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Michelle Wie WHIFFED tough question on Mark Rolfing's Golf Hawaii
Wednesday January 4, 2006 | 04:47:47 353 words, 5034 views
In a recent blog, our Jennifer Mario writes about how 16-year-old Michelle Wie appeared on Mark Rolfing’s Golf Hawaii on the Golf Channel, where he asked her: “Which would give you more satisfaction, making the cut in a PGA tournament, or winning on the LGPA?” Mario made a valid point in commending Rolfing for the direct question: “Way to put her on the spot, Mark!” Then it all went to seed for Jennifer. She went on to get, well, just goofy: “With her usual finesse, she replied, ‘I would choose both. Winning an LPGA tournament would be awesome because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. And making the cut on the PGA would be a whole different feeling …’” How does one good writer in such a short space 1) commend a TV personality for asking a decent question and then 2) commend Wie’s “usual finesse” in responding with such an insipid answer!? “I would choose both. Winning an LPGA tournament would be awesome … making the cut on the PGA would be a whole different feeling.” God, I can just hear the tee-hee giggle now. Give me a break! If this in a clue to Wie’s mental focus and clarity of thought, Chris Baldwin may just be right. Perhaps Nike did pour $10 million down the drain on a pretty face with a great golf swing but no ability to focus on WINNING. I’m not attacking Wie just for the sake of attacking her (that would be a cheap trick to drive the search engines batty for a couple of days). No, I’m on record as a Wie fan. But when you get 10 million bucks in your pocket and the weight of the world on your shoulders, you can be called out when you offer goofy non-answers like “I would choose both.” I’m thinking that, at the same tender age, a young Tiger Woods was answering any and all questions about his goals with a steely glare and a Terminator-esque: “I intend to win more majors than Jack Nicklaus.” Tiger’s going to accomplish his goal. Michelle can’t even decide what her goal is. Bookmark/Search this post with:
Comments:
Comment from: Young [Visitor]
Wow.
Slow news day, huh? An article about an article about how a 16-year old girl answered a question. Wow. I suppose there must be a mandate from your management. Talk about Michelle Wie because no one will bother reading the drivel here otherwise. 
2006-01-04 @ 05:19
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
RUBBISH.
Jennifer Mario pointed out that if Michelle chose either option, it would be considered the wrong answer by a large number of people. Michelle took the political answer and that was the correct one. You think she can't decide which she wants! Inside, she knows exactly which she would prefer, but she is too smart to give her critics quotes to attack her on.
2006-01-04 @ 08:58
Comment from: Mark Nessmith [Visitor] · http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/mark.nessmith
>>>"... if Michelle chose either option, it would be considered the wrong answer by a large number of people."
================= So?
2006-01-04 @ 09:09
Comment from: June [Visitor]
And you are wrong on this one, Mark. And Michelle already knew she wouldn't make everybody happy either way long time ago. Guess what? She was right. No matter what she said, there would be a crowd like you criticizing her move one way or other.
2006-01-04 @ 09:26
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
Since Michelle chose to be coy and non-committal to Mark's question, permit me to answer that question for myself and most of her fans. When and if Michelle Wie wins an LPGA tournament this year as the youngest player to do so, that will far outstrip her making a cut in any PGA event. Since money isn't the main concern here, in a few years the trophies on the mantel will mean something. The long-forgotten publicity blurbs will not. Winning and/or finishing up the leader board are signs of consistency and a satisfying career. The same can't be said for getting lucky and tying for 70th once in one's life after two rounds in a Men's event of secondary quality.
2006-01-04 @ 10:01
Comment from: Mark Nessmith [Visitor] · http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/mark.nessmith
June wrote:
"No matter what she said, there would be a crowd like you criticizing her move one way or other." ====================== Again, so what? Public figures get criticized; big deal. What I think or write or say shouldn't matter to Michelle Wie. What matters is what she believes and what she decides to focus on. Hey, if my daughter wants a pair of Nike Michelle Wie golf shoes when she's older, you KNOW I'm going to buy them for her - I LIKE Michelle. But my daughter's just 2 now and if there's to be any Nike/Wie shoe on the market when my daughter's old enough to care, Michelle is going to have to decide on what she wants the start focusing. Otherwise, she'll just be the female Ty Tryon. God, 40+ weeks of competition on the LPGA Tour is going to shred this poor girl her first year out. She'll have to be tough to weather that and learn to win.
2006-01-04 @ 10:23
Comment from: June [Visitor]
What I am saying is, Mark, that you are simply one of everybody that Michelle cleverly pointed out long ago by saying "I know I can't make eveybody out there happy".
She is not out there to make you happy or make you agree with her and I for one don't care what you think of her. I just pointed out your opinion is exactly what she expected one way or the other. SO WHAT?
2006-01-04 @ 11:28
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
June, Michelle is a public figure, and as such she should be concerned with making her fans happy and converting those folks who are not her fans. That is what Nike and Sony shelled out the big bucks for. By taking such a non-commital stance she has satisfied nobody. It couldn't have been that hard for her to say "I'd really like to win a tournament on the LPGA this year so all my supporters will know I'm the real deal." Who could have possibly objected to that response? By the way, I don't think that Michelle could have spoken those words you quoted either "long ago", or "cleverly". She's only 16, and from what I've heard, she's not very clever. She does have game, though.
