
Think about it. It is now pretty safe for someomne like Michael Camplbell to criticize Michelle Wie--as long as he kisses up to Annika and the LPGA. Michelle Wie should win first on the LPGA. and if she can dominate the LPGA like Annika has done, she will have earned the right to PGA exemptions. It is a lot less risky for Michelle Wie to go along with the program. And if she plays a smaller number of events against the men in the meantime, that will omly help her marketablity--and as an LPGA member, the marketability of the LPGA and the 20 event per year that she plays on the LPGA.
If Wie were to go directly into competition primarily against the men, it would be admitting defeat if she had to retreat to playh mostly against women. But if she can dominate the LPGA first everyone who has been kissing up to Annika will be forced to kiss up to her and just like Annika whatever she does against the men will be deemed a success BY PEOPLE LIKE NANCY LOPEZ AND MICHAEL CAMPBELL.
Going against a full strength field such as the US Open? I don't remember many suggesting she could do that this year. In the future? Yes some, myself included, think she would be able to do that within a few years--but not likely this year.
A top ten finish is a longer term goal that some think she may one day be capable of fulfilling, but definitely not an expectation for this year.
So if I read your post correctly, you would not be impressed by anything less than a top 30 finish at Canoe Brook.
I must say that you set a higher standard for Michelle than I do, as I will begin to be impressed about 70 positions below that. But at least we now are talking solid numbers and not generalities...So let the games begin and we shall see who gets to be impressed, and who doesn't.
There's a matter that hasn't been addressed of late. To wit: how many Alans do these new contenders deserve? Now, while I'm not a member of the committee, I'll weigh in with my assessment.
You've mentioned that Alan has lost his edge; perhaps he's past his prime, or maybe he's just spent. Really, though, it's understandable. After all, it isn't easy maintaining the level that at one time made him the very definition of inanity. First, there's the psychological energy expended keeping reality at bay. Maintaining the the kind of dislocation from it that his assiduous efforts made possible is no facile task. And, of course, fish has to be scratched off one's menu.
As far as these new contenders go, I must say that I'm quite disappointed. There's no creativity, no artistry, no . . . no . . . je ne sais quoi. Nay, there is nothing but the repetition of platitudinous claims concerning Bubbles future exploits, the regurgitation of worn out statistics and banal analyses of her much ballyhooed track record. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it makes for a most vapid Alan Cup competition.
Is this the best of the new guard? Are we to believe that, unlike everything else in the arena of competition, the Alan Cup's participants will deteriorate over time?
I still remember the days of George (I believe that was his name). He came to this board like gangbusters, sinking his teeth into the competition with a comprehensive map of Paula Creamer's future -- replete with numerous victories on the PGA Tour -- whose creativity at least matched its stupidity. George thrusted himself into the mix with his game face on, trained, eager, and tenacious. The current crop of pretenders couldn't even wear his dunce cap.
So, Alex, what does the future hold? I see no one with promise on the horizon.
I should have written "thrust."
To err is human....to forgive Divine.
Norman, You misunderstood my position. Miss Wie SHOULD finish in the top 30 and ties if she is to be taken seriously.
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Taken seriously for what?
I don't think she will be in the top 30 because I know the strength of the field and the types of scores they are likly to produce.
She may be that good in future, but for this year she has done extremely well to get this far.
You didn't say you believed she would get top 30, but you did say it is your expectation that she should achieve it to have been successful.
I don't know of any Wie Warrier who shares your expectations. Knowing what a US Open Sectional is like, I can say that a top 50 finish would be superb, and top 70 would still be quite an achievement.
*************************
Alex said:
The number of holes to be played is 36, the same number played in a PGA tournament to make the cut. You Wie Warriors see nothing amiss with Bubbles getting unearned sponsors' exemptions, saying that she is capable of making a PGA cut regardless of the strength of the field, even that she might finish top ten in a PGA event.
***********************
Alex, poor Alex, a top 10 finish is not on the cards at this time in my opinion. It is certainly on the cards in years to come, but it is not even close at this stage. That is what you repeatedly fail to understand, Wie Warrier's make claims of what Michelle can do in the future. Then you expect these claims to be borne out immediately.
Tiger Woods got his first top 10 finish in his 17th pga event. That was at an older age. That was having the experience of being the 3 time Mens Amateur Champion, and that was as the greatest player.
I don't expect Michelle to get a top 10 as quickly as he did and neither should you.
