I'll join your fit of blind exuberance Jennifer, even though there is one more catagory that has to improve. That is where the tee shot lands. In the end it was going astray off the tee that set up her down fall last year.

But I'm with you. I think she's due.

And don't forget that when she tees it up Saturday it will be the first time in 61 years. But when she tees it up Sunday it will be the first time ever...the Babe didn't make it to Sunday back in '45.

Oh and no, it doesn't seem fair to me that Michelle can beat the Babe just by tying her accomplishment of making the cut on Friday...but them's the rules now and that's Golf.

No, she will not make the cut at the John Deere. She will miss by at least two strokes. (Unless the fix is in and several PGA pros deliberately tank to give Bubbles yet another pass). But failing yet again will not deter her phalanx of Wie Warriors from singing her paean of victory. Bubbles will rule to these delusionals if she merely shows up for the John Deere.

The only way Wie-Wee will make the cut at John Deere is if the sorry Wie supporting members of the PGA 'throw' their qualifing rounds to let Wie-Wee in.

Hi Jennifer. I will be watching tomorrow. AND I ordered your latest book "Michelle Wie: The Making of a Champion" from Amazon. It has not arrived but I'm looking forward to reading it this coming weekend.

I agree with your "bold prediction"... she will make the cut at the JDC BUT I will make a bolder prediction... Michelle will tie 55th or higher at the tournament's end.

Ever thought about writing one on Brittany Lincicome? She seems to have traveled an unusual path to LPGA stardom. Maybe wait a couple of years to see if she continues to do as great as her awesome performance in the HSBC.

Along with Michelle, Brittany's "bombs away" driving ability might force the LPGA/USGA to rethink the ladies' tournament course setup ala the PGA when Tiger started to dominate in 1999/2000.

AhhSoo, You think that your prediction is bold? Jim COULTHARD, undoubtedly a much greater Wie Warrior than you, has flatly stated that Bubbles will not only make the cut at the John Deere, she will also win, that's WIN both the Evian AND the Weetabix! Now THAT'S a prediction! Try topping that!

Alex, I couldn't go out on the limb that far and make a prediction for the Evian and the Weetabix wins. Not yet anyway. I need to see how high she finishes in the JDC first. I'll make my prediction on those 2 tournaments after Sunday evening.

Also, I believe that tied 55th or higher in a PGA tournament would rank higher than a win at either the Evian or Weetabix. Crazy as it sounds because we all agree that most nothing is worth more than a win on the ladies tour (especially for Michelle who has none), I think her confidence will sky rocket if she scores pretty high up with the men. In her mind that would be huge as it would validate what she really wants and that is to play full time on the men's tour.

She's progressing nicely and if you close your eyes and not see that she is a female, it wouldn't be all that difficult to picture Michelle as a full time PGA pro (qualified via Q school that is).

Nothing takes the place of winning... and mind you, this is not just a PGA tournament... The top players most likely wont be there. Just about everyone who qualified for the Open will be overseas when this tourney is played.... I must admit though, if MW is gonna finally make a cut, it should be here cause they wont get any easier by comparison.

I purchased Jen's book. This might as well be the first review by a customer. It was very informative, not only about Wie, but golf in general. I consider it a very good guide book for new comers/beginners to golf who got interested because of Wie.(which I believe is a great majority, including myself. I never went on the link, only swing lessons since hooked into Wie-watching) The book has a lot of interesting details of Wie's personal and professional life that Wie fans would enjoy reading. The only negative comment is "The making of a Champion" seems a premature title as she has not won anything since turning pro, but I guess that is simply a matter of time before she becomes a champion. In a sense, your book is not completed until she wins a big one...

My first prediction was a mised cut at the John Deere followed by two wins in Europe. I changed my prediction in support of a poster(Ahsoo?) who was subjected to written abuse for predicting the made cut and top 55 finish. I certainly do not consider such a prediction ridiculous--but I am worried. Last year until the last couple of holes it seemed that Michelle Wie was playing as well as she could possibly play. That got her one above the cut line with 4 holes to go. I am confident she can close out this year in such a position--but has she improved enough to match her first 32 last year is simply what we would expect from her instead of something almost magical like it was last year? I am hoping.

On the LPGA in 4 stroke play events this year she has never been more than 2 strokes out of the lead at the end. Now she gets to play 2 not really LPGA events in Europe where there is virtually no anti-Wie contingent to poison the atmosphere for her. Last year she did well with a much worse caddy situation than what she has this year. She is a lot beeter than she was last year.

As far as Babe's achievement in 1945 is concerned, it was after the war in December 1945--but there is no way the quality of men's golf at the end of 1945 could have been even close to the level it would have been had there been no war.

I have read your book Jen - fantastic! Excellent detail on how Michelle can work so hard on her game at such a young age, and yet not run the same risk of imploding a la Capriati or the quarterback guy you mention. Also interesting to see her motivations spelled out so clearly, if you are only listening to what she is saying. Nice work!

I am sure you'll receive hate mail from the Dark Trio - ignore them. Note the trap door they are building into their own arguments - if you are correct and Michelle makes the cut this weekend, it will be because of the PGA (or some members/players) throwing the match to get her over the cut line. These guys are impressive - I think they could write scripts for Oliver Stone.