2006-01-04 @ 11:53
Comment from: alan [Visitor]
Alex
You must walk about half asleep. Wie is making her fans very happy and she has plenty of them. Fortunately you can't answer for her, and I don't think your version would match Michelles. Mark, she will only play 8 LPGA events this year. I'm sure it won't shred her too much. Alan M
2006-01-04 @ 12:48
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
alan, please make your best effort not to introduce personal invective on this thread. If I do lack proper rest, it is because I stay up late pondering ways to find methods of bringing misguided Brits into the 21st century. Previously you confessed that you did not reside in the US and therefore your golf news sources were sketchy. If that is the case, continue to frequent this site, you just might learn something; and don't start getting your golf news also from AL-Jazeera.
2006-01-04 @ 13:09
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Mark said:
Michelle is going to have to decide on what she wants the start focusing. Otherwise, she'll just be the female Ty Tryon. ****************************** Why does she have to decide either the pga or lpga? She can do both, for at least the next couple of years without even considering focusing on one. In my opinion, she WANTS to be a pga tour player. She wants to be able to get her card and play on the pga full time. However she also knows that if she doesn't succeed that she can play full time on the lpga tour anyway. If she succeeds on the pga tour in getting her tour card, I would predict that she would give it a real go, and come back to the lpga for majors and maybe a couple more.
2006-01-04 @ 13:48
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Alex said:
By taking such a non-commital stance she has satisfied nobody. It couldn't have been that hard for her to say "I'd really like to win a tournament on the LPGA this year so all my supporters will know I'm the real deal." Who could have possibly objected to that response? ***************************** If she said "so my supporters will know that I am the real deal", that would be suggesting that she isn't the real deal until she wins. That statement would put massive pressure on her to win on the lpga next year. Why would someone put extra pressure on themselves? Alex you suggested that Michelle was not very intelligent. Had she made your suggested statement, that would have been unintelligent. I don't like saying this, but her statement showed that she has more maturity than you in this instance. Perhaps you just didn't think it through. It is so easy to make these mistakes, and that just shows even more just how clever she is, not to have been caught out more.
2006-01-04 @ 13:55
Comment from: Asia_Guy [Visitor]
There were 77 players on the PGA Tour that took home a million dollars or more in 2005.
There were 6 players on the LPGA Tour who took home more than a million dollars last year. I predict Michelle will work at securing a PGA card in the future and only play the "Majors" on the LPGA Tour on exemption from previous wins. The appearance fees are higher on the PGA Tour and each time she steps onto the 1st tee she would be adding to a legacy and BTW filling the gallery. Now if that were your Goal, how would you answer the loaded question?
2006-01-04 @ 13:57
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
Norman, If you find time, would you kindly list the ways that you believe are available to a girl like Michelle Wie for obtaining a PGA tour card? Please use as much detail as possible. The reason I ask for this information is that I have done a fair amount of research on the subject and it is inconceivable to me that Michelle could ever acquire a card by any conventional means. Thank you.
2006-01-04 @ 14:03
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Alex, no problem.
Firstly it has to be stated that it is extremely difficult for anybody to gain a tour card onto the pga. I think we can agree on that. At Michelle's current golfing ability, I do not believe it would be possible for her to gain a card by any means. However I don't think she is as far off as you might. Options to Get a PGA Tour Card: - take sponsors exemptions, and make enough money to get your card that way. Ryan Moore qualified this year, using this method, as did Tiger Woods. I believe Michelle will attempt this method in a few years, but only if her game improves to the extent that she feels she has some chance. She would have to be making consistant cuts, before trying this way I think. - Play the Nationwide Tour, and finish top 20 on the money list. I don't believe she would try this. - Play q-school and finish in the top 32 to get a tour card. This appears the most likely way for Michelle to get her tour card. In summary, I think she will try to win enough money, with 7 sponsors exemptions, but probably fail. That's at least 4 years away though, I think. She will also try q-school, and like many others probably won't succeed first time. Whatever the method, she needs to keep working on her game if she is to get to the required standard.
2006-01-04 @ 14:42
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Of course another option is qualify for the European Tour, which is a little easier.
If she did this, and played well she could work up her ranking a bit, and try to get in this way. In my opinion, she would only use the European Tour to gain extra experience. Perhaps play lpga 8 exemptions, play pga 7 exemptions, and play a few in Asia and Europe to fill out her season, and build some sort of a ranking. The top 100 qualify for the USPGA, that could be some sort of a motivating factor for her to build up her ranking, whether it would be in the pga or on another tour.
2006-01-04 @ 14:48
Comment from: Jim COULTHARD [Visitor]
Alex
Michelle Wie won't earn a PGA card as girl--but she might very well do it as a woman. Method? How about Q-School? A lot of people talk as if making the top 30 in Q-School were as hard as winning the Masters. Nearly all the top players are on the PGA already or on some other tour. If it were 2 rounds, it would certainly be easier than making the cut even in a weak PGA tournament. With 6 rounds more consistency is required, and there is more pressure. Let Wie make a few PGA cuts and win a few LPGA tournaments and she should be a good bet to make it through Q-School if she decides to go that route.
2006-01-04 @ 14:49
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://ALex
Jim C, On another thread, I stated that my wife and I had been spectators at the "Q" school for the final three rounds early in December in Orlando. 32 players qualified. The tournament was played over two 7200+ yard courses. A club pro with whom I chatted while observing the play was thoroughly amazed at the way the aspiring pros were scoring over these tough layouts. He said that prior to the start of play, he thought that the medalist would be at about 10 under for the six rounds. He wasn't even close. Bill Haas, the final qualifier came in at 11 under. John B. Holmes, a recent college graduate, was the medalist at 24 under! Alex Cejka, an established pro who had won over a million dollars on 2003 and 2004 before a substandard 2005, came in as runnerup at 21 under! At least half of the qualifiers had extensive previous PGA tour experience. We watched the play over the three days of at least 50 golfers. The overall play was spectacular in every respect. As the PGA TV blurb goes, "These guys are good!" I am a fan Of Michelle, but with all due respect to her and all other female golfers, I don't think any of them would have the slightest chance of surviving the PGA "Q" school. The top 80, I believe, get a Nationwide tour card, but even that is beyond what I believe Michelle is capable of accomplishing. If she does improve, even a lot, these guys and many more will be improving also. Unless some unprecedented physical change occurs in Michelle, it just won't happen.
