Michelle Wie at Kraft Nabisco & Tiger Woods at the Masters add drama to start Major Season

For Wie at the Nabisco,she has had a good start, at -4 and in 2nd position behind Lorena Ochoa. These are certainly nervous times for Chris Baldwin.
It should be noted that Miss Sorenstam has a late tee off.

Did you notice the pairings?
Wie with Miyazato,
Sorenstam with Creamer.
Excellent stuff.

On the mens side, I'm glad Padraig Harrington may just be getting his game into shape, with a good start at the Bell South Classic. I'd even take a win for him there, he really could do with the ranking points. His ranking position is not near where it should be.
I too think Tiger's concentration might lack a bit too much, for him to sustain it all the way through The Masters at this point.
I think the Goosen will challenge for probably all the majors, whether he will win is another question.
I wonder if Augusta is too soon for Ernie, perhaps, a later major for him.

Monty for the Masters, having just missed 4 cuts running, the longest cut missing stretch of his professional career. Monty will win the Masters, that's just golf!

Lorena Ochoa is burning the field at -9 after 17 holes. Wow, what a birdie machine.

Well done Lorena Ochoa.
31 out, 31 in.
5 birdies on each half of the course, 10 in total.
Great round!

Are we talking about the same player -- Lorena Ochoaka?

Don't count Lorena out simply as a choker just because of a couple of tournaments. I got to see her personally back in college when she was tearing up the ranks with consecutive wins, and she is a players' player in terms of professionalism, charisma, and respect for the game. She basically breathes golf and sooner or later she'll get out of that funk of not finishing tournaments.

It is amazing that Wie can have such a great round, and yet it is made to look pretty average by the way Lorena took the course apart.

I thought Annika would surely come out well, but she is really struggling.
Only level after 13 holes, she could do with a decent last 5 holes of her round.
Creamer not much better at -1.
Pressel may be having a better tourney -2 after 7.

I think Wie is pretty confident at the moment, and I have a feeling she could take Ochoa if it comes down to that. Long way to go yet though.

I followed Wie this morning. Absolutely awsome. This was my first time at a professional golf tournament and I wasn't dissapointed.
Unfortunately I am not able to stay for the next three days which is rather a shame.
I flew in from Trinidad and Tobago yesterday and leave in the morning.
Just to set everyone straight Wie is as good as the hype. -6 on day one not bad considering she usually starts slow.
This could be the one we have been waiting for.

Alan M

One thing we haven't heard much of is Tiger's hand in raising the game of Annika. They have regularly practiced together in the past, and as a result, she had been the beneficiary of Tiger's expertise with the short iron, et al.

In light of Annika's emergence as the dominant player in the LPGA, I wonder if Tiger would put the kibosh on their joint practices. Due to the highly competitive nature of Tiger, I wouldn't be surprised if he no longer wishes to share his golf "secrets." As of now, Tiger has a lead on majors won, 10 to Annika's 9.

On a serious note, Annika seems to be struggling right now, and may need some brush up pointers from Tiger, pronto!

Now there's a one-two punch atop the leaderboard; Lorena O"choka" and the winless wonder. Place your bets on who will gag first.

Let us not forget Rochester last year. What was it? Lorena Ochoa trailed Paula Creamer by 5 shots with 7 left to play. Paula was 3 over for the 7 holes, while Lorena played them 6 under to win by 4 strokes. Ochoa is #6 in the world rankings.
I will, however, admit that I am more optomistic for Michelle Wie than I would have been if it had been Annika up there at -10, but that is not a knock on Lorena, it is merely an expression of respect for Annika. For Wie fans, Lorena seems like she would be as tough up there as anyone not named Annika.

Historically on any of the pro tours, when a player has a remarkably low score one round, the following round is usually down around par. So if Lorena comes out tomorrow and shoots around 70, it would be very hard to call it a "choke". In fact, it would be quite possible for her to shoot 70 and still have a least a piece of the lead.

Michelle on the other hand historically does significantly better the second day. Significantly better than today could be quite low indeed. On the other hand, she will be facing the afternoon winds which tend to plague the late starters (as it did today.)

Looking forward to seeing what happens.

Comment from: alan m [Visitor]
...I flew in from Trinidad and Tobago yesterday and leave in the morning.
Just to set everyone straight Wie is as good as the hype....
Alan M


Good for you Alan, I hope Wie comes to East coast, I would like to see her play up close sometime.

Does Kraft handpick at least some parings? You have Annika and Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie and Ai Miyazato, the two most competive Hall of Famers not named Annika in Inkster and Webb, Morgan Pressel and the player she beat in the Amateur.

Man what a relief that the first round leaders (Lorena, Michelle, Stacey, and Angela) can speak English. The Meena Lee's and Joo Mi Kim's are hard to cheer for when they can't say anything in English when interviewed.

Yes Jim, I'm pretty sure they handpick many of the pairings.

It's quite frustrating listening to Lorena talk as well. Nobody can understand a damn word she is saying.

I'm glad that there was finally an article written about this LPGA problem: 'Korean Players Lost in Translation.'

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=2387184

Unfortunately it did not get much press. The problem is that most of the non-English speakingplayers and their coaches/parents don't think it's a problem; and the LPGA is trying to sidestep it due to being politically correct. The fact is that everyone looks bad when a player can't answer any questions posed by the media: the interviewer,the broadcaster, the LPGA (and its players), the ethnic community being represented by the player, the tournament directors, and the player herself. You can dress them up all you want but if the player can't communicate noone will be interested in cheering them on. And down goes the entertainment value of women's golf.

FUNNY

Chris Baldwin has spent quite a bit of time in the last while insulting Wie over her sparkly watch, and how she reacted when she was asked about it.

Well Chris Baldwin's own favour golfer, Paula Creamer did practically the same thing when asked about her Blackberry (personal organiser thing). She said "it's shiny" as she showed it, and the P on the back of it for Paula, and giggled. Just like Wie. She was just being a normal girl, just like Wie.

To add further insult to injury for Chris, Paula was asked about her rivalry with Annika. Paula stated that they were in 2 tournaments together this year and Annika beat her in Mexico, but Paula BEAT Annika when they played in Arizona. Yes, Paula actually said that she BEAT Annika in Arizona.

This claim by Paula backs up, us Wie Warriers, who have been rightly saying that when you place higher in a tournament than another player you have beaten them.

I am glad that Paula Creamer agrees with us Wie Warriers.

By the way, here is the web address for the Paula interview, because unlike Chris, I like to show the source of the claims:

http://www.insidegolf.com/06nabisco/proplayer/pcreamer_032906_mc_h.html

Just click "Select Interviews Here" and scroll down to Wedneday and Paula Creamer's interview.

This second round is a great opportunity for Michelle to separate from the pack and get closer to Lorena. The Desert Sun blogger in the golf course today said that players are having difficulty holding the slicky greens in their approach shots and chips. Since the trajectory of Michelle's shots are higher and with more spin, she should be able to hold the greens better than the other players. We'll see how it plays out.

Alas, hc2, the winds came. Credit Michelle with a better played round today than yesterday just to keep the gap at 4 strokes.

Ye snails and little catfish! The cut was plus 6 (It seems to me it should actually be plus 7 as there are four amateurs above the cut line and the cut is described as "top 70 professionals plus ties and amateurs" but it currently shows at 6 on the lpga website.) This course is playing way, way rough.

A fairly good round considering the weather, late tee time and tough course conditions. She did not grow impatient as she did not try high risk (low percentage) shots as she would have done in the past. This is a sign of her maturing greatly over the past year. Putting seems to be improved too as she made several four footers for par; plus two putted from long distance in several holes. That means she is addressing her main two weaknesses: putting; and course management. I am surprised she has not taken advantage of the par 5's though.

On the par 5's, only #2 really sets up for Michelle and she birdied it both rounds so far.

On #9 the dogleg shortens her first shot to the point she loses any advantage her length off the tee might give her.

On 11, the dogleg is subtle, but her normal drive would have to go over trees to a blind landing on the narrowest part of the fairway.

and 18? Fugitaboudit unless she is 1 stroke behind on Sunday...then maybe she'll go for it. But trying to get fancy on this hole is pure suicide.

So, in fact, she has capitalized on those that set up for her. And she has come close a couple of times on the ones that don't.

On Thursday Michelle Wie was 4 shots better than her playing partner Ai Miyazato, -6 to -2. On Friday she was 6 shots better, -1 to +5. After the best conditions on Thursday, Wie had the worst ones on Friday and basically held her position. Playing in the same conditions as Lorena on the weekend Wie should be able to pick up ground.

Nice catch Norman. I've noticed Golf Channel showing head-to-head stats among players lately. Have they done this before in the past? Those are real telling stats.

If Michelle can finish ahead of Annika in this tournament then she'd be up 3 to 1 in their last four meetings. Annika is the only top player with a winning record against Michelle (3-13).

Well, the weather is perfect. The top bracket is starting to pile on the birdies.

Moving Day has arrived!

Hold on to your horses folks, everyone will be going for the flagsticks. Looks like we are in for a ride!

I can't believe it's a major, Saturday, and ESPN2 is showing the 3rd round tape delayed. That tells you how much attention women's golf gets.

Curse, grumble, mumph...

Things started off hot, then the wind started picking up (according to Weather.com) and nobody is going anywhere. Annika picked up two quick strokes and then stalled out. It looks like the course is starting to bite everybody...and you have no way to watch it for another hour and a half...

Curse, grumble, mumph.

Creamer has had a dreadful start. Dropping a shot in each of the first 3 holes and another on 7, for +4 at that stage. She is probably out of it, unless she comes in, in 28 or so.

Morgan Pressel on the other hand is doing okay in the wind. Moved up to 9th place and tied for low round of the day so far at -3.

Wind now gusting up to 28mph. Looks like we find out who can hang with the pack in bad weather.

PREDICTION
-8 will be good enough to win this title.

John Neal,
Pressel indeed is doing better today. Guilbis is another one. Creamer is out to +6 for the round after just 11 holes. That could be quite a high score.

Norman, Your prediction looks pretty good at this point. If Michelle can either find the fairways or the last quarter inch of alignment on her putts she could run away tomorrow.

From what I have seen, Michelle played somewhere around her B+ game today and is still hanging in second.

Gulbis, Ahn or Lee could also catch fire and make some noise. Tomorrow should not lack for drama.

Oh, BTW, once the coverage finally came on, it appears the only place the wind was blowing was on weather.com ;-)

Just a devilishly hard course. Playing consistently at 2 over par.

The final round should be great, it almost seems scripted. Ochoa is holding on to a diminished lead from the first day, but has a reputation for wilting at the worst times. She's sharing the final pairing with Wie and Gulbis who are both under lots of pressure to get their first win. All three have something to prove, and they have the hot rookie Seon Hwa Lee nipping at their heels.

Bivens couldn't ask for much better.

Well, after two holes Lorena and Michelle have broken free of the pack. We may be looking at the "Shootout and the KN Corral" here.

But a lot of golf to go. Nobody else is going really low, Pat Hurst is low round so far at -3 through 9. Plenty of opportunity for the course to rise up and bite either or both of the leaders.

Moment of truth for both Lorena and Michelle to see who really has it. Seems like Michelle will need to take it low (shoot under 70) this time if she has any chance at the title.

hc2,
I still think -8 will probably be good enough. I expect an Ochoa wobble at some point. Morgan Pressel could tell her that there are treble bogies out there. Paula Creamer could tell her that there are many bogies to be had, 3 in first 4 holes again for Paula.

John Neal,
Thanks for the weather report. Some of us don't even have delayed coverage of the tournament.

Paul W,
Excellent comment about the grouping of Wie, Ochoa and Guilbis.

I expected -8 to be good enough.
Wie delivered, but unfortunately I was out by 1, in my prediction of the winnnig score.

If Wie had the luck of Webb, she could be a major winner. Quite often tournaments get won by just a little bit of luck at the right time, just the bounce of a golf ball.

Sigh. Wie did us Wie-warriers very proud indeed.

And never count an old dog out just because the puppies are feeling their oats!

Magnificent recovery from disaster for Karrie Webb with a 'bit-o-luck' at just the right time and the courage to go for it in the shoot-out. I hope the young-uns had their notebooks out.

Great recovery by Ochoa too to get into the play-off. Pretty dramatic, both of them had to get eagles on a tough par 5.

Too bad Ochoa couldn't pull off the play-off. She had a similar lie to Wie's off the 18th green (though a little farther). Wie tried wedge and Ochoa putter, both with the same result.

How about that wedge on the 72nd hole Norman? I've got to give Michelle credit, she sure loses in spectacular fashion. Close, but no cigar. She showed off the total package today and it still wasn't enough. Don't kill the messenger, but the fact is that Michelle has twice the game, distance, shotmaking and ability then any woman on tour, including Annika and she just seems to find a way to lose. You can draw your own conclusions...

Liam, how about the wedge on 72?

A hall-of-fame golfer who turned professional the year you first picked up a golf club, a former World #1 makes up 7 shots in the final round and eagles out.

You have a choice, risk it all on ending it right here, or play safe and have to face her in a shootout. If Michelle thought the wedge gave her the best chance to end it right there, then it was the champion's choice, the gutsy move...she didn't pull it off and she faced the consequences with no excuses. But it was the right choice for her.

John, first of all Michelle is not a champion, unless you're going to count the Jennie K. Wilson championship when she was 10. Second, playing a poor shot, the wrong shot and taking yourself out of a playoff and a chance to win your first title, a mjor at that is not gutsy, it's just plain stupid. Just for the record Michelle would have a huge advantage over Karrie in a playoff on 18 with her length and should have given herself the best chance to win, which was to get into the playoff, not try to pull off an incredibly low percentage shot. Karrie Webb has showed signs of a career resurection and certainly outplayed Michelle and the rest of the field today, but she is a long way from the fearsome hall of famer she once was. If Michelle is going to live in fear of a playoff with the Karrie Webbs of the world then she's even weaker then I thought.

Liam, And also, just for the record, going into her shot, Michelle knew she had never birdied this hole in this tournament, up to that point. She also knew she was not playing lights out golf today. Karrie, on the other hand, played 18 at birdie, eagle the last two days and had come from 7 back to a one shot lead. She was playing lights-out. Michelle picked the club she had most confidence in and went for the jugular...she missed.

Ochoa faced Webb in the shootout, had the same "tremendous length advantage" that Michelle supposedly had. Ochoa lost.

Still think trying to close it right there was "stupid?"

Likewise, I did not call Michelle a champion, I said she made the choice that a champion would make. She thought her best chance of victory was to close it with an eagle and walk away.

It didn't work...but I still say it was the choice that a champion would make.

Michelle should have won this tournament by by at least five or six strokes. The only thing that held her back is her putting. She is giving up two to three putts per round to the rest of the field. (avg. is 28 putts per round; and she averaged something like 31.5 The commentator hit it right on the nose on Saturday when he said it's hard to win ANY tournament with those averages per round no matter how good your shotmaking is.