Things That Make No Sense To Me: Honda, Omega, Wie, PGA Tour
1. How is it that Michelle Wie is shooting up the Rolex rankings when she pimps Omega watches? It’s a given that she is number one in the Omega rankings, ahead of such luminaries as Patty Berg, Betsy Rawls, The Great Gundy and The Babe, not to mention such current slackers as Annika and Paula, but so high on a rival watch company’s list? Hmmm…
2) How undesirable is this Honda Classic? It has been evicted from more courses than Cheap Bastard and Tim McDonald combined! The current course looks like more fun and excitement than St. Andrews Old, and yet is also being retired for a return to boring old PGA National. Go Figure.
3] Who wins when all the contenders have little track record for finishing? Luke Donald, Billy Mayfair, Jeff Gove, and Daniel Chopra are the top four right now at the Honda. Chopra and Gove have not won since their Nationwide Tour days. Mayfair has not won since (huge upset, anyone?) he defeated a lesser-know player called Eldrick in the LA Open (the non-Riviera year.) And Luke has not won in the US since a rain-shortened backup event three years or so ago. Can Geoff Ogilvy add a medal-play title to his match-play crown? We’ll see. Can David Toms shake off a Yin-Yang 76 (after 67-67) to challenge? Who knows.
4} In order to further lengthen the first hole, Augusta National will have to eliminate the practice green. If the powers-that-be at the liberal club were as smart as I, they would consider speeding up the greens and fairways, and adding some lovely lady lumps to the fairways (to encourage non-flat lies) before adding more length. Rumor has it that any more yardage will result in the removal of a vintage Waffle House (awful waffle) from the club environs.
That’s all that I remember that makes no sense to me.
« Myths about golf that must be accepted as truth | The statistical madness of Tiger Woods at Doral » |
39 comments
What part of the Wie's ranking do you not understand ?
Using two different criterias, Wie ends up ranked 2nd. The Rolex system which gives points according to their performances (it awards consistent players) and the Sagarin rating where they compare the head-to-head result.
The only thing Wie doesn't have is a 1st place win. If you have a problem with that, you should devise another system which gives ranking to people who won 1st places. Then Birdie Kim who is the winner of 2005 US open will be ranked much higher, but she just missed the cut at Mexico, so what do you say about that ? Huh ?
Obviously Rollex is not going to want to put Michelle Wie in the Omega position in their ratings. Indeed, they would want Michelle Wie to be as far from the Omega position as possible. While 3 and 2 and maybe 3 again in a week or two are not quite the Alpha position, at least they are a lot closer to Alpha than they are to Omega. Does it make sense to you now?
Shame on you, Ron. As one-putt said, "Chumming again, Ron?"
Annika just fumbled and is 1 stroke off the lead now with the Korean express (Seon Hwa Lee) and Paula making good speed to the finish line.
The korean rookies striking again, rofl
Go Paula and the rookie line !
Jay, No, not moron, unles you want "More Ron" ... Get it?
One-Putt, not chumming, although I'm no fisherman.
June, Who is Ron Ron ... Is that like Da Dop Ron Ron? I've always liked that song.
Jim, nice word-play with the Alpha and the Omega, although I think you got one of them wrong ... or maybe I did.
Alex, Great touch with the "PGA tour missed cuts" stat. I should have you ghost-write for me.
P4P, This is like short-track speed skating, with the Korean presence. Whos is the LPGA version of Apollo Anton Ohno who will stand up to the Kim Krew?
In answer to you all, I ask, what the heck else is there to write about? Look at the rest of this week's blogs and you'll catch my wave. Do you want me to talk about Camilo's sexy biceps? Tiger's clean-shaven face? Phil's cuddly love handles?
**************************************Wie would be doing the Blogs a big favor if she played more events. It is only the weeks she plays there are anything interesting to talk about/write about in golf. Who cares what happens to the PGA (Professional Grumppy old men Association) and the Wieless LPGA...
Now I gotta twitch Baldie..
What's the matter with your girl, Baldie? I see she couldn't close it out? Jeez, ma, she should be able to just swish right on thru and whup Annika with no problem. I mean after all, she's your perfect golf girl isn't she? And she was even ahead of the Swedish bomber.. I mean after all, there just isn't any excuse is there?
Even the korean rookie, Seon Hwa Lee beat her.....
hehe, Had to say it you you Baldie, sorry.