Even if you were judging her by his standards, she would still have 13 more attempts to get that top 10.
So maybe you shouldn't be so zealous like an immature child in wanting everything now. (this sparring is fun).
By the way, I don't think she should be judged by the standards of Tiger Woods, I am simply using him as an example to show how ridiculous your expectations are.
I don't really know if it's fair to re-name the Alan Cup. After all, Jack Nicklaus no longer is the player he once was, but we still honor his accomplishments. Alan set the standard by which all other examples of abject stupidity are judged.
I think that the lofty depths he once reached shouldn't be forgotten.
As far as I know you are the only person posting here who might be on the bubble as far as getting into some of the men's events where Michelle Wie gets sponsor's exemptions. I could understand if you objected to sponsor's exemptions, whether they are given to Michelle Wie or anyone else. Do you have any idea why people who are notr going to be effected object so strenuously, and why exemptions for Michelle Wie seem to be the only exemptions they seem to find objectionable?
As far as the Rolex rankings are concerned, there are more points given to events in the last 13 weeks. The last time Wie appeared in the rankings she had 2 such events out of 15. In a few weeks she will have 5 out of 16 which should give her rating a significant boost. I believe a bunch of top 3's would be enough to put her up to number 1 for a while--but then her rating will drop as she goes for 2 months without an event and the points given for past events drop when the 13 week mark passes.
On the rankings, Annika's lead is still substantial. If Annika recaptures her form and plays as I expect her to, then I think she will retain the number 1 position.
Norman and I seem satisfied with the continued progress of Michelle and can tell she is on the cusp of greatness in the game. Is Michelle a finished product who is ready to step over the line into greatness? Not quite yet on the men's tours, yet on the women's tour it will happen quite soon and catch most of the public by surprise.
In her last two LPGA starts she placed herself in a position to win instead of playing catch up in the final round.
At the 2005 Kraft she began the final round seven shots behind Annika and finished the day three shots back in second place. This years Kraft was a different story when it took a chip in and an eagle along with a bad chip on her part to take Michelle out of contention.
To a golf hacker this progress might seem meaningless as it is not a win. To a good golfer these are small victories over the Demon that rides on our shoulder every competitive round. Michelle is very close to taming her Demon.
On the issue of sponsors exemptions.
Firstly, I won't object to sponsors exemptions because I received a number of them.
I also know exactly what sponsors exemptions are for. There are rules pertaining to some of them, but there is always a few left that can be given to pretty much anyone.
The sponsors are good enough to pay big money to the event. Sponsors make events, and I think it is a very small entilement for them to have these exemptions to do with as they choose.
On to the question of Why are Michelle's exemptions objected to by some people.
Well Jim, both you and I know that exemptions are given out all over the place and all of the time, and nobody could care less who they were given to until it was a female by the name of Michelle Wie.
I think, that that word "female" and you have the answer.
The reasons for this are many:
- some are afraid of a woman actually beating a man at something, or afraid of a woman beating their particular favourite player.
- some are of the opinion that women should have a certain role in society.
Basically it all boils down to fear. Human beings naturally like certainty and routine, and stability.
When someone like Michelle Wie comes along and creates new ways of thinking, and new possibilities, that generates fear and that is the whole basis of the issue.
I think you are right, about her being very close to greatness on the lpga tour.
Her progress has been phenomenal. She is very close and the great thing about her is that she is so consistant, that when he level rises the next notch, I think she will be able to win many titles.
a. What if they expect me to make the cut in every PGA event from now on?
b. What if the media attention stops once I make the cut?
c. What if I'm not good or competitive enough?
d. What if...
We've seen her get physically and technically stronger every year. But, her biggest improvement this year comes from her fast-maturing mental game catching up with her ability. I truly believe that her performances in Korea at the SK Telecom Open, and her medalling at the local qualifier in Hawaii to advance to the sectional qualifier for the U.S. Open are a testament to that fact.
As Yogi once said of baseball: "90% of this game is half mental."
Funny thing about Yogisms, the more you laugh about them, the longer you remember them...and the more they seem to make sense. For indeed the harder you practice the more often you seem to "get lucky".
Michelle has been working consisently, I expect her "luck" to improve.
I am delighted that Judge Smails has come along to have these little Alan chats with you.
Unless of course, the judge is Alex's imaginary friend!
I haven't been reading that much so maybe I missed out on the judge but has he been posting here long?
