Vicky Hurst, Michelle Wie and Stacy Lewis should make for a good (American content) race for ROY for 2009.

Yes...I was thinking myopically about tour school only...Hurst will be a fabulous addition to the triumvirate.

It will be interesting to see the "Three Musketeers" in 2009. The reign of Ochoa and the SK gals will be coming to a close!

With Wie 2 shots back and she will be playing the Champions course the next two days, how will she play the par five holes? So far she has been "laying up" on all of the par fives. I could never understand her reasoning for making that decision on the par fives and taking away from her strength. Even when playing on the LPGA she rarely went at the par fives in two. We will see what she does tomorrow in round four.

If bad shots can take you out of your game, it makes sense to play in a way that helps you avoid bad shots. The pressure on Wie from all the criticisms directed at her have made her want to try too hard to prove her critics wrong. Conservative play on LPGA par 5s is part of the Team Wie strategy to combat this tendancy--it is certainly not Michelle Wie's idea of how to play these holes.

At Q School what is important isn't winning but making the top 20, or 30, or 40. She may be allowed some agressive play--but you can be sure there is a conservative back up plan ready if there is any trouble.

Next year I expect to see a much more agressive Wie on the 5s. Assuming she is an LPGA member she won't feel the need to answer any critics who say she hasn't earned the right to be there. She can afford to screw up one week and she has the chance to come back the next. She can afford to take more risks as long as the expected benefits are good enough to justify the risks.

Ji Yai Shin should be the favorite for ROY 2009. Easily the best new golfer on the LPGA in 2009.

Jim, bravo. I could not have responded any better to the posit.

Steve, you may be right, you may be crazy. She has the best record...will she keep it up with the added pressures of English lessons and drug testing?

Jim,
Great post...keep them coming.