I'll be watching tomorrow night, and the Deere this weekend. Hope Michelle exceeds even your expectations!

It amazes me that a grown man would become interested in golf simply because some teeny-bopper makes a splash. What are you, Jay, a nine-year-old girl?

You must have a very empty life.

Jennfer I hope your book sells a zillion copies.

What a breath of fresh air you are compared to those Baldwin, McDonald types who bad mouth Michelle just to get readers to respond

Congrats and give us more blogs on Michelle

Babbles thinks Bubbles will miss the JDC cut by at least two strokes. After HSBC, I thought he might be correct.

However, after seeing MW and her practice partners on TGC, I now think MW will make it well above the cut line.

Jen, using Babbles' conspiracy theory, might the "fix" have been in by "some of the girls" to psych out MW? MW's behavior with Christina Kim and Seri was unexpected--because MW should have expected Kim and Seri to run interference for her. Then to get bombed by Brittany? Nah, too far fetched. Inexplicabley, MW played poorly and Brittany whopped her.

Anyway, the guys at the JDC seemed to have reset MW.

Can MW get to the Open from the JDC? OK, Babbles, I'm babbling now.

LOL - if the Wie bashers are so confident of their prediction of failure then why do they feel they have to make a pre-emptive claim about a "fix" conspiracy theory just in case they're wrong?

Excuses from Wie fans will pale in comparison with the excuses from the haters should Wie succeed:

Weak field, juiced ball, Nike payoffs, tanking pros, were going to hear it all, and then some.

It amazes me that a grown man would become interested in unending and obsessive travelgolf blog postings simply because some teeny-bopper makes a splash. What are you, Judge, a nine-year-old pimple-faced boy?

You must have a very empty life.

Mike W. Did you miss my prediction from above?

The only way Wie-Wee will make the cut at John Deere is if the sorry Wie supporting members of the PGA 'throw' their qualifing rounds to let Wie-Wee in.

I apologize... the 3rd AhhSoo posting is mine... I mistakenly put that moniker on the post instead of JR... Once again, I apologize.

As I stated in a previous posting, I believe that of all the PGA events on the schedule, this is the one that MW has the biggest chance of making the cut in. Since the tourney's date is also around that of the Open, many in the top 30 (money list) will not be attending. But hey, if MW makes the cut, congratulaions are in order.

MikeW.. I dont know about the rest of the folks here in this blog but I read them because some the posts range from absolutely hilarious to ridiculously insane. It's called entertainment.... Now, here's a question for you... is this week's JDC field fully stocked with the top money list players or not??? Simple yes/no question.

Jim COULTHARD, For once I am in complete agreement with you. Your prediction that Bubbles will make the cut at the John Deere and then win both the Evian and the Weetabix is not ridiculous. Your prediction is insane. It probably would qualify you as a candidate for cephalic electric shock treatments or possibly even a frontal lobotomy.

I'm not very good at fantasy golf, so don't try such a prediction... for sure, top money list are not presents, but you know, JR, just try to qualify for this event, and just try to make the cut, then, you will know how difficult it could be.

I have the chance to go to Evian at the end of the month, as photographer for a french magazine, an after to the British Open, very happy to see her, and the other top girls.
She's a star now, and it will be different from the convivial mood of the past years, but for those who like golf and golfing, it's really fantasic to watch her on a beautiful course like Evian.
I will put online some pictures soon, for the pleasure of the fans, don't care of the jealous grumpy people, sports shows need stars, she's a star, one day, she will be a champion too, she has all the time.

I am an what I would term a Wie skeptic, not a full fledged basher. I must say that I have never had to make preemptive excuses for Michelle's success, because she has never had any on the PGA tour, and as we all know she has never won on the LPGA tour, so no excuses needed there. What seperates the skeptics from the bashers seems to be the pleasure that is derived from her losses, I personally get none and would be the first to cheer her and give her credit for either making a cut in a men's event and winning a women's title. I must admit I get a little pleasure watching and listening to her fans squirm each time she comes close and let's them down. The pattern is always the same, her fans predict this is the week for Michelle, it isn't and they make the same predictions the next time she tees it up. While I admire the optimism, there are people on this site that have been predicting cuts made and wins for years now---These same people will be the first in line to scream, "I told you so!" Did anyone ever think that perhaps there are no actual Wie bashers in the world, just bashers of Michelle's rabid fans.

I think I have to agree with Ford above. I'm not so much a Wie-basher as a "How-Team-Wie-is-going-about-it" critic. True, I'm obviously interested in how she does, but I gotta be honest, I ain't cheering too loud, but a little. In another BLOG, someone questioned whether or not Wie is and will be good for golf, or just good for Wie. Are the two the same? Not so sure. They based this on her business Team’s moves so far, and her apparent refusal to just say in response to post tourney interviews, I "didn't execute today, my fault, I failed to get it done, the other lady’s just played better than me" instead of, I just had a few bad breaks out there, I just don’t understand what happened to keep me from winning, I mean...I should have won, right? I guess it's that new age psychology that says: don’t threaten your self esteem. I’m also not so sure why she feels she needs to play on the men’s tour. OK, she’s looking for the most competitive golf out there to test her mettle, laudable, but each time she does this Barnum and Bailey act, I can just hear the LPGA players groan with angst and annoyance from suffering this oblique insult to their quality as golfers and competitors. It can’t say anything other than, I am above you, I am superior, I deserve greater...EEEEEYUK! How do you get behind that attitude and cheer?? Then there is the obvious exploitation for corporate profit. You’ve gotta know that if Wie stumbles big time all those great relationships she exalts will hit the cold and hard reality of business marketing and semi-annual corporate reports (PROFIT). I don't know...maybe it will much to do about nothing. I don't see her winning a men's event, but probably will make a cut. Fine, no big deal, kinda fun for the history of the game, but in the back of my mind I just can't help to think there's a real tragedy brewing here. Not so much for golf in general, but for this young lady. I guess we'll just need to wait and see.