He shoulds very like Under Par.
Could it be Under Par back under a different username?
Under Par?
Wie will probably get a win this year, but it will be a grind out with the above group plus the Korean platoon.
The reason she is so popular is because she is challenging men and her looks. Strickly from skills point of view, she needs to gain much more experience. I can see why a bunch of PGA guys said certain things, but from a commercial point of view they are wrong because Wie is so popular. They didn't take Economics 101 in college.
I would certainly like to see her pass the US open gates and see some old grumpy guys squirm, but if I had to bet my hard earned cash on the line, I would bet she doesn't make it this time.
Wie is not a dominating force?? It is only now that we are going to be able to see what she does in a run of events without her school in the way. We did it with Creamer and Pressel. Cimpare head to head between Wie and Lorena, Wie and Karrie, and Wie and Annika for the next five events in which Wie plays. If those 3 are certainly better than Michelle they should be able to do well against her head to head.
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
Ford, As you can see, it didn't take the Wie nuts very long before they unleashed personal attacks and insults on you after you had the temerity to find something amiss with Bubbles.
And your recent post:
Candace Polski, on the other hand, gets a "no rating". As they say in rural West Virginia, "I don't know if she needs a beatin' or a bath." Perhaps a long rest at the home would delay the need for a lobotomy for poor Candace.
Ah, the finest of commentary. And staying well above any "personal" attacks. Well, never fear - I am not from West Virginia, so your colorful colloquialisms don't apply to me anyway.
Meantime, keep dodging and weaving, shifting the topic and the reference points, using subtlety in language to avoid having anything stick. Wie is one of the most popular female athletes in the world right now, no matter how you slice and dice it. But I am sure that will miss you as you dodge to a new angle or topic, or define "popular" or "athlete" or "is" in some unique way.
You know, you drew reference to the current occupant of the White House when describing yourself earlier, but I think you have a lot more in common with the previous President. Slick Alex. Sounds about right.
Whoops, that got a little personal...
Make sure you smile broadly and take great satisfaction in "pulling their chain".
Wonder if these critics forgot that this golfer is 16 years old? And that this 16 year old golfer is a girl, not a woman nor a man?
Hmmmm... doesn't this added tidbit of information make you wanna sit up and take notice of the wonder-of-it-all?
Candace Polski, Feel free to post any non sequiturs that come to your addled mind. At my age and in my profession, I've developed a thick skin; obtuse criticism doesn't affect me, I consider the source. You, on the other hand, have developed a thick skull which common sense has found to be impenetrable. Does it hurt to be so clueless?
******************************
Hey Alex "anti-Wie" dude,
If you want your messages to be read, why don't you post something relevant to Wie, or golf in general. You are posting a bunch of personal attack on others which has nothing to do with the topic.
Well, I think I might have managed to get a little under that thick skin of yours. Seems you are a wee bit annoyed that I point out your tactics.
When Michelle wins, you and Smails (or Under Par, or whoever Smails is or was) will say that it took her too long, she's nothing special. When she makes a PGA cut, you will have a new angle to look at her and find her wanting. Heck, if she won a major (PGA major, that is) you'd probably say she should have won several by then with all the breaks and attention she receives.
Meantime, you complain about "Wie-nuts" and "Wie-fanatics" and "Wie Warriors" drinking Kool Aid and staring up at bright pink skies. And you glory in any negative detail you can bring to light about Wie or anyone who disagrees with your point of view.
Go troll the Baldwin blogs - he's due for an anti-Wie titled blog any day now. That's a great place to spew your vitriol and to prism all issues through your negative lens.
Most of the posters here look at Wie in a more constructive manner. That doesn't mean a pure white filter that shows only sunbeams and blue skies, but a discussion that focuses on what Wie just might be able to do, and why she may or may not do those things.
For instance, I think Wie could make a U.S. Open cut in the near future, if it's the right course. A Pinehurst U.S. Open would be all but impossible for her, given it's length and the difficulty holding the greens from anything other than wedge distances, however.
Others may agree or disagree with my thinking there, but with the exception of you, Alex, and the chameleon currently called Judge Smails who may or may not be a new poster (and I should give credit to Norman for being the first to draw the Under Par comparison, which I think fits to a tee), any agreement or disagreement will center around Wie and her abilities. Things like how her irons hold at middle to long distances, how she plays out of the rough, how her distance compares to some of the medium driving men who have won U.S. Opens in the past, etc.