2006-01-04 @ 15:28
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
If you want to know what Wie's honest answer would have been, all you had to do was read between the lines. She could have said that she'd rather win an LPGA Event, and she would have upset no one. Who would that upset? Do you think the PGA players would be insulted? Therefore, since she could have offered that answer without criticism, I would infer that it is not the way she feels.
The fairly obvious conclusion is that she'd rather make a PGA cut, leaving her with two choices: lie or give that lame, Clintonesque answer. Also, what I'm saying should not be revelatory if you understand the psychology of such a person. Wie is a modern girl who has been inculcated with the idea that fulfillment can only come through entering traditionally male domains and doing what men do. In this way of thinking, men have reserved all the best things for themselves and female arenas are worthless. Thus, on a visceral level, she doesn't FEEL that success on the LPGA Tour would be satisfying or fulfilling. She would find making a PGA cut much more fulfilling. Everything she has said and done makes that conclusion inescapable.
2006-01-04 @ 15:30
Comment from: kaialii [Visitor]
You forgot, play the Nationwide Tour, and win 3 in a row. The "battlefield promotion". Jason Gore did this.
2006-01-04 @ 15:43
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Alex,
in 2005, 11 of the 32, 2004 q-school graduates kept their cards. I'm guessing it probably won't be much different this year. These guys can do well at q-school but that doesn't mean that they will succeed on the pga. If Wie shows she can make some cuts on the pga, I think making the top 32 at q-school, shouldn't be beyond her talent, even if it takes more than one attempt.
2006-01-04 @ 15:51
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Under Par said:
Wie is a modern girl who has been inculcated with the idea that fulfillment can only come through entering traditionally male domains and doing what men do. In this way of thinking, men have reserved all the best things for themselves and female arenas are worthless. ****************************** Wie simply wants to be the best she can be and beat the best players in the world, be they men or women. Since when has she thought the women's tournaments are worthless. She admires Annika and wants to win lpga tournaments, but she isn't held there in her ambition. She wants to be the best she can be, and that means taking it to the highest level.
2006-01-04 @ 15:54
Comment from: Ronnie [Visitor]
Paula Creamer is the one who is been forgotten about here. She is a true champion with 4 wins to 0 for Wie.
Paula has more chance of getting her pga tour card than Wie has. Paula is simply taking a different route. Paula will overtake Annika next season as the number 1 woman, and then she will go after the men. Paula won't be satisfied with trying to get a tour card either, she will win multiple majors on the mens tour in a few years.
2006-01-04 @ 15:57
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
Ka, you're right about Jason Gore's "battlefield promotion", but Michelle would have to qualify for that tour as well. And winning three times in one season on the Nationwide is about as difficult as it gets. That "battle promotion" is really rare.
2006-01-04 @ 16:03
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Alex,
I agree, the Nationwide option of winning 3 times is about the hardest way to qualify. By the way, if Wie wins the Sony Open, how long of a tour exemption does she get? She is 500-1 and it has received some bets. Might as well be 5000-1 IMO.
2006-01-04 @ 16:27
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
Under Par, Just when I thought we had seen it all, what with alan, Paul W and the rest, a "new kid on the block" has entered the picture. His handle is "Ronnie", but his heroine is Paula Creamer. Maybe he's had a few too many hits on the bong, but if you haven't read his post, get ready for a lot of laughs.
2006-01-04 @ 17:43
Comment from: Jim COULTHARD [Visitor]
Prediction for the Sony.
At the Sony this year, Michelle Wie will outperform 4 out of 5 Q-School graduates. I know it is just about Wie's home course, but if these guys are so much better than Michelle they should be able to do better than that. Anyone willing to predict the Q-School grads will do better than I have said?
2006-01-04 @ 18:00
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Comment from: kaialii [Visitor]
You forgot, play the Nationwide Tour, and win 3 in a row. The "battlefield promotion". Jason Gore did this. If Wie ever wins three in a row on the Nationwide Tour, I'll kiss Norman's chair-shaped butt in front of Harrods window.
2006-01-04 @ 18:04
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Comment from: Ronnie [Visitor]
Paula Creamer is the one who is been forgotten about here. She is a true champion with 4 wins to 0 for Wie. Paula has more chance of getting her pga tour card than Wie has. Paula is simply taking a different route. Paula will overtake Annika next season as the number 1 woman, and then she will go after the men. Paula won't be satisfied with trying to get a tour card either, she will win multiple majors on the mens tour in a few years. Ronnie, I really am not sure if you're joking. Anyway, don't bet the house on any of your predictions. Creamer won't overtake Sorenstam next season (I assume you mean the upcoming one), and her chances of getting a PGA Tour card are between slim and none . . . and slim just left town.
2006-01-04 @ 18:09
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Alex,
I just saw Ronnie's musings. I think he needs to have his medication adjusted.
2006-01-04 @ 18:11
Comment from: jay [Visitor]
I am pretty sure wie will outdrive Luke Donald,Chris Dimarco and Jim Furyk by at least 10 yards when she reaches 20. Now Earning card through Q school might not be as impossible as a lot of people think. Even Johnny Miller said wie has more shots than a lot of pga players. what wie needs is more distance and experience and I think she will add a lot of both when she reaches 20 and Earning tour card might not be as difficult task as people think.