JRC, Your post showed a lot of insight and critical thinking. But you obviously are not a blind worshiper of Bubbles. For that reason, you will make no headway with the Wie Warriors. You have to drink deeply and heavily of the Wie koolaid to make any points with that bunch. Get ready for the napalm from the Wie-wee's.

I'm not saying Wie will miss the cut, but the absence of the bigger names will not have much effect on the cut number. There are too many good players every week. The most the cut would change is 1 shot, but I don't think it would even change that much.

An excellent post JRC, and you make the appropriate critical points. Well, some of them - there are more points you could be critical about, actually.

It's interesting, Jen's book actually talks about a number of the issues you bring up. Why Wie competes against the men - she has always wanted to play against the very best competition, and the LPGA can groan if they want, but the PGA players are quite clearly better at the game, no? How her "team" makes decisions, but Michelle's own desire is still what defines the space in which those decisions are made. Several other interesting details - but I don't want to reprint her book here! You should read it. Critic or fan, it's worth your time. Well, a reasonable critic, such as yourself, should read it.

On the question of whether she is good for the game, the short answer is that the jury is still out, of course. We won't know for some time. But right now she is definitely bringing a lot more attention to the LPGA, and some additional attention to the PGA as well. That's all good. There was an interview a few months ago on Outside the Lines where Jeremy Schaap talked to a couple golf journalists about Wie, and the lady who runs one of the women's golf magazines (I am forgetting her name or which magazine - I think it was Golf for Women) compared Wie to Tiger in the attention grabbing dimension. Her comment was "the rising tide raises all ships", so like Tiger, the attention Wie brings to the game helps everyone on the LPGA and PGA.

I think that Wie will continue to have a very positive influence on the women's game, so long as she continues playing the LPGA majors and a couple other events. If she ever bails on the LPGA events completely for a full time PGA career, she wouldn't hurt the LPGA, but she would cease to help it at all. Of course, she could only play full time on the PGA if she were making cuts regularly, and there is no reason to think that she will be doing that any time soon.

So for now, I think she is taking advantage of the attention she generates to do the things she wants to do - test her game, and improve it, against the very best competition; make as much money as she can while doing what she wants to do; and keeping her options open for her future career while finishing her education (which may or may not include Stanford or some other collegiate pursuit).

Again, good points JRC - but read Jen's book. It will inform you on a number of the issues you are concerned about/skeptical of. You may still be concerned or skeptical, but you'll have an even better understanding of where Wie is coming from, for sure.

Candace,

You said, "The PGA players are quite clearly better at the game, no?" My, my, I think congratulations are in order: that's an impressive insight for you. Was this epiphany arrived at through meditation and prayer or did it just strike you like a bolt of lightning while in a semi-sleep state?

Mikey,

This Jay character claims he took up golf simply because some teeny-bopper hit the scene. On the other hand, it wasn't Bubbles who inspired me to come to these boards. Rather, I came here and found them populated by Wiemen, fawning acolytes whose reason for being seems to rest on the golfing fortunes of their adolescent girl savior.

As for Bubbles prospects for making the cut: the odds are against it, but I've always said that she'll make one eventually. Hey, even a blind squirrel . . ..

But I ask you: so what? Making a cut on the tour (which already has been accomplished by a 15-year-old boy) means nothing. That's golf: sometimes you play poorly, sometimes well, and occasionally you shoot lights out. Give any accomplished player enough tries and he'll capture lightning in a bottle.

Hi Jennifer,

Congratulations on your book! I look forward to reading it.

-Kristen

Ford commented:
I must admit I get a little pleasure watching and listening to her fans squirm each time she comes close and let's them down.
_______________

Ford, I think you are just looking at success differently.
While perhaps you look on 3rd at the US Women's Open as some sort of failure, I watched the same event, and was absolutely delighted with how well she played right to the line.

Also, I think that top 5 finishes in the last 4 lpga majors is success. It wouldn't be that much success for Annika who has done it all before.
But for a work in progress like Michelle it is phenomenal that she can do this, when her contempories like Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel both reached the top of the leaderboard but each of them felt back due to the pressure at the US Womens Open.
Morgan Pressel fell back midway through the 1st round after leading, and Paula Creamer was right in contention til midway through the 3rd round before falling away.
Brittany Lincicome held right in there and led going into the final round, but she shot a 78 to fall away.
Michelle hung in all the way through and at the end of the tournament was beaten by 2 better players, and didn't just beat herself like the other young players.