And I am in agreeance with Ron. Jay, I know you think the Rolex Rankings are wonderful and that Michelle really deserves World No. 2 position, but I am of the opinion that the rankings don't award WINNERS enough. Sure, Annika is top, but where is Cristie Kerr, Lorena Ochoa, etc? Behind Wie, but I can't think why.
Actually, Creamer may go back to World No. 2 since, as I am writing this, she has just got a T4 finish.
I don't see Creamer's T4 getting her back to second place. She'll probably only get around 10-12 points for it.
...I am of the opinion that the rankings don't award WINNERS enough. Sure, Annika is top, but where is Cristie Kerr, Lorena Ochoa, etc? Behind Wie, but I can't think why....
**************************************
Although I am an ardent Wie fan (not a warrior), I do think this 13 week stuff of Rolex is problematic. What's the big deal with the past 3 month ?
Shouldn't you at least give 1 full year on the maximum points given out ? If you won US Open, you should get full credit before the next US Open. (it seems 3 months period is an extreme case of "what have you done lately"?)
Any thoughts ? Will this bring anyone above Wie ? (like Kerr ?)
One-Putt, not chumming, although I'm no fisherman."... Can't fish or cut bait eh Ron?
I get a kick out of the posts to your blog Ron from the supporters of Wie and the ones that are not. The Suits at Nike, Sony and Omega or yes, even Rolex know what they gain from associating their name with Michelle Wie.......Worldwide Publicity.
Marketing Suits look at Michelle as a product to be advertised with an expected profit return. Michelle has a "Star Quality" about her without being a Star. This Quality will draw soccer moms and their daughters into the game of golf.
Maybe you haven't noticed yet John, take a look at the practice range next time out. Scary situation old pal. They are practicing the Michelle swing at quarter speed with Daddy or Mommy looking on.
Maybe we should eliminate old people, women and kids on some courses built just for speed of play.
We could call it "Express Golf".
More Golfers equals more Golf Courses and that can't be all bad John.
Build a Golf Course and they will come.
==========================================
This is neanderthal. John D., I am positive that every member of the girls golf team that I coach would leave you in the dust when it comes to pace of play. You are merely repeating the words from some other unevolved golfer that you find to be oddly cool, or you are applying a blanket statement to women golfers, based on one bad experience. Look for more during this week of controversial blogs from RonMon.
One word of advice, if you have to use sarcasm to make your point, it's probably not a point worth making,
On top of all the excitement about her, she's rated near the top by the Rolex pole, then she's given an Omega for not winning in her last tournatment...go figure.
At least Paula Creamer & Morgan Pressel are out there playig in their respective leagues trying to actually win.
Having trouble coming up with a list? Thought so… The fact is, while you continually condemn the winless Wie, no player, ever in the history of the LPGA, has won at her age. Not one single 16 year old has ever won. Not one single 17 year old has ever won.
In fact the youngest player to win an LPGA event was Marlene Hagge. She won the Sarasota Open in 1952 (an 18 hole event) when she was 18 years, 14 days old. The youngest player to win a 72 hole event was Paula Creamer who won the 2005 Sybase Classic at 18 years, 9 months and 17 days.
Michelle still has 1 year 7 months and 12 days to beat Marlene, though she will have to do it in a 54 or 72 hole event. Michelle has 2 years 4 months and 15 days to top Paula’s impressive achievement.
Will she manage it? Chances are pretty good. She holds the record for the youngest player to Monday qualify for an LPGA event at 12 years, 4 months and 14 days and the youngest player to make the cut at an LPGA event at 13 years, 5 months and 17 days.
I know you think her age is just an excuse. You may not appreciate the fact the most people mature a great deal, physically, mentally, and emotionally between the ages of 16 and 18. Your postings seem to indicate you stopped maturing well before this point. You may not appreciate that there are achievements and accomplishments, worthy of recognition, move subtle that a great big “W”. You may not understand the satisfaction can be gained with out immediate gratification. The loss is yours. That is a big “L”, you lose, no wins, no ties, pitiful!