That's a constructive discussion that allows for interesting differences in opinion without all the rantings and ravings about "Wie Wannabes" or "Wie wees" and "Wiedom". It would also lack the ridiculous comments about other posters, their intelligence, lineage, educational achievement, or any of the other pointless and inflamatory broadsides you shovel out to hide the fact that you need to change the topic or you might actually have to say something nice about someone.
But you won't go away. You will continue to wallow in your own excrimental commentary, much like a little boy who likes to fart in a car just to see how much it bothers everyone else, even though he has to endure the odor himself.
In vain, the rest of us will keep hoping you grow up and start using the toilet.
Annika Sorenstam played in her first Women's U.S. Open in 1992 as a 22 year old amateur with a T-63rd place at 24 over par.
Michelle Wie played in her first Women's U.S. Open in 2003 as a 13 year old amateur with a T-39th place at 8 over par.
Three years later as a 25 year old Annika won her first Women's U.S. Open and her journey began. She won again the next year.
As a fourteen year old Michelle finished in a tie for 13th place.
In 2005 Annika tied with Michelle in 23rd place at the U.S. Open 12 shots over par. Michelle had to card an 82 in the final round to end up even with Annika.
in a not so related issue have you been following up on the Dixie Chicks country music trio? They came out with a recent album, which has received good accolades yet it's still being boycotted by country radio stations three years after the singer had criticized the Pres for going to war.. The boycott just sounds to have a sexist overtone because male singers have said similar anti-Bush remarks yet they are not being targeted. My take is if we want to defend the first Amendment (freedom of expression) we should all buy a Dixie Chicks album; the music is surprisingly good too. The group will be interviewed by CNN's Larry King tonight.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/new-for-you/top-sellers/-/music/all/ref=m_mh_mn_ct/002-1754225-0931202
Fellow posters,
in a not so related issue have you been following up on the Dixie Chicks country music trio? They came out with a recent album, which has received good accolades yet it's still being boycotted by country radio stations three years after the singer had criticized the Pres for going to war.. The boycott just sounds to have a sexist overtone because male singers have said similar anti-Bush remarks yet they are not being targeted. My take is if we want to defend the first Amendment (freedom of expression) we should all buy a Dixie Chicks album; the music is surprisingly good too. The group will be interviewed by CNN's Larry King tonight.
Yeah hc2 I could make a urinal screen out of their picture off the cd just like I did for Jane Fonda some thirty-five years ago. Obviously you are not a Vet hc2 if you don't understand that we don't appreciate citizens who give aid and comfort to the enemy in a time of war. The statements of performers that don't get it only serve to embolden the enemy and prolong the war.
Bin Laden uses Vietnam as a guide for the effort to undermine support for the war against him by promoting a cut and run America.
So hc2 it comes down to one simple fact: we can either fight global terrorism as a home game or an away game, you need to choose and take sides.
Hey hc2 if we fail over there, an Islamist will be placing an IED in a mall near you.
It could be something as simple as filling a van full of propane bottles, driving thru the weak security at your local mall entrance into the center court inside. All he would need to do is open a valve and flick his Bic to enter Heaven and have 72 virgins waiting at the gate. Piss on the Dixie Hags.
Oh boy, I feel like I've really let the cat out of the bag this time. Enjoy your trip.
Only problem with JS & your relative time comparisons is that it does not take into consideration their ages. Annika was a 25 year old woman with all of the maturity in other areas besides golf that help to make her a complete and dominant player. Another problem with both of your analysis is that Annika was a full time golfer during those years and Michelle cannot develop any sort of rhythm playing part-time due to school and the LPGA imposed max event schedule.
One-Putt, the reason 16 years old matters is the question of potential. She isn't physically and mentally fully developed yet, and while that development may not improve her game, it certainly has a good chance to do so. That's why her being 16 matters when discussing her accomplishments to date - she is doing it without having fully developed her own abilities. Anything she does now, she has an excellent chance of exceeding in the coming years as she gains physical and mental capabilities that are not present in a 16 year old.
One-Putt, I can follow your train of thought regarding Annika starting at 22 and Michelle starting at 13 at the women's US Open. Annika wins it 3 years later and for Michelle to match, she needs to win it this year at age 16. Well... that might happen and then you would need to agree with me and disagree with Judge Smells.