Her US Open qualifying run was a success. Her Asian Tour cut was a success.

No excuses are needed from Wie's fans.
So far she has performed excellently.

On the other hand, the pre-emptive excuse of weak field, coming from the Wie Bashers is very humourous indeed.

Judge comment:
But I ask you: so what? Making a cut on the tour (which already has been accomplished by a 15-year-old boy) means nothing.
-----------

That was in the 1800's, probably when you were just a boy.
A 16 year old made the cut on the pga tour a few years ago, and it was 44 years before that that it happened again, so it is a big deal.

No, Johnny, it wasn't in the 1800s but in the 50s, I believe.

I say that it's not a big deal because she is being given the opportunity to attempt it an unlimited number of times. How many chances did those boys get?

The 15 year old boy that Judge Smails is referring to is Tadd Fujikawa, who qualified for the US Open this year, played in the first two rounds--and missed the cut by 9 shots. Even with the tougher field in the US Open I think what Michelle Wie did at 14 missing the SONY cut by one stroke is more impressive than missing the US Open cut by nine.

Judge Smails referred to Tadd on another post, and I posted before I was able to see his last comment. In any case, she has amply time to make a cut before Tiger did--and he did get a lot of chances before he made a cut.

Golf is very different than it was in the 1950s. Today women qualify for their Tour with two stage process of qualifying tournaments. Kathy Whitwoth became an LPGA member by simply putting in an application and paying a $25 fee. The depth of the game was a lot less in the 1950s.

Jimmy,

Are you actually claiming that getting a sponsor's exemption (NOT qualifying) into the Sony and missing the cut (by any margin) is a greater accomplishment than QUALIFYING for the most prestigious event in golf history? Well, congratulations, this assertion should definitely win you some points in the Alan Cup competition.

As for Bubbles, give any accomplished player enough chances and he'll hit paydirt.

Judge

Qualifying for the US Open was a great accomplishment for Tadd. But it is ridiculous to claim that the US Open is the most prestigous event in golf. The Open Championship next week is almost certainly the most prestigous although perhaps a case can be made for the Masters.

In one sense, I agree with the Wie Warriors... she probably WILL make the cut this week. Whether skillful planning or serendipidity, the conditions are pretty well aligned to make this her BEST chance to make a PGA cut.

But then what? She'll have proven that she can compete with the bottom 50 guys on the PGA tour. While a landmark achievement, is it a good thing for anyone but Wie herself? It's showing that a player who hasn't even won on the LPGA tour can't win on the PGA tour either. Hardly a revelation there...

I agree with Ford when he says "Did anyone ever think that perhaps there are no actual Wie bashers in the world, just bashers of Michelle's rabid fans." She's a helluva golfer, but she's still the Korean Kournikova with tons of potential and some questionable decisions, and it would be really refreshing to hear one of the Wie Warriors admit it.

According to Alex my predictions regarding Michelle Wie would probably qualify ne as a candidate for cephalic electric shock treament and possibly even frontal lobotomy. Is anyone else troubled by a person who would carry a sports argument to such an extreme that he would suggest that those with which he disagrees should have their brains be given electric shocks or have parts of their brain cut up?

Jimmy,

More points in the competition -- bully for you. Now you say that calling the Open the most prestigious event in golf is ridiculous? Well, I'd be willing to bet that if you polled PGA pros, the consensus would be that they hold the US Open in higher esteem than the British.

Todd,

I have to disagree with one of your points. If she makes the cut it will NOT prove that she can compete with the bottom fifty on tour; it'll merely prove that she had an excellent tournament. You prove that you can compete with the bottom fifty by qualifying for the tour and retaining you card.

Jimmy,

I agree with Alex. In the least, you should be medicated with 50ccs of thorazine.

Jim C, Perhaps it was insensitive of me to suggest electric shock treatment and/or cerebral surgery to cure your psychotic malady. In retrospect, I even consider Judge Smails' contention that thorazine is the answer for you as being too extreme. No, Jimmy, after all due deliberation, I think that the best course of action in your case would be to have you permanently institutionalized in a secure facility in a room with a heavily padded floor and rubber wallpaper.

I have to laugh on how serious bloggers are and how ardently they defend their planning of Michelle's golfing career.

Unfortunately Michelle is not cooperating with the legions who would like to hoist a statue of her and promote her to be the reigning queen of golf. She also continues to frustrate those who would like to send her into golfing exile by performing at a high level when she plays in her limited events.

Her latest interview at the John Deere gave us some insight into how she really feels about all this hoopla surrounding her when she stated in the interview, "I mean, golf is still a game. You just have to have fun. I don't think you should see golf as a career. I don't see golf as a career for me, it's just a game."

It is ironic how a sixteen year old girl can make something so complicated into something so simple.

You are so right Michelle, golf is just a game, so go have some fun and continue to frustrate both sides.