This is what Donald had to say after he won the Honda on 3/12/2006
"You see a lot of players when they get close to him seem to either give it to him or he doesn't have to do too much special," said Donald after his two-stroke victory at the Honda Classic in Florida. "He just knows that his golf is going to be good enough to get it done and sometimes he lets the other players feel like they have to do more. "I think if you can kind of get into the mentality that you don't have to do any more, you just do what you know you can do. Hopefully that will keep me going to get up to Tiger's level. "I don't think I need to practice that much harder. I think I've got to change my mentality. "I think you have to start believing that you're the best player in the world. That's the first step. " can I beat Tiger on any given round? Sure. So why can't I beat him during a tournament? "I feel like if I play my golf, just a satisfactory Luke Donald style, that should be good enough to compete no matter what tiger does.
Please note! Tiger is two years older than this fool….
He has a very solid all around game.
Sergio doesn't practice hard or long enough to be competative in a Major this year. Many hours on the putting green might turn that snake into a putter if he works at it.
They are the best of friends off the course.
My issue is with ridiculous expectations. I think those who see a sound byte, or read an article or two about Michelle, and declare her the best player who ever lived are sadly misguided. Not everyone who appreciates what Michelle has accomplished is that foolish.
The point you missed completely, or choose to ignore, is that expecting a 16 year old to win in LPGA is a ridicules expectation. Condemning a player, for not having done so, is simply foolish. This is something no player, not even the greatest legends in Women’s golf, have ever achieved. The fact that there is a player who could conceivable accomplish this should delight and entertain… not be a target of ridicule because the miracle has not yet taken place.
Alex, Michelle’s age relative to other players in not the issue. It is her absolute age today that is the issue. Should Michelle reach 25 years of age with our winning, the age at which Annika won her first (after losing 34 in a row), it will be reasonable to start questioning her ability. It is entirely possible Michelle will never devlope into the player her potential promises. I can think of several scenarios from injury to romance to burnout to new interest that could lead Michelle to remain an interesting footnote in the history of golf. What is fascinating is that the potential is there and we get to see it unfold, for better or worse.
Finally, Alex please read carefully, I only commented on what your statements in this forum “seem to indicate”. I do not have a problem separating a persons opinion from the person them self. I have no intention of casting dispersion on your person, only to state my opinion, that the ideas you express here are foolish and immature. I will happily take your word for it that you are mature, well educated and intelligent and look forward to see evidence of the same in your postings.
The Rolex rankings are an interesting issue. They actually are not intended to determine who the best players in the world are, and at this point I certainly don’t think they do. The stated purpose of the rankings are to provide a method for determining eligibility for events such as the McDonald's LPGA, the Women's British Open, and the Women's World Cup of Golfand as well as seeding for HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship. As such the method used to determine the rankings accommodates amateurs and smaller women’s leagues. While the philosophy and basic method for calculating rankings is based on the system used in men’s golf, the exacting weighting of major tournaments and relative weighting given to various league ratings in establishing the baseline have not been published (to the best of my knowledge). The most controversial element of the system is using a minimum divisor of 15 as opposed to 40 for men’s leagues. The argument runs this is in deference to smaller leagues and to give new players a chance show up in the rankings, which is in keeping with the stated goals. Were the architects of this system immune to the marking pressure related to having Michelle’s name in the rankings? Probably not.
Still the fundamentals of the system are sound (for its intended purpose) and with time and tweaking (just as the men’s version required) the system will probably evolve into a useful tool. Over time the top player in the men’s rankings correlate pretty strongly with number of wins, earnings and major statistics. I suspect eventually the same will be true of the Rolex rankings. In the mean time I’d rely on the later three metrics when evaluating the LPGA.
All that being said, the ranking Michelle has achieved is the result of performing better, on average, than every player, other than Annika, over the last 104 weeks. This certainly does not make her the second best player in the world. In my mind it does justify the exemptions she has been given. However, that low divisor is a double edged sword and any poor or mediocre performance on Michelle’s part will drop her ranking dramatically. One or more poor performances seem likely given the challenges of puberty, sponsors/press pressure and intermittent playing. If she can maintain a high ranking I’ll be impressed.
Bottom line, you are right about the marketing, who cares about mindless masses, and maybe Michelle deserves a chance to prove herself.
I see better and more coherent writing on blogs kept by teenagers.
Sorry, but I think that the few respectable writers on this site should leave before they damage their reputations beyond repair.
Do you cough a lot? The Canadians that I know (being from Buffalo) are quite polite. You must be an emigrant, and the exception to the rule. Give us examples of coherent writings from teenagers. And exactly which writers on the site are you insulting by calling them "respectable"? Next time, post something with some substance. THAT, we will welcome.
This post has 5 feedbacks awaiting moderation...
Recent comments