Jul
07
Michelle Wie at the John Deere Classic
From an AP story on the John Deere Classic, being played this weekend in Silvis, Ill., comes the following quote from a fan:
“People asked me, `Oh, are you going out to watch that young girl?’ I said, `Nah, she’ll get torn up by the professionals,”’ Corrick said. “(I’ve) changed my whole point of view about her. … I think she’s the next Tiger Woods.'’
Typical American: All or nothing – either she sucks or she’s Tiger. What if she’s simply good enough to make the cut? Isn’t that still pretty cool?
Indeed, Michelle Wie sits at -1 after one round, above the projected cut line and ahead of over half of the men in the field. We’ll see how she does tomorrow, but if her 17th hole is any indication, she’ll do OK.
On the par-5 17th, she hit a 260+ yard approach to about 8 ft of the hole.
Raise your hand if you can do that. OK, just raise your hand if you’d try (with money and reputation on the line).
Should she compete in LPGA events? Yes, if she wants to. Should she compete in amateur events? Yes, if she wants to. Should she compete in PGA events? Yes, if she wants to and if she can get exemptions and/or qualify.
Life is too short, even for a 15-yar-old, to not do something that makes you happy.
What should Michelle do? Seems like she’s doing it already. She looked happy today, even when she was struggling. And I wasn’t the only one who was happy for her.
| « Scotland vs. Ireland: Which is the better golf trip? | Made-for-TV events: Fun? Obscene? Obscene fun? » |
21 comments
You've nailed the corporate attitude squarely on its successful yet confounding head. All or nothing. Conservative leftist (or is it libral reactionary?) that I am, I am saddened by the "if you're not ascending, you're descending; no stasis allowed" attitude. Wie is breaking barriers, challenging accepted thought patterns--remember Morgan Pressel as a 13-year old ... spoiled-kid act at US Open. FF to 2005--cantankerous media darling. Now that Tiger has caught a glimpse of immortality, he has realized how difficult the remainder of the path will be. Why should Wie be restricted to the path of Tiger or anyone else? Follow the Babe's example of not following anyone else.
07/08/05 @ 07:46
Comment from: John D [Visitor]
Is the PGA becomming a bunch of WIMPS? Are they afraid they cannot win against other MALE competitors? They think they can win against the females. Why give a FEMALE AMATURE an exemption, when there are plenty of MALE AMATURES AND PROs who would better benefit from an exemption. Sorry, but WIE has played in enough "PROFESSIONAL" tournaments that she should no longer be considered an amature!
07/08/05 @ 09:41
Comment from: John D [Visitor]
PGA needs do something to keep females out of PGA and direct them to LPGA. Until a FEMALE wins 100% of the time on the LPGA, then, maybe, they might deserve the right to play on the PGA. Or another option might be to start a new tour....the COED TOUR.
07/11/05 @ 06:48
Comment from: Matt [Visitor]
Well, Annika does win 100% of the time, so perhaps she should play on the men's tour? Anyway, if she were finishing well behind the men, perhaps she should not get the exemption, but middle of the pack means better than half the guys. It also means, that one day she will be even better. Anyway, there are not more than 10 to 20 guys who would win near 100% of the time on the LPGA, so that seems like an odd requirement. Perhaps the rest shouldn't be playing on the PGA?
07/14/05 @ 19:13
Comment from: John D [Visitor]
Annikhas not won 100%. This year she has finished in the top 10 8 out of 10 times, with 6 wins.
What is Wie's record in the PGA or LPGA?
07/14/05 @ 21:29
Comment from: Cedric W [Visitor]
John D,
Tsk tsk...So how many men have won 100% of time in their events? Have you ever won 100% of anything you have ever attempted? Get realistic. If the person qualifies the person qualifies. Michelle did not take away a spot from another player. She competed with all the other individuals. If we were to apply your standards to amatuers of having the players win 100% of the tournaments they enter, Bobbie Jones would have never made the cut. He only won 62% of the tournaments he entered.
Here are a few more facts from the BobbyJones.com. From 1923 to 1930 Bobby Jones captured an amazing 62 percent of the national championships he entered, winning 13 of 21 tournaments. He won five of eight U.S. Amateur Championships, and finished second in another. He won one of the two British Amateurs he played in. In eleven of the last twelve open championships he entered, he finished no worse than second, winning seven times. In 1926, Jones became the first player ever to capture the "Double," winning the U.S. and British Open Championships in the same year. In 1930, he accomplished the Grand Slam, winning the British Amateur, British Open, U.S. Open, and U.S. Amateur all in the same year.
Keep hitting straight. Keep hitting them long.
Tsk tsk...So how many men have won 100% of time in their events? Have you ever won 100% of anything you have ever attempted? Get realistic. If the person qualifies the person qualifies. Michelle did not take away a spot from another player. She competed with all the other individuals. If we were to apply your standards to amatuers of having the players win 100% of the tournaments they enter, Bobbie Jones would have never made the cut. He only won 62% of the tournaments he entered.
Here are a few more facts from the BobbyJones.com. From 1923 to 1930 Bobby Jones captured an amazing 62 percent of the national championships he entered, winning 13 of 21 tournaments. He won five of eight U.S. Amateur Championships, and finished second in another. He won one of the two British Amateurs he played in. In eleven of the last twelve open championships he entered, he finished no worse than second, winning seven times. In 1926, Jones became the first player ever to capture the "Double," winning the U.S. and British Open Championships in the same year. In 1930, he accomplished the Grand Slam, winning the British Amateur, British Open, U.S. Open, and U.S. Amateur all in the same year.