2006-01-04 @ 18:20
Comment from: Ronnie [Visitor]
Alex and Under Par. How dare you insult my opinions.
I'm guessing you are probably just Wie-addicts and think nobody can challenge your girl. Well you are wrong, Paula won 4 times last season and she had lots of great finishes. She practically won the Solheim Cup on her own. Annika might be number 1 now, but she is 35 and Paula is only 19. If Paula doesn't overtake Annika next year, she definetely will the following year. Paula isn't silly like Wie trying to play the men when she can't even beat the women. Paula will first become the dominant number 1 on the lpga, then she will join the pga, and work her way up through that tour as well. If you had the opportunity to watch Paula hit the golf ball, you would know just how good she is.
2006-01-04 @ 18:35
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
Under Par, we've seen Ronnie, now jay has joined the fray. Check out his latest bit of wizardry. Maybe some aliens ARE putting something in the water. I'll tell you though, this AOL is a bargain. Where else could one get this kind of entertainment at such a reasonable price?
2006-01-04 @ 18:35
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Jay,
Donald drives the ball 284 yards. DiMarco 281 yards. Furyk 280 yards. So you think she will be driving it over 290 yards. I think that is asking alot. She is currently around 270 yards.
2006-01-04 @ 18:49
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Norman,
In a way you just inadvertantly buttressed our point about the hype. As you said, Wie drives it about 270, yet, I can't tell you how many times I've heard gushing journalists say she hits it 300. Of course, it makes for titillating prose; I mean, you've got the 3 followed by the two zeros -- "270" just doesn't have the same ring, know what I mean? I also heard Wie-wie say on a late night talk show that she hits it 300 yards; that's the marketing I was telling you about. Ronnie, I dislike Wie, actually. However, I "insult" your opinions, as you put it, because they're utterly ridiculous. I know what kind of fellow you are, though. You were never much of an athlete, so you lack the ability to assess these things properly, which can cause you to view someone like Creamer and think she is somehow unique in her shotmaking ability. By the way, not all opinions are deserving of respect. Some are right, some are wrong, some are stupid. If you don't understand the profound difference between male and female athletes, I'll leave the category in which yours belong to the imagination.
2006-01-04 @ 19:10
Comment from: Jim COULTHARD [Visitor]
Another guy last year did the Creamer on the PGA thing that Ronnie is doing. He admitted he wasn't serious. Therre is no to assume Ronnie is any more serious than that guy was. Obviously the Wie critics are not biting this time, however.
Driving distance is like the speed of a tennis player's serve. They often talk about the speed of a tnnis player's fastest serve, why can't we talk about a golfer's longest drive. And just like tennis, a golfer may often take a little off in order to get greater accuracy. Just be careful to compare best with bestm average with average or whatever.
2006-01-04 @ 19:51
Comment from: alan [Visitor]
You left out all the Ahh's, Ummm's and other stuttering from Wie's actual quote.
Alan M
2006-01-04 @ 19:56
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Jim,
I understand what you're saying, but as a tennis pro I can tell you that a fastest serve and a longest drive are not analogous in the way some may assume. A fastest serve is always indicative of a player's capacity whereas a longest drive is never. This is because conditions on a tennis court are relatively uniform and thus have a negligible bearing on the speed of the ball. Golf is a different matter altogether (even if you only count the drives on the measuring holes) because conditions can vary so greatly.
2006-01-04 @ 20:21
Comment from: jay [Visitor]
Right now wie's cary distance is about 265 ( she can stretch it to 280 when she needs) and she said her goal is to carry the ball at least 285 in next 3 years and I think that's resonable goal because she has a lot of room to improve in her body. That's why I predicted she will outdrive all three of them by at least 10 yards when she reaches age 20. All three carry about 270 to 275.
BTW, Ronnie. I saw creamer hit the ball and that's why I was never impressed with her game. Even 5 foot 1 inch Ai Miyazato was outdriving creamer and Ai finished dead last at japanese men's tour.
2006-01-04 @ 20:23
Comment from: extremely under par [Visitor]
Gentlemen
Ronnie, my dear fellow, is absolutely right. Paula Creamer will wipe the PGA clean. She is only too modest to display her true gofing talents.
Under Par, a myopic misogynist, and Alex, his snuffling underling, couldn't possibly begin to comprehend the true scope of the genius embodied, which is non other than Miss Creamer herself. Her drives are long and straight often exceeding 300 yards and her iron shots, peerless. It is only her grace and genuine concern for others including our dear little Under Par et al. that she has not unleashed her true talent as of yet. Why? you may ask. It is solely because of her concerns for the welfares of male chauvinists like yourselves: namely to avoid sudden illness due to uncontrollable seizure , mouth foaming and God forbid heart attacks in seeing her wipe the whole of PGA tour with her amzing golf talents. Consider yourselves to be warned, for Miss creamer will show her true talents in 2006 by swweping the Grad Slam of Golf, Pga and LPGA.
2006-01-04 @ 21:49
Comment from: Jim COULTHARD [Visitor]
Alex
Assume Michelle does Q-School when she is 18 in 2007. I would guess that she would be seeded into the final. Assume the same courses and the same weather. -11 made it in 2007. Top 30 and ties made 32. In 2 years -12 is a good bet to make the top 30 and ties. That is 2 under per round. In two years there is hardly likely to be a significant change in the level of play at Q-School. If Wie improves, she will face guys at most a bit tougher than those in 2005. As far as top 80 goes, she around that level on the PGA now--and those guys are a lot better than your Q-schoolers.