One-Putt, Sure, it's easy for Bubbles to say that golf is just a game, a mere pastime. She can have such a cavalier attitude since she has so many additional career choices upon which to rely. According to several posters on these blogs, she will manage single-handedly her vast financial empire AFTER she gets her Masters" Degree in Business Administration from the Wharton School, which will come after she gets her Bachelor's Degree from Stanford. All the while she is studying intently for these degrees, she will be winning several events on the LPGA and PGA tours which will enable her to amass this vast financial empire. Then, of course, in her twilight years, she will have her lucrative career as a motivational public speaker to sustain her life style. This will further allow her to carry on her many works of Philanthropy in which she will be engaged. So, yes, to Bubbles golf probably is just a game, an outlet for the energy one builds up with so many irons in the fire. But where is the concern for the less fortunate like Annika, Juli, Lorena, Karrie, Paula, Brittany, and, yes, even the dreaded MORGAN? Their futures are to be no more than a bunch of dowdy, old frumps with nothing more to live on than their meager 401K's. Where, oh where is Bubbles' compassion? Where is her empathy?

My God Jim, are you talking about the same U.S. Open as I am? Are you actually considering the Sony Open (regardless of the then pre-teen’s age) to be an equitable comparison in field, difficulty, and prestige as is the U.S. Open? Are you really not seeing that young Mr. Fujikawa, obviously talented with great potential, is just not as marketable as Michelle Wie and that’s why he gets zip attention,(not to mention zero endorsements); it having nothing to do with age, but I suspect gender plays a role? And finally, although the "Open is indeed older and more venerable, I suspect it would be a nightmare for young Miss Wie would be likely hard pressed to keep the ball in play on a links style course across the pond. To be honest though, I’m not sure if she has played a demanding link course. Anyone know?

Johnny--I agree that the weak field and conspiracy theories from some Wie bashers was pretty sad, but am I the only one who reads all the excuses from Wie fans as to why she did not or has not won? In the previous months I have heard as excuses, school distractions, the pressure and mental letdown after attempting to qualify for the U.S. Open, the old standby...her age, inexperience, bad luck (when Karrie Webb holed out a few months ago), bad breaks (from the horses mouth)and many others too numerous to list. You are absolutely correct in saying that her results are great--top 5's are indeed impressive for the average golfer, but Michelle is not and has not been billed as the average golfer, she is the future of women's golf, nay, the future of golf period and with such hype comes responsibility--the responsibility to win, regardless of age or experience or even supposed bad breaks. I believe Michelle needs to win to validate her hype and to validate her decsion to play with men. It only stands to reason that one proves they can succeed and win at one level before they move to the next.

Alex you keep understating Michelle's goals. She has an academic goal of earning a PhD, not just a Masters degree. She never did mention Wharton for her masterial studies, I would guess Harvard Business School would be her first choice.

I would say Philanthropy is an apt phrase to describe a generous young lady who has given nearly million dollars to charity so far this year. In fact charities are the ones who benefit the most when Michelle appears at a sponsored event. Where would the JD be this year if they didn't have Michelle headlining the field? If she plays only two days the event will be successful, four days and the event is a blockbuster.

I don't think Michelle will be a motivational speaker in the future Alex. Her goals appear to be a little higher than that my friend. You might ask yourself why in the world her parents would purchase a home for her in California in one of the most taxed states in the Nation? Why not Florida where the tax rates are lower and other high profile athletes own homes?

Why would Michelle choose Stanford as her college of choice, rather than just any old University?

I'll give you a little hint Alex...Name Recognition and Politics. Orange County, CA is the heart of Republican politics in the State. California is a great stepping stone for a National political run.

Can you say Governor Wie, Alex?
Or maybe a Senator Wie?
How about Madame President Wie, Alex?

As long as Michelle is a full time student she can't be expected to join any tour and can easily cherry pick her events for the next eight to ten years.

As she stated this week Alex, golf is just a game to her, not a career. I imagine she might have other plans for her future that may not include being a full time professional golfer.

It maybe is a early to predict what Michelle might do in the future Alex, yet BJ and Bo have been planning her future with her for sixteen years now.

The LPGA biddies will have my heart felt sympathy if this comes to fruition.

One-putt: Wait a minute; MW sees golf as "just a game" to be played awhile, and then off to loftier pursuits in another profession. Hmmmmmm? OK this doesn't compute fro me. So let me see if I understand this. She has lofty, almost unbelievably ambitious goals to conquer not only the LPGA, but also the PGA tours; she is a role model for millions of young, female golfers hoping to take up the game, she is endorsed by some of the largest corporations in America and overseas, she's, well she's...well I can't believe this...only a game she said?!?!?!? So, we all expect her to focus on her bachelor’s degree program at Stanford and forego the tours, or just dabble form time to time. Can she still play as an NCAA athlete on Stanford’s golf team once she's joined the professional ranks? I just can't buy this. A young girl who pushes the envelope to get into the professional golf arena just to throttle back in a year or so to go to college for a BA/BS, and then pursue advanced degree programs, because, like, you shouldn't think of golf as a career. Is this the plan of Mr. and Mrs. Wie? All this hoopla for a kid who's eventually going to limit her involvement in golf to follow the typical, smart, rich kid's path to first-tier business schools and then on to the corporate or independent professional world. Let's see, almost guaranteed million-dollar endorsement contracts and prize winnings over the next 20+ years, or school and a professional degree. Jeesh, I’m at a loss...almost incoherently posting here. So can a person still go to school full time and compete in the world-wide arena of professional golf. Can you have it both ways? Is this like a Super Girl thing...I’m just not getting it. Let’s see, she’s not only superior in ability to all female golfers today or tomorrow, able to defeat the men in a single round, but now she can have it all; a full-time college student over the next, what 6 to 8 years and still get invites to the Majors...what the? Help me understand this will ya, I’m feeling inadequate and threatened here! Well then again, during a post- U. S. Open qualifying miss interview she did say: I'll do what I want to do.