Keep hitting straight. Keep hitting them long.
07/19/05 @ 22:47
Comment from: John D [Visitor]
No, I do not win 100% of the time. And I do not seek exemptions to play on the PGA.
And you are right about Bobby Jones. But, you see he captured wins while working his way thru the Amateur ranks, THEN went to the PRO circuit. Wie has to prove herself in the Amateur ranks FIRST, then work her way up to the LPGA. Until she has a win (1st place) in an Amateur Event, she is still a nobody...a loser.
07/20/05 @ 07:27
Comment from: Greg Pinelli [Visitor]
Hey John D...do you know anything about golf history? Bobby Jones never turned profesional..He started playing in very high level US Amateur events at about Michelle Wie's age. Apparently Wie's game speaks for itself...she was invited to the John Deere because she is more than qualified...Do you think she is LESS qualified than David Duval? Name the last cut HE made??
07/20/05 @ 20:50
Comment from: brad [Visitor]
Hey John D, learn to to spell "amateur"! C'mon I'm only 13 and I can spell it! "Why give a FEMALE AMATURE an exemption, when there are plenty of MALE AMATURES AND PROs who would better benefit from an exemption."
07/21/05 @ 22:03
Comment from: AkamaiOkole [Visitor]
John D you are an idiot. You seem to think that 100% success is the criteria for an exemption. The reality is that exemptions are for those who otherwise do NOT qualify for the tournament -- i.e., local favorites, etc. and are at the discretion of the tournament sponsor. Michelle is MUCH more competitive in both LPGA and PGA event than any golfer has ever been at age 15, gender not withstanding. If you don't like it, don't watch. In the meantime, GO MICHELLE!
Aloha.
Aloha.
07/26/05 @ 03:45
Comment from: John D [Visitor]
Making a cut means NOTHING!
WIN is something.
Wie has no LPGA / PGA Wins.
Still a NOTHING.
07/27/05 @ 07:05
Comment from: EDDIE W. [Visitor]
In the three weeks of comments I've just read, there is only one protestor vs. Ms. Wie in the PGA: John D. Clearly, the guy is entitled to his own, lame opinion.
As a woman, I feel gratified I don't have to raise issues of patent discrimination coming from an avalanche of comments motivated by negative stereotypes.
And I congratulate the 13-year-old who called attention to the misspelling.
So, what's the next real issue?
As a woman, I feel gratified I don't have to raise issues of patent discrimination coming from an avalanche of comments motivated by negative stereotypes.
And I congratulate the 13-year-old who called attention to the misspelling.
So, what's the next real issue?
07/29/05 @ 16:31
Comment from: alan metcalfe [Visitor]
John D - O dear
You asked what Wie has done this year.
As far as the LPGA is concerned she has been extrordinarily successful.
Remembering that she has only played in Majors considering the Evian as a fifth Major.
Kraft Nabisco 14th
McDonalds LPGA 2nd
US Women's Open 23rd
Evian Masters 2nd
British Weetabix Open 3rd
Three top 3 finishes - not bad.
An average position of 11th. Only Annika has a better average 10.5.
If you don't think this is impressive for a 15 year old partime amateur player then you obviously don't know anything about golf or any other professional sport.
Think Again
Alan
You asked what Wie has done this year.
As far as the LPGA is concerned she has been extrordinarily successful.
Remembering that she has only played in Majors considering the Evian as a fifth Major.
Kraft Nabisco 14th
McDonalds LPGA 2nd
US Women's Open 23rd
Evian Masters 2nd
British Weetabix Open 3rd
Three top 3 finishes - not bad.
An average position of 11th. Only Annika has a better average 10.5.
If you don't think this is impressive for a 15 year old partime amateur player then you obviously don't know anything about golf or any other professional sport.
Think Again
Alan
08/04/05 @ 13:13
Comment from: andy [Visitor]
Its pretty sad that someone like John D. is calling a fifteen year old girl a nothing and a loser because she has not won a professional golf event. Michelle happens to be a very talented golfer and a very, very good student in school.
I would bet a lot of money that she would kick John D.'s ass on the golf course and show him who the real loser is.
John D. - don't write in again until you learn how to spell correctly, you jerk.
I would bet a lot of money that she would kick John D.'s ass on the golf course and show him who the real loser is.
John D. - don't write in again until you learn how to spell correctly, you jerk.
08/06/05 @ 17:22
Comment from: andy [Visitor]
FUNNY. Not only are you a jerk, you're also a comedian. Too bad thats such an old joke. Please don't bother to respond, you're not that funny.
08/10/05 @ 01:40
Comment from: John D [Visitor]
Typical WIE-nee WIE-ner, Set themself up and then can't (or don't want to) admit when they been beat.
08/10/05 @ 05:14
Comment from: alan metcalfe [Visitor]
John
How many 15 year olds have won a LPGA event?
Alan
How many 15 year olds have won a LPGA event?
Alan
08/11/05 @ 12:20
Comment from: John D [Visitor]
ZERO - And none of them tried to DISRUPT the PGA, either.
08/16/05 @ 06:51
Comment feed for this post
Kiel Christianson:
The Accidental Golfer:
Jason Scott Deegan:
View from Europe:
Recent comments