2006-01-04 @ 22:18
Comment from: Jim COULTHARD [Visitor]
extremely under par
You forgot to mention that Paula Creamer will also sweep the gand slams of tennis both male and female. That will really annoy under par.
2006-01-04 @ 22:21
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Extremely Under Par,
You know, I've seen the light! You're right, once Creamer unleashes the tigress within she'll really be a "creamer." But I believe even you underestimate her immense capacity. I expect that by the time she brings all the men on the PGA Tour to tears she'll be driving the ball 385 yards with a 43 inch, steel-shafted driver. I estimate that she will lead the tour in accuracy with 98.2% of fairways hit and that her GIR stat will be 99.3%. I won't mention scrambling because she won't have to scramble, but her putting average will be 1.32. Moreover, I believe that upon conquering the PGA, she will find winning every start boring and will seek a new challenge. Thus, I predict that she will join the NBA, performing feats and setting records that'll make Michael Jordan look like a grammar school pick-up game scrub. I also expect her to win a Nobel Prize in nuclear physics. Where she goes from there, no one knows. The sky is the limit!!
2006-01-04 @ 22:25
Comment from: Jim COULTHARD [Visitor]
Under par
What do you mean a puttin average of 1.32? It will be 0.00. She will hole all of her approach shots.
2006-01-04 @ 22:32
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Now, Jim, let's not be ridiculous!
2006-01-04 @ 22:56
Comment from: Asia_Guy [Visitor]
To clear up any confusion with what it takes to earn a PGA Tour card here are the five ways:
1. Finish within the top 30 and ties at the annual Qualifying Tournament. 2. Win a co-sponsored or approved PGA TOUR event. 3. Finish among the top 150 players on the official money list in a year (through sponsor exemptions, foreign exemptions, open qualifying or section qualifying, etc.) 4. Win during the course of a PGA TOUR season an amount of official money (by playing in PGA TOUR events through sponsor exemptions, foreign exemptions, open qualifying or section qualifying, etc.) equal to the amount won in the preceding year by the 150th finisher on the official money list. 5. Finish in the top 20 on the official Nationwide Tour money list. Number four will be Michelle's ticket to a PGA card. For 2005 the 150th golfer on the list had $485,343 in earnings. I guarantee you she is a better golfer than this guy now. He played 20 events and was cut 10 times. One top ten and no wins. Paula Creamer is a great ball striker, but does not have all the shots yet in her game Michelle does. When the wind is up Paula is down. When the weather is good she is one of the most accurate young golfers I've seen with mid and short irons.
2006-01-05 @ 03:12
Comment from: Foot Wedge [Visitor]
The question of LPGA vs PGA is not relevant. Michelle Wie has already said that her ultimate goal in golf is to play in the Masters. Her best shot at qualifying for the Masters would have been to continue playing in the US Amateur Public Links. Since she gave up that opportunity when she turned pro, I can only conclude that 1) $$ are more important to her or 2) she thinks she can qualify for the Masters on the PGA tour. Since #2 is highly unlikely even to the most diehard Wie fan, that tells me that $$ were the main goal all along.
2006-01-05 @ 03:19
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Asia,
There's no way Wie is even as good as the 150th ranked guy. You don't understand the difference between the two tours.
2006-01-05 @ 03:43
Comment from: Asia_Guy [Visitor]
Sony Open Hawaii 2005
Michelle Wie +9 Thomas Levet +14 (150th 2005 PGA Money List) She already beat this guy once by five strokes in two rounds and scored better than a few more members of the top 150 list at the same event, Double Par. She also tied Nick Price (125th 2005 PGA Money list)and beat a few others on the list at the John Deere. This girl does have game. I understand statistics DP and her statistics for PGA events are not bad when you look at the guys placing behind her. Hell David Duval could't put two rounds together to beat her. The Sony will be her breakout event where she will make the cut for the following reasons: Home course advantage. She has a bunch of rounds on this course. Nike Techs have spent enough time with her to get her clubs right. Loft, lie, angle and swing weight set to fit her swing. She couldn't take advantage of this assistance as an Amateur. David Ledbetter is on her team. Her new caddy has watched her hit enough balls to help her pull the right club, not the case at the Casio. And to top it all off she has already taken her SATs. Now that alone has got to be what puts her over the cut line. Mahalo Bro
2006-01-05 @ 04:39
Comment from: Asia_Guy [Visitor]
OK before you say it DP, Duval was a poor choice for the comparison.
He couldn't beat his mom last year.
2006-01-05 @ 04:42
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Asia,
"Beating" these guys over two rounds proves nothing because everyone has bad tournaments. You must know that. Secondly, you have to be top 125 on the money list to retain your card
2006-01-05 @ 06:07
Comment from: Alan [Visitor]
Mark, Why did you edit out all the Ahhh's, Ummm's and other stuttering that Wie is famous for?
Alan M
2006-01-05 @ 06:51
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
Extremely Under Par, may I make a suggestion? Change your handle to "Extremely Under-Educated." If your post was meant to be satire, I'd make a further suggestion: Don't quit your day job, assuming you have one. As it is more than likely that you don't have a job, don't apply anywhere where proper grammar, punctuation and spelling are prerequisites, such a proofreader at a publishing house or newspaper.