Ah, I understand. Everything Bubbles accomplishes on the golf course is merely icing on the cake, for she aspires to loftier heights. Thus, we can't but be impressed by her golfing exploits, no matter what they may be. Golf is just a mere avocation, a diversion for Bubbles. After all, being the intellectual giant she is, president or Nobel laureate is the smallest mountain she'll climb.

Why, since she's bent on toppling sex barriers, perhaps she'll be the first female Pope.

Sigh. One-putt, you were doing so well... Stanford is in Palo Alto, CA in the rich part of the ultra-liberal Bay Area, about 500 miles from Orange County. Close, but no banana.

Also, why would anyone want a motivational speaker that hasn't won anything? That would be like having the Cubs headline for a winner's convention...

Governor? Senator? Madame President? Michelle has a better chance of gracing the pages of tabloids, appearing in music videos, and generally becoming a celebrity, more famous for simply being famous then for any real accomplishment. Michelle is a star, no question, but, like ya know she has precious little to back it up. Aptitude tests and good grades do not a world leader make, or even a productive member of society.

One-Putt, Right. I should have known nothing less than a Phd. would suffice for a superstar like Bubbles. Harvard, of course, although most of the best and brightest that I've ever met in the field of business got their MBA's from Wharton (U. of Pa.) Tell me, O-P, just how is Bubbles going to accomplish these miracles in her golfing career, pardon me, golfing avocation, and still manage to graduate summa cum laude with a Phd from some of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the country? This may come as a surprise to you and the other Wie Warriors, but schools like Stanford and Harvard don't give out a lot of "easy A's" and neither do they bestow any sponsors' exemptions on teenyboppers like Bubbles who are lacking in verbal communication skills. One-Putt, please tell me that you're just kidding so I won't start thinking that you're as clueless as the rest of the Wie-wee's.

Do you have any personal experience with being permanently institutionalized in a padded room? It doesn't sound like something I would like, but if you have experienced it and it has been helpful for you, please let me know?

Jimbo, No, I haven't personally experienced it, but I know of at least one delusional person, similar to you, who was helped immensely by being locked up where he couldn't harm himself or others. If you choose this method to rid youtself of the Wie demons, I would strongly suggest that you do not allow yourself access to the internet. My assessment of your plight indicates that your computer might be the source of your sociopathy.

I for one am hopeful that she will make the cut. Michelle Wie on the other hand would really like to try the Open. Nothing wrong with setting one's goals high and striving to achieve them. I am more laid back concerning her goals. I would be happy if she won a LPGA tournament and made a PGA cut by 18, both of which would be historical. As long as she keeps improving, anything surpassing those would be gravy.

Alex--If the delusional person that you know is really you, you might be under a delusion that he is actually someone else. If that is the case, you might now be locked up in a padded room where at least the more enlightened modern medical practice allows you access to the internet. Is there any way we can actually know that you are not institutionalized right now? If we could know that you are not institutionalized we might feel freer to respond to you in a way that we would never wish to do with a mentally challenged individual.

Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
It amazes me that a grown man would become interested in golf simply because some teeny-bopper makes a splash. What are you, Jay, a nine-year-old girl?

You must have a very empty life.
****************

Smails dude,

Don't underestimate the power of star power of atheletes. People who get hooked into, say MLB, are not hooked because baseball is such a cool game, but rather they start out with following the performance of star players. Why are Yankess paying A-rod 20 mil a year and then get the expensive Damon when they really need pitching ? They attract fans.

My guess is, you probably don't follow any sports closely, be it MLB,NFL,NBA. It is all about the players.
I only watched NBA when MJ was playing for the Bulls. Since his retirement, I find it boring.

I don't spend time to watch a bunch of 'good' players play sports, but rather enjoy the few superstars excell in the game.

As I recall when Tadd Fujikawa and Michelle Wie played in the same event--US Open Prequalifying, it was Michelle Wie who won.

Everyone on the PGA Tour is very good. A Peformance that misses a US Open cut by 9 strokes, would miss the cut by several strokes in even the weakest PGA event.

Jimbo, Your post is reminiscient of the classic Abbott and Costello routine, "Who's on first?" Of course, since you're a Johnnie Bull, you wouldn't know anything about this comedic pair. When I read your drivel, I'm reminded of an old proposition. It goes like this: I'd like to buy you for what I think you're worth, abd sell you for what you think you're worth.

NEWS FLASH

IN CASE ANYONE WONDERED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF HUMANITY OF WIE CRITICS

First Alex talked about cephalic shock treatment and frontal lobotomy(I think it is actually prefrontal lobtomy) for me because I predicted Wie would make the JD cut and win her next two events.

Then Alex suggested I be institutionalized for life and locked in a padded room instead.

Now he tells me he is reminded of an old proposition involving the buying and selling of a human slave.