Only problem with JS & your relative time comparisons is that it does not take into consideration their ages. Annika was a 25 year old woman with all of the maturity in other areas besides golf that help to make her a complete and dominant player. Another problem with both of your analysis is that Annika was a full time golfer during those years and Michelle cannot develop any sort of rhythm playing part-time due to school and the LPGA imposed max event schedule.
Fourteen or fifteen events a year is enough for Michelle right now. If the LPGA would wake up and give her a couple more exemptions she might play more, but I believe her schedule is full enough for a high school student.
Most people misjudge what Michelle is trying to accomplish with her limited events. Except for the hometown Hawaii tournaments every women's event she enters provides the best competition. She has raised the bar to the highest level available to her on the women's tour and done remarkably well for her age and experience.
If Michelle only wanted trophies in her case at home she would choose the lesser quality events on the LPGA tour. Michelle on the other hand likes the challenges presented to her by the best golfers she can enter a match with. It all comes down to how you measure success for a teenage golfer.
12th -- if everything falls into place.
48th -- weather is bad and she doesn't bring her A-game.
One-Putt I'm really touched by your I'm a vet story. NOT!
Burp, scratch.......It ain't nuthing but a thing man.
This is not a political blog or website - HC2 decided to make a Freedom of Speech stand in here, which is the only reason any of this comes up. And my reply is that it's not anti-Freedom of Speech to not listen to the Dixie Chicks or for radio stations to not play their records. But you don't like that, because you think everyone should share your view - otherwise they are a right wing neocon redneck grunt christian conservative lunatic Karl-Rovite. Well, we all have our opinions. And biases.
As of 10:30 am MW is 1 under through 6. Solid start. Missed a couple of birdie putts, though...
Tim McDonald must be squirming by now. He even took out my post from his blog site. I don't know what he found so offensive with this:
Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm he had a duck, E-I-E-I-O
With a "quack, quack" here and a "quack, quack" there
Here a "quack" there a "quack"
Everywhere a "quack, quack"
Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
This has been a public service announcement. Now back to your regular programming.
I guess he doesn't have a sense of humor.
"Since Alex has a habit of talking out of both sides of his mouth, on his behalf I give you my prediction for Michelle's finish at Canoe Brook:
12th -- if everything falls into place.
48th -- weather is bad and she doesn't bring her A-game."
Well, I played a round in the area today and the weather was spot-on perfect for golf. As I figure it, Bubbles finished about 71st. You were saying?
As the PGA figured it, she finished T58. I believe they are the official source.
As for Wie, hell of a run. You will say she once again failed to live up to "the hype." I was busy with a Stanley Cup Playoff game for the ages, but when I checked her final standing I will say that I was both disappointed and pleased: she had the qualification in site and failed on the mental edge of putting again, but in competing in a men's event she only lacked in putting, which is by far the least gender-specific element of the game.
You and Smails/UnderPar hate to hear it, but she is 16 and was within a solid putter of playing the US Open. Not even Tiger, the best to ever play the game, was this good this early. She is living up to the hype, even in coming up short at Canoe Brook.
The problem is how she lines them up, her set up, and stroke. It doesn't matter how tricky the greens are; that's how one is supposed to adjust mid-round. So, with MW brushing aside this ongoing problem, I don't expect her to win any tournaments this year.
How can you possibly waste time singing the praises of a second-rate talent like Mickelson when a golfer for the ages like Bubbles is walking God's green fairways?
Alex,
How can you possibly waste time singing the praises of a second-rate talent like Mickelson when a golfer for the ages like Bubbles is walking God's green fairways?"
"Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Do I believe that there was too much pressure on her? Hell no! To paraphrase the words of Lee Trevino, pressure is playing a round for ten dollars a hole when you only have five dollars in your pocket. In this case, I believe the immortal words of BJ Wie. He said that although she is disappointed, he is very proud of her because she played her best. I agree. Yesterday we saw Bubbles at her best. I'm also proud of her."
Well Judge it appears Alex was satisfied that Phil had played his best after his final round. He just encountered some, "really bad breaks" that kept him from winning. I'm sure Alex was equally as proud of Phil's performance as he was of Michelle's. Nobody could ever accuse of Alex setting a double standard, could they?
her miserable putting within 12 feet was the key. The rest of her game was solid and if her putting was halfway decent she would have made the cut at (5 under).