2006-01-05 @ 09:30
Comment from: Paul W [Visitor]
Interesting, but cryptic, comments from Appleby in:
http://www.golf365.com/Story_Page/0,13810,3123_929528_1,00.html His main message is that Wie shouldn't overdo the PGA exemptions till she earns it, which I tend to agree with. However, he makes the following comments at the end of the article: ****** "She will be part of history, but as yet she just hasn't been part of it at all as yet. "And that's what is scary - someone that good hasn't played any role in golf at all. Now in the next 15, 20 years, she could be the biggest and best player ever. It would be quite unique. I guess Tiger has had the claim for a few years now. " *** Better than Tiger? A bit over the top.
2006-01-05 @ 09:58
Comment from: extremely under par [Visitor]
Little Alex
Tsk, tsk. Pray tell, resorting to name calling, are you? How seemingly ungentlemanly. Little Alex, I have lost my respect for you, assuming I had any to begin with.
2006-01-05 @ 10:16
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
Extremely Under Par, check you reading glasses. Where did I call you a name?
2006-01-05 @ 10:43
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Maybe Appleby is as stupid as Sorenstam-will-finish-20th-in-the-Colonial Mickelson.
2006-01-05 @ 11:49
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
Under Par, Probably Stu and Phil were just trying to make some points with the PC crowd. They could try a little moderation, though. There might just be another explanation. An old, inveterate horseplayer pal of mind insists that the very worst information a man can get on any given race is from a conversation in the jockeys' dressing room. Maybe, too close to the forest...?
2006-01-05 @ 12:28
Comment from: Asia_Guy [Visitor]
DP read my post again about how to qualify for the PGA Tour. That is straight from the PGA and the first 150 qualify for a card on the money list.
Now that other little tour, the LPGA is the one that only the top 125 obtain a LPGA card. Yep DP, she beat these here professional golfers in the field like a step-child in yer doublewide. A fifteen year old high school gal whooped em. Can you just imagine how humbled they were? She also beat Paula Creamer five out of the eight times she played against her in 2005. The other three times Michelle was having "bad tournaments" according to you. Once she makes a PGA cut and gains confidence, look out world of golf. This young lady brings some game.
2006-01-05 @ 13:28
Comment from: Jim COULTHARD [Visitor]
Least difficult route to the PGA--Q school, particularly if seeded to final.
Next least difficult. Top 20 Nationwide, but Wie willnot go this route. The Tiger route. Matching Top 125 money. This is much more difficult than Q School--but the Sony Open does give Wie a chance here. In a couple of years if she has a super week on her home course, it could set her up for the year.
2006-01-05 @ 13:52
Comment from: Asia_Guy [Visitor]
Appleby provided a more telling statement DP in the same interview that supports my claim she beat the professionals:
"And she is good. She's not a wealthy person who happened to pull some strings. I mean, this girl can flat out play. You know, I barely beat her by a shot, I think, the last time I played there." He was lucky to "beat" her by a shot. He may not be so lucky in 2006.
2006-01-05 @ 14:04
Comment from: Asia_Guy [Visitor]
Jim,
It is the top 150 on the PGA money list who earn a tour card for the next season. The 125 you're quoting is for the LPGA tour.
2006-01-05 @ 14:12
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Asia-guy, it is the top 125 that make it to the pga tour as well.
Please give a link of where you are getting this top 150 information from, because it is wrong.
2006-01-05 @ 14:23
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Under Par said:
In a way you just inadvertantly buttressed our point about the hype. As you said, Wie drives it about 270, yet, I can't tell you how many times I've heard gushing journalists say she hits it 300. I also heard Wie-wie say on a late night talk show that she hits it 300 yards; that's the marketing I was telling you about. ****************** Under Par, Wie does indeed drive the ball 300 yards. She drives it that far quite a bit. In the Sony she drove it 317 yards on one hole and over 300 for 2 other holes, so she does drive it that far. However her average is about 270 yards, and that is what counts in my opinion. But to say she drives it 300 yards is not a lie. In 2004, she averaged about 275 yards. In 2005, she averaged about 270 yards. That's based over about 6 events in each year on the lpga.
2006-01-05 @ 14:29
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Asia-Guy said:
2. Win a co-sponsored or approved PGA TOUR event. ******************************* Everyone seems to be forgetting about this option. Wonder why!!!!
2006-01-05 @ 14:34
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Norman,
I sort of assumed that would be the spin. It may be true that it's not a lie, but it is deceitful. It's designed to give people the wrong impression.
2006-01-05 @ 14:36
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Foot Wedge said:
Her best shot at qualifying for the Masters would have been to continue playing in the US Amateur Public Links. Since she gave up that opportunity when she turned pro, I can only conclude that 1) $$ are more important to her or 2) she thinks she can qualify for the Masters on the PGA tour. Since #2 is highly unlikely even to the most diehard Wie fan, that tells me that $$ were the main goal all along. ******************************** What makes you think the US Publinx is so easy. Even a great golfer could get knocked out early by someone having a great or fluky day. Also no golfer can be guaranteed to turn it the form every single time, so I didn't think Publinx qualifying was that likely anyway. PGA is actually a better route to go, because she has about 20 years at least to do it.
2006-01-05 @ 14:37
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Under Par said:
There's no way Wie is even as good as the 150th ranked guy. You don't understand the difference between the two tours. ************************** I think Wie's performances thus far suggests that she is somewhere around that standard. It cannot be said for sure, until she would have many more events, but the standard mentioned of 10 cuts from 20, I don't think that will be beyond Wie in a few years.
2006-01-05 @ 14:39
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
Under Par, This thread is getting like "The Night of the Living Dead"! They're everywhere! And they're on the march! Maybe we should reconnoiter and regroup after the Sony.