Nice work on ESPNews, Jen! I expect you to be a regular before long! Too bad you didn't have more time to discuss Michelle and the women's game - I think you need your own show.

Lighten up Jim. Commenting on the level of humanity of people is a bit extreme for a golf blog. It seems to me that you initiated the mental institution barbs, and the proposition you refer to is a fancy way of saying that you have an inflated sense of self-worth, an assertation that I happen to agree with. It has nothing to with the historically dated and cruel practice of slavery. As a defender of the notion of freedom of speech, you of all people should appreciate differing opinions. If you don't want questions raised about you're sanity, don't make ridiculous statements regarding Michelle's place in the game of golf--As it stands now she is a slightly taller, somewhat attractive, yet to win professional golfer.

Ford, where Alex is concerned, you never have to institute anything, he does well enough on his own.

Go get him, Jim. Yahoo!

"As it stands now she is a slightly taller, somewhat attractive, yet to win professional golfer."
and you are not nearly as astute as Jim is, obviously. But then that is what opinions are about.

Great news for those who are not into the Wie hype: Wie in the news is getting a fraction of the attention of Zidane's headlines:
Wie= 237 news links; Zidane=3,400 in google.

Are we reaching the end of MW's marketing hype?

Jay,

I'm well aware of how most sheeple are influenced by professional athletes; it's an obvious observation. However, that doesn't mean that it won't still amaze me.

The reason why I find it amazing is that it's common for young girls to view an older girl as a role model and, consequently, to be influenced by her. It's not common, though, for a grown man to be influenced by a relatively young girl.

It doesn't make you a bad person, but it definitely does indicate to me that you've been imbued with the spirit of the age.

"Comment from: ToddCommish [Visitor]
Sigh. One-putt, you were doing so well... Stanford is in Palo Alto, CA in the rich part of the ultra-liberal Bay Area, about 500 miles from Orange County. Close, but no banana.

Also, why would anyone want a motivational speaker that hasn't won anything? That would be like having the Cubs headline for a winner's convention..."

I have probobly over the years logged more miles on I-5 Todd, so I don't need a geography lesson.

Her new home at Bighorn Golf Club, Palm Desert, CA is in Riverside County, which is next to Orange County. The Newport Beach folks keep their second homes on a golf course out in the Desert.

"Comment from: Ford [Visitor]
Governor? Senator? Madame President? Michelle has a better chance of gracing the pages of tabloids, appearing in music videos, and generally becoming a celebrity, more famous for simply being famous then for any real accomplishment. Michelle is a star, no question, but, like ya know she has precious little to back it up. Aptitude tests and good grades do not a world leader make, or even a productive member of society."

Can you say Arnold and Ronnie, Ford? Star quality is the only requirement to get elected in Kali 4 nia.

"Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
One-Putt, Right. I should have known nothing less than a Phd. would suffice for a superstar like Bubbles. Harvard, of course, although most of the best and brightest that I've ever met in the field of business got their MBA's from Wharton (U. of Pa.) Tell me, O-P, just how is Bubbles going to accomplish these miracles in her golfing career, pardon me, golfing avocation, and still manage to graduate summa cum laude with a Phd from some of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the country? This may come as a surprise to you and the other Wie Warriors, but schools like Stanford and Harvard don't give out a lot of "easy A's" and neither do they bestow any sponsors' exemptions on teenyboppers like Bubbles who are lacking in verbal communication skills. One-Putt, please tell me that you're just kidding so I won't start thinking that you're as clueless as the rest of the Wie-wee's."

Alex I was quoting Michelle who said she wanted to earn a Phd. She doesn't have to graduate at the top of her class to obtain more education than many of her Pro Golf contemporaries. She simply needs to graduate.

Alex can you find anywhere where Michelle said she wanted to have a full time golfing career? I haven't my friend, but she has stated many times she wants to attend college until she earns a Phd like Daddy Wie.

Get used to Michelle the "Freelancer" for the next 8 to 10 years Alex.

She misses this cut by at least 4 strokes. But I do however predict a bounceback and a top 3 finish at the Evian.

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Something to think about. Brittany Lincicome has a game very similar to Michelle Wie's. Late last season she missed the cut in 3 straight LPGA events. Last week she won the HSBC after finishing 7th in the Women's Open the previous week. What if ...?

Book about M.W.??? A joke right?

Making of a Champion? What has she won?

Do you have to have the word champion defined?

When Tiger was growing up, he dominated, he was a champion. What has M.W. dominated?

Bad breaks maybe?

In golf, as in life you make your own breaks... You work harder than the rest and the breaks go your way.

Why not send the child back to school on a regular basis and learn to speak English in a coherent sentence without saying "you know"...

No wonder Mario writes for this and not a major golf publication...

Sick of Wie...

"...you are not nearly as astute as Jim is..."

That might be the most hurtful thing anybody has ever said to me on this blog. That really hurts! Not as astute as the man who claims that there is an anti-Wie contigent in America which poisons the atmosphere for her at tournaments. The most pampered, fawned over and treated with kid gloves athlete of all-time has to overcome does not have to overcome one ounce of negativity. I am not as astute as the man who blames everybody and everything for Michelle's near misses, but the golfer herself. Jim has got his head so far up Michelle's ass he can't see the writing on the wall, don't do the samething. For all her obvious talent Michelle Wie is not a winner. Putt4Par that's what I see and so far the results support my point of view. When this changes feel free to contact me and you can insult me at that point, but until that time keep your eyes and ears open and you're mouth shut, you just might learn something.