This is not an acceptable excuse to dismiss it and say 'oh it's just bad luck' because I think putting is an underrated skill. It is an art that is not as easily mastered as many think. I recall the great Sam Snead being so frustrated that he even tried to putt aligned facing the hole. Goodness knows how many US Opens he would have won if he had been a better than average putter. It turned out he didn't even win one.
Mw had about a dozen missed birdie chances; plus if you add the par misses; well -5 was very feasible.
I've said it for a long time; MW's nemesis has always been putting; we're talking of one of those who hits it a ton; but can't make putts. She is not an average putter, she is simply bad.
To tell you the truth ever since I've seen her play the past few years, including this year, I have never seen her give it a true roll; meaning that the putt stays true to its intended line; and dies at the cup.
It was not until five 1/2 years of golfing, including lessons, that I came with a putting routine that actually works consistently for me; and I'm afraid it's gonna take MW just as much if not more. Putting is not simply stroking it, but starts even before you step on the green as you know.
The only positive I see is that she could 'figure it' out one day; but I would rather not keep my hopes up. I kind of gave up on MW to ever be a good putter; and thus to ever be consistent in contending and winning championships. I expect Lorena Ochoa, Karrie Webb, and the various Kim girls to contend for the upcoming McDonald's LPGA championship.
Also, she suceeded in shutting down the entire golf channel website. They couldn't handle the web traffic that went their way: time to upgrade your servers people!
Alex,
Wie missed the par savers that you mention plus SIX birdie putts of 12 feet or less in the morning round alone. So her putter could have netted her all the strokes she needed without going crazy and making everything inside 12 feet. In fact, she makes half of those morning putts and all of the par savers (which were all considerably less than 12 feet) and she's there.
So I think my contention is pretty solid on that point. What do you make of the fact that she had no problem with the length of the setup (granted, South was short but North wasn't) and was able to give herself that many birdie putts? Doesn't that indicate that physically she is not overmatched by the PGA course setup? Can there be any reason a man would be a better putter than a woman, on average?
Bottom line is she didn't make the cut. But it wouldn't have mattered in this blog stream anyway, you and UnderSmails would complain that the course setup favored her, or that it's not an achievement to qualify, or it doesn't mean anything unless she can make the cut, blah, blah. You guys complain when she gets an exemption, saying she should play in if she wants. Now you complain when she follows the play in route. It's all the same.
"Always look on the DARK side of life" is your paraphrased Monty Python theme song.
I disagree with you that she will not win this year. I think she will, partly because I think her putting will improve with the constant play over the summer, and partly because on the LPGA she can probably get away with one or two giveaways and still win.
Hasn't happened yet.
Next tournament she will make everything from inside 12 feet, but won't have the incredible ball striking day she had Monday and everybody will cry that all she had to do was drive the ball more accurately and hit more greens in regulation. Golf is funny like that and extremely unforgiving. If you have a weakeness on a particular day it will likely be exposed. Michelle still has holes in her game, not the least of which is her startling tendency to not be able to get over the hump and make mistakes when they matter most. I believe she is not as strong mentally as all of you would like to believe and I also think that SHE would have benifited from learning to win earlier in her career, whether that would have been at the junior level, amateur level or maybe even focusing on winning on the LPGA tour. Notice how I highlighted SHE, that's because I know people will throw the names of Morgan Pressel and other highly decorated juniors at me. Michelle Wie, however is not Morgan Pressel she is far more gifted physically and blessed with much more innate talent and ability. Morgan is a fine golfer, but we all know she is not in Michelle's league. I think Michelle personally would have benifited from this type of career path and today we may be talking about how she will play at Winged Foot, and how she will add yet another women's major to her collection, instead of talking about why she failed yet again and can she finally win one on the LPGA tour.
It would be interesting to know just how much of Michelle Wie's recent preparation has been focussed on the men's game and how much on the women's. It is quite possible that her recent work on putting has been focussed on the upcoming LPGA Championships and not the just concluded men's sectionals.
Michelle Wie plays the maximum number of LPGA events that she is allowed to play. Her experience playing against men was worth at lot more at Canoe Brook than winning a buch of Junior tournaments against little girls would have been. She might very well have won already on the LPGA if she had focussed all of her attention on the women's game--but if she had done that she would have had no chance against the men. If she ever does play full time on the LPGA, I believe her experience with men's golf will mke her a better golfer, and will lead to more LPGA wins for her, even if the first one may come a little later than it would have otherwise.