2006-01-05 @ 14:51
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Appleby's statement:
"You know, I barely beat her by a shot, I think, the last time I played there." This is important for Wie critics. Appleby finished 1 shot ahead of Wie. Appleby considers this to be beating Michelle Wie. By that reckoning, Michelle BEAT the players that she finished ahead of. It is nice to have a pga tour, back up this line of thinking. The anti-Wie brigade like to think that finishing ahead of someone in a tournament isn't beating them unless you have won the tournament.
2006-01-05 @ 14:55
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Alex, that may be a good idea.
There's a great saying, "Everyone rises to the level of his own incompetence." In coming years Michelle Wie may come to grasp its true meaning.
2006-01-05 @ 15:21
Comment from: stone [Visitor]
Asia Guy you need to get out of the sun bra, it's frying your brain. I know Michelle is a local island girl, but your blind worship is a little frightening. You are right about one thing Michelle does have serious game, she is an incredible talent, but she has yet to win on the LPGA tour or make a cut on the PGA tour. That includes two attempts on her home course once missing by 7 strokes in the wind no less. It would seem that Michelle not Paula needs help with her wind game. Listen I don't want to disrespect Michelle in any way as I have said she is going to be a great player and winner on the LPGA tour one day, maybe even this year, but I reserve the right to call bullshit on anybody who thinks she will ever be a factor on the PGA tour, let alone win. She may make a cut one of these days, but earning and keeping her tourcard are entirely different stories. So now that Michelle has the best equipment, coaches, and caddy as well as home course advantage what will be your excuse whe she fails to make the cut this time. My guess would be age followed by wind and conditions followed by she didn't feel like it. I like Michelle, but I feel sorry for her when fans such as yourself have put unrealistic and unfair expectations upon her. Let her grow up and let her game mature. She will probably win plenty in due time on the women's tour and that might just have to be good enough for you.
2006-01-05 @ 15:49
Comment from: Ronnie [Visitor]
People like to exagerate other peoples comments on this board.
Nobody said that Paula Creamer will win everything on the pga next year. Here is what will happen: - Paula will be a serious threat to Annika for number 1, next season on the lpga but will probably come up short. - The following season Paula will be number 1 on the lpga. - Then for 2008, Paula will be dominant. - In 2009, Paula will go for the Grand Slam on the lpga, and will win at least 3 of them, if not actually achieve it. - In 2010, Paula will tackle the men on the pga. Wie will already have made a some cuts, at that stage so it won't be as big news as otherwise. - Creamer will take her sponsors exemptions and find her footing on the pga. - then in 2011, at 25 years old, Creamer will take 7 sponsors exemptions on the pga and win enough money to gain her tour card for the following season. - in 2012 Creamer will win, on the pga tour and build up her world ranking. - in 2013 or 2014, Creamer will qualify for some majors. - over the next couple of years after that, by the time Creamer is 30, she will win a mens major, and will have a few pga titles as well.
2006-01-05 @ 16:24
Comment from: Jim COULTHARD [Visitor]
STONE
Exactly let Michelle Wie grow up. Let her finish high school. People also need to recognize that earning and keeping a PGA card are a lot easier than breaking into the Big Five that dominate the tour. It sounds as if making cuts more than half the time is about the level needed to earn and to keep a card. That does not sound impossible for Wie in a few years. And when she is better, a great week on her home course might give her a win. Very few players ever win unless they do have a great week.
2006-01-05 @ 16:25
Comment from: Ronnie [Visitor]
The big thing that should be noted, is that by the time Creamer takes on the men, she will be the dominant female.
She will have shown that she can beat all the woman on the lpga before taking on the men.
2006-01-05 @ 16:27
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Well said Jim.
I think if Wie gets a tour card, she has a good chance of keeping it. It will be difficult to get one in the first place, but I think that if she is dedicated, she can do it, whether by the q-school or sponsors exemptions route.
2006-01-05 @ 16:31
Comment from: Paul W [Visitor]
Ronnie,
There are some people who post on this board who like to make fun of everybody, which is pretty dumb. Best thing to do is ignore them. However, you are the only person I have ever seen talk about Paula playing against the men. She's a great talent and may one day challenge Annika for #1 on the LPGA. But, her strength is in putting and short/medium irons. She was something like 65th in driving distance in the LPGA last year. She simply doesn't play the type of game that would suit her to the men's game, and I don't think it's a goal of her's. She may try a game at some point, but unless she starts sprinkling steroids in her breakfast cereal, she doesn't have the strength to succeed.
2006-01-05 @ 16:58
Comment from: Jim COULTHARD [Visitor]
Some of us did not believe Ronnie was serious when he predicted multiple men's Majors for Creamer. So we just went along with the game.
2006-01-05 @ 17:54
Comment from: Paul W [Visitor]
Sometimes it's hard to tell
2006-01-05 @ 18:21
Comment from: jay [Visitor]
Talk about distance hype. Creamer listed her driving distance as 265 yards.( just look at What's in your bag section of golf digest). But her avg driving distance was 248 yards and also she couldn't even outdrive wie's 3 wood when they were paired together. It looks like creamer is exaggerating her driving distance.
2006-01-05 @ 18:31
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Ronnie,
Wow, I'm impressed with your predictions; you have Creamer's career laid out through 2016. Now, since I don't run into a rare individual such as yourself -- a man who possesses the gift of prophesy -- very often, I'd like to take this opportunity to avail myself of your prescience. Please aid my endeavours. I'd like to know what stocks will rise in value twenty-fold or more during the next two years. I'm not asking a lot; it's not as if I want information about events a decade hence. Two years will suffice. Also, if you can tell me about this week's horse races, I'd appreciate that also.