Jennifer--I am confused by the title of you're book is this the story of Michelle's Jennie K. Wilson tournament victory when she was 11 in Hawaii or the thrilling tale of her only actual title the barely significant Women's Amateur Pub Links over 3 years ago? I have some more appropriate titles for Michelle's book: Michelle Wie; The Making of an overhyped media creation. How about this one: Michelle Wie; The Making of a Top 5 Player. What about this: Michelle Wie; A Flop in the Making. I could even live with: Michelle Wie; The Makings of a Champion? Or even Michelle Wie; A Champion in the Making, but not the Making of a Champion, because that implies that she is a champion and as we all know she is not. I do admire you for being the first to cash in on her fame, but why even write a golf book, her fame in the years to come will be more of the starlet or debutant variety(the famous for being famous syndrome see Paris Hilton), not from any actual accomplishments on the golf course.

Wow...these comments have heated up sopme...Whoa. I'm listening to the PGA Tour XM broadcast from the JDC. MW after two holes played goes to +2. To my ears, the commentators are gleefullly reporting her errant shot that resulted in a drop that eventually led to a double bogey, followed by the "worse iron shot I have ever seen", left it 15 feet in the woods on the par 3; now at +3 theu 3. OH yeah, she has 2 penalty strokes against her too. OK, OK, wait a minute, they're askin gfro an on-hole report on MW. Tremendous crowd following her...just like Tiger Woods, she needsd to gather herself, shee has ripped a drive left center but carried the bunker...she's got to pull herself together.....
I think the winds have indeed changed on Wie. She is fast approaching the shoals and may run aground if she fails to produce in this event. Well, it's early, a double on your second whole does not a tournament make.

My apologies for all the Typos; I’m not too good at steno typing.

Looking on the bright side Michelle is T-2 in putting so far.

She is fried +4 after eight and tied for last place. See ya.

Nancy Lopez has a fine round under her belt at the Farr Classic at plus 10. I wonder if Michelle s trying to keep pace.

Tied for 97th, 13 shots off the pace, after 13holes. Anyone making predictions?

Michelle should be so lucky to keep pace with Nancy Lopez and her 48 career victories. Michelle, as we all know is still stuck at 0 and shooting 78's at third tier men's events isn't going to help that total anytime soon.

I don't think Michelle is trying to keep pace. She's having a tough time holding her head above water right now.

She's currently +5 and in 106th place after 14. Michelle Wie is really going to have to create a bit of magic to make it to the weekend.

Yeah, I have a prediction she will play better tomorrow, as is her pattern when the pressure's off and we will be once again subjected to Wie Warriors spinning her failure into a positive. That and a lot of excuses.

Jennifer...

Nice call with Michelle...

Went to Vegas and bet the house on Michelle to make the cut. Had an inside tip...a lock.

Thank God for Bob May, he makes her look good...

Homeless One

Uh oh Spaghetti-o. Seems like Michelle Wie had a tough round. Big deal. Happens. You people are looking at things too closely. Get your head out of the trees and look at the forest, the big picture. Ahem. Making a PGA cut ain't easy, especially for a 16 year old --- girl or a boy. What is the rush? Give her a couple of years and see if she makes a cut by 18. I think she will.

One thing that the Wie Skeptics fail to appreciate is that Bubbles is setting records in her Quixotic quest which will very likely never be approached, let alone beaten. Soon she will have the record of a female golfer trying FIVE times to make a cut on the PGA tour and failing. FIVE times with a sponsors' exemption, another record. When she tries again at the 84 Lumber and fails, that will post 6's across the board. No other female is even in the running. Her records will stand forever. She may as well retire and pursue her many other career choices. She obviously has no competition in Golf.

This just in... this was just plucked from an after round interview discussing what went wrong today... "It was very uncharacteristic," she said. "Considering that I had the water hazard penalties, considering that I had to call unplayable, considering that I hit my driver like 50 yards right, I felt like I played really well. ... I have a lot of confidence going into tomorrow."

canine lover.... I have no problem with that.. the issue almost always turns out to be some MW ultra fan making insane comments... that's what drives folks to the other side....

that interview snippet was almost like saying.... "gee, if it weren't for my 1 double bogey and 6 bogeys, I would've shot 2 under par......" Well, it never hurts to look on the bright side of things :-)

I guess I will respond. One step at a time, folks. She made the cut at an Asian tour event, right? Great. Now let's see if she can make a Japanese tour cut. Then, a European Open cut. The PGA is the best and the hardest tour to play. Acoordingly, you shouldn't expect her to easily make the cut as though it is a stroll in the park. It isn't. To quote Leadbetter, for lack of better available quotes, "stars have to align" for her to either win a LPGA Major or make a PGA cut. That she can or may make a PGA tour cut isn't the same as actually doing it. I think the guys at the Deere were playing extra hard not to get beaten by Wie and they largely succeeded. BTW, Alex, what is the $ prize for winning th