Alex is absolutely right that Michelle could have parred out the side and not qualified, she needed birdies. The shorter hitters on the PGA tour win for one reason; their performance on and around the greens. Michelle will never be a factor in a men's event until she masters this part of her game. The good news is she is young and has many golfing years ahead of her to perfect the game.
The real problems are: a)proper alignment at set up, and b) proper stroke mechanics. My descriptions of MW around the greens: set up is too tense, stroke too robot-like(stiff). There is an absence of feel. My suggestion is for MW to visit Ben Crenshaw or Dave Stockton now!.
And, Alex, let's not forget that she has that sparkly watch.
Michelle is fearless, and that has a lot to do with knowing that you compete against the best. Not one LPGA player today can say that, not even Annika. Don't even talk about the 2003 Colonial, she wasn't there to compete.
When Annika rubbed elbows with the male PGA players, she came back as the alpha female of the LPGA. Thereafter, her added confidence and sense of superiority paved the way to her complete dominance in the LPGA. The same will hold true for Michelle, it's only a matter of time when the LPGA players crown their new alpha female.
"Teenage girls and women in general have a way of thinking that way."
You two are impressive. You sure we "think" at all? I mean, that might be giving teenage girls and women a bit much credit, no? I can't believe you guys let us vote. And don't get me started on driving a car! Just the other day, I considered wearing shoes and leaving the kitchen, but I realized I wasn't pregnant so I had to hie to my man and get busy with child rearin'.
What an offensive statement. I think you have exposed a large portion of your true problems with Michelle - she's a woman, and you don't think she should be getting so uppity.
Me? I blame Margaret Thatcher. That crazy female thought she could run a major Western power. What a loon! If not for her, I'd be happily humming in the kitchen, waiting for Alex or UnderSmails to put me on a pedestal and admire me again!
I hear you hc2...unfortunately, unlike the previously raised questions around Bush or the Dixie Chicks, this social commentary relates directly to the blog topic - namely, that Michelle competing against the men is a good thing. Alex and UnderSmails want to put Michelle on their mantle, like a delicate statue. To be looked at and admired when they see fit, but to come down from the mantle only when they deem it appropriate. Meanwhile, the rest of us are part of a militant regime because we believe women should be allowed to pursue any career or dream that men also pursue.
Good gravy, I can't believe I am actually having this discussion here. Suddenly I see why this has been such a waste of time - Alex, UnderSmails, you are misogynistic fools. The world has passed you by. Even wonderful places like Afghanistan where your parochial views were maintained by force are being routed out. You two are the kind of wackos that give conservatives a bad name.
My better half tells me not to bother with this, that the commentaries on here are worthless. If only I wasn't so uppity and listened to the wiser gender, just let myself be placed on that pedestal and didn't bother to try using that lump of grey matter inconveniently lodged inside my skull, I'd be so much happier! I think I will sign myself and our daughter up for a lobotomy, so we can live in UnderAlexSmails world and be so happy!
"Here comes misogyny. Here comes Alex!"
Yes, "21st century feminism." That lunatic fringe that believes women are people independent of their spouses.
As for "dysfunction" and other suggestions of mental disease and the treatments of mental illness...careful, Alex. You are venturing into my area of expertise. You clearly know next to nothing of psychotropic treatments. I happen to study them and related therapies, particularly as they are used in adolescents. While not a clinician, I am as versed in this area from a scientific standpoint as one can be. And just to be clear, nothing available on the market today zaps an independent thinker into a subservient slave to your wishes.
My daughter doesn't watch MTV, and I am sure she'll turn out just fine - though my definition and your definition of "fine" are clearly far apart.
"Candace Polski, on the other hand, gets a "no rating". As they say in rural West Virginia, "I don't know if she needs a beatin' or a bath." Perhaps a long rest at the home would delay the need for a lobotomy for poor Candace."
More of your wonderful thoughts on women, West Virginians, and rural dwellers. And the opining on lobotomy, of course, many days ago.
Hey, nice work on your prognostication! I love the fact that you are pseudo-rooting for Michelle now, too. So if she wins, you can say you were pulling for that all along - you wouldn't want to give anyone here a chance to say you were wrong about Wie, after all.
You are a magician, Alex. Taught by The Great William Jefferson Clinton himself. Unfortunately, your palming moves are showing.
Oh well - US Women's Open in a few weeks...another chance for you to predict Wie wins, Alex!
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