2006-01-05 @ 20:06
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Jay,
Yes, the women's distances are hyped in general. I don't know if you noticed this, but when I used to watch women's golf I made an observation. While they would flash the distance of every drive on the screen during the men's telecasts, they would never do so with the women. Of course, I realized that this was for marketing reasons. They realized that if the average person saw that most of the drives were only in the 240s, it would have a negative effect of viewership. This was a few years ago, so I understand it may be a bit different now. With some longer hitting women, such as Sorenstam and Wie, they may be more inclined to sometimes provide such information.
2006-01-05 @ 20:10
Comment from: stone [Visitor]
Jay I noticed that too in the what's my bag section of golf digest online. Those numbers are supposed to be carry distances. Paula carries her driver 265 as many times as Michelle carries her driver 300---which is to say hardly ever. the most amazing thing I saw on that sight was the section on Hilary Lunke the 2003 Women's US Open champion. Her club head speed is 85 miles per hour with her driver and she carries her 8-iron like 120 yards. In my mind this ends the debate about the greatest feat by a female golfer. How you can win a major with the club head speed of your average senior citizen is beyond me.
2006-01-05 @ 21:13
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Stone,
I was happy to see Lunke win because she seems like a nice gal -- she seems like she's all woman, too. Having said that, doesn't that victory tell you something about the level of the LPGA? And how about the choke-fest at last year's US Women's Open? What a comedy of errors. One of the leaders (was it Ochoa?) actually hit her tee shot so fat that she dumped it into a part of a hazard that shouldn't have been in play. And she did this with a driver!
2006-01-05 @ 22:46
Comment from: Foot Wedge [Visitor]
Norman said:
What makes you think the US Publinx is so easy. Even a great golfer could get knocked out early by someone having a great or fluky day. Also no golfer can be guaranteed to turn it the form every single time, so I didn't think Publinx qualifying was that likely anyway. PGA is actually a better route to go, because she has about 20 years at least to do it. ************************************** Norman.....I never said that the Public Links would be an easy way for her to qualify for the Masters, I said I thought it was her best opportunity. But since you disagree and think the PGA tour is her best chance, then by which method do you think she will have the best chance to qualify in 20 years, as you say? Top 8 in the US Open? Top 4 in the British Open? Top 4 in the PGA Championship? Top 40 on the money list?
2006-01-06 @ 01:30
Comment from: Asia_Guy [Visitor]
Norman and the rest of you who think that only 125 get a PGA card I must say that is Bovine Defecation. 150 tour cards are distributed to the top money winners each year. Extracting the foreign players who are on another tour.
Now you all open up the door on yer doublewide and I will explain the process. 150 tour cards are issued, yet only the top 125 receive "exempt" status for the next year. The other 25 recieve "conditional" status on the tour. Exempt players can enter the maximum number of regular tour events (25) and based on their standing may qualify for the money padding invitation only events at the end of the year. Conditional players may play 12 to 15 select regular tour events (more if they finish high in the order) and have the option of playing in the final round of "Q" school in an attempt to gain PGA tour "exempt" status. No sectional qualifiers for them. The next 50 players on the money list (151 to 201) gain exempt status on the Nationwide tour. The LPGA has a very similiar process in use.
2006-01-06 @ 04:48
Comment from: Asia_Guy [Visitor]
For stoned! You must have me confused with Ronnie. I have never predicted anything just reviewed the statistics and results.
Since you have unfairly associated me to Paula's biggest groupie Ronnie, I will make some Wie predictions stoned, of course only after long consultations with my astrologer: Miss Wie will make the cut at the Sony based on the alignment of the stars and the 64 she carded last week from the Championship Tees. Miss Wie will never take a drop without a rules official by her side. Miss Wie will never live in a doublewide mobile home. Miss Wie will not win the title at the Sony Open. So what do you think my percentages will be stoned?
2006-01-06 @ 05:07
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Under Par said:
And how about the choke-fest at last year's US Women's Open? What a comedy of errors. ***************************** Very similar to the mens US Open, wasn't it.
2006-01-06 @ 09:46
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Foot Wedge said:
But since you disagree and think the PGA tour is her best chance, then by which method do you think she will have the best chance to qualify in 20 years, as you say? Top 8 in the US Open? Top 4 in the British Open? Top 4 in the PGA Championship? Top 40 on the money list? ***************************** Probably top 40 on the money list.
2006-01-06 @ 09:50
Comment from: jay [Visitor]
Stone. There is nothing wrong to say creamer doesn't play well in the winds. Knock down shot is necessity in windy condition and creamer doesn't have knock down shot. That's why she never played well in windy condition.
2006-01-06 @ 10:00
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
Norman,
Not at all like the men's Open. If you watched it objectively, you saw that the women looked like rank amateurs. I have never seen a man dump a tee shot hit with a driver into the water a mere 100 yards in front of him.
2006-01-06 @ 10:28
Comment from: June [Visitor]
Again, to all the naysayers, if this is 16 years old boy we are talking about, will you still insist that he won't have a chance in hell to make into PGA in the future when he missed the PGA cut by 1 shot at 14 years old or 2 shot at 15 years old?
I just don't buy the argument that because she is a girl she won't have a chance to make it even if she came so close at that early ages. I don't even think this denial is due to sexism. It's because of close-mindness or pure and simple ignorance. If she is missing the cut continuously like before by 26 years old, then I am on the wagon saying "Michelle, stick to the women's game". BUT, BUTuntil that time come, I am clearly on her side. "You go, girl. Pursue your dream and don't pay any attention to those naysayers". |
