I feel an urge to make a bold prediction: Michelle Wie will make the cut this weekend at the John Deere Classic.
It’s her second John Deere attempt there in Silvis, Illinois, and her fifth attempt on the PGA Tour. This time might be the charm.
Why?
For one thing, the field is somewhat weakened by the fact that the men’s British Open (yes, yes, all you purists, I know it’s officially called the Open Championship) is coming up. All the big names have already flown over to Hoylake, England, to prepare. Less competition = an easier cut line.
For another, after making the cut on the Asian Tour at the SK Telecom earlier this year, she’s overcome a mental barrier. The seal is officially broken.
And one more, for good measure: what’s held her back in previous attempts on the PGA Tour hasn’t been her length off the tee, it’s been her putting. With her new lofted putter (courtesy of a tip from Long John Daly), she’s rolling the ball as well as she ever has. At the US Women’s Open, she ranked T3rd in putting. That’ll save her the stroke or two that’s held her back until now.
By the way, I’m scheduled to appear on ESPNews’ “4 Qtrs” tomorrow (Wednesday) night at 7 pm ET to discuss my book on Ms. Wie, which was just released today, and other issues surrounding the Controversial One. Check it out if you’re so inclined.
Here’s where to catch the John Deere Classic:
Thursday, 7/13: 4-6pm ET USA
Friday, 7/14: 4-6pm ET USA
Saturday, 7/15: 2-4pm ET ABC
Sunday, 7/16: 2-4pm ET ABC
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Jason Scott Deegan:
The Accidental Golfer:
Katharine Dyson:
Kiel Christianson:
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.
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.
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).
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 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!
You must have a very empty life.
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
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.
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.
You must have a very empty life.
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 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.
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.
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.
Congratulations on your book! I look forward to reading it.
-Kristen
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I agree with Alex. In the least, you should be medicated with 50ccs of thorazine.
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.
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.
Why, since she's bent on toppling sex barriers, perhaps she'll be the first female Pope.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wie= 237 news links; Zidane=3,400 in google.
Are we reaching the end of MW's marketing hype?
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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
Comment from: hc2 [Visitor]
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?
*****
No, Michelle's caddy simply has to advise her to head-butt Chris DeMarco.
-George
Alex [Visitor] ·
However, be forewarned that your quest for the Cup won't be easy. Just read some of these posts and you'll realize the quality and depth of the competition.
*****
Uhh, well, like, I thought I had some pretty good insane comments. I figured I had an edge to win the Cup this year, especially when I said that Michelle would win the women's grand slam of golf. But, umm, I guess I just had a few bad breaks. I guess I should have also said Michelle would win the Masters, like Jim Coulthard and Norman predicted. I guess they just edged me out there, but that was a bad break. I really think I'm posting really good, and umm, I like, think I can get better, because I'm going to work on my short posts, too. So, umm, I'm pretty confident that I can win next week, like, yeah, if I can get a little more consistency in my posts.
Now, in all fairness, Bubbles is only sixteen and she's improving. After all, when she was only fifteen she missed the cut at the John Deere by two strokes and at the Sony by seven. When she was only fourteen she missed the cut by one shot at the Sony. My, my, imagine how she'll be playing when she's only eighteen.
I do like her optimism, though. I'll have to remember to cultivate such an attitude in myself and manifest it the next time I "play well." Hey, I hit a drive fifty yards right, shanked a five iron into the woods, laid the sod over a seven iron and plunked the ball into a water hazard, and three-putted three greens. But, hey, take those insignificant missteps out of the equation and I played well. She must be seeing Phil Mickelson's sports psychologist.
She reminds me of the perpetually optimistic child who was the subject of a scientific experiment. They placed him in a room full of horse manure, and upon returning to check on him a half an hour later discovered that he was wallowing in the waste, tossing it to and fro. Incredulous, they asked him about his behavior. He replied, "With all the horse manure around here, there must be a Shetland pony somewhere!"
And that's Bubbles. No matter how excrementitious her game may be, she just knows that a Shetland pony must be grazing on the next fairway.
Oh, also, there are NOT women on tour who can legitimately hit 300 yard drives.
Boy, this Alan Cup competition is proceeding fast and furious.
OK, the prediction, MW posts a below par round, shows she can play with the guys, but misses cut, vows to continue playing PGA tour events when invited. yada yada yada
And she will still draw in the crowds. She has shown in previous men's events that the cut is not out of the question for her. It would take many of these kinds of outings to shake that belief hard enough for her to stop drawing crowds, I think.
Meantime, your assertion that she is taking away attention from the other tour pros doesn't hold water...she is adding attention to the entire event, ANY event, when she plays right now. Unless it's a major, only the hard core fans bother to watch or keep up with it - unless she is in the field. Maybe she doesn't do much in Europe, I don't know, but WAY more U.S. audience will watch and care about the Euro Masters if she is playing (will she play in that event?), so that will be more attention for the event and the other participants, not less.
Les see what happens and how the Wies react to that.
a michelle wie video of the john deere classic won't end up in a classic come from behind chick flick but will be more like the chain saw massacre 3. Wie needs to go back to high school and win a junior tournament at least."
Yeah that is the ticket. Give back all the money and beg the USGA to reinstate her as an Amateur. Maybe Morgan should do the same thing and why not Natalie Gulbis or the other non-winners on the LPGA tour.
Are you from Iowa 9?
Two words: nice today. Two more words: Michelle "The Excuse Machine" Wie should be mandated to women's events until she earns another shot...by winning at least 5 majors.
Get this Pete-Sampras-wanna-be out of my face and off my tv.
I agree, but disabusing the Wie-zeals of their inane, ridiculous, misguided notions is no facile task.
1. She plays badly, not even remotely close to the cut
2. She quits mid-round. I'm not gonna put the "faker" tag on it, but I ask you, what would you think about an Italian soccer player that was getting his butt whipped suddenly deciding he was sick and quitting halfway through the second half of a blowout loss? She's probably really sick (based on the news accounts, food poisoning is possible), but man, is Baldwin gonna be all over this one!
3. It will be interesting to see if this affects future exemptions. Oh sure, it's nice to have a big crowd for rounds 1 and 2, but if she ain't gonna make it to the weekend, sponsors are likely to shy away from offering free rides.
The non-participants includes the top 17 men's money winners. A year ago at this tournament, 26 of the top 30 men's money winners didn't participate.
STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES, MICHELLE WEAK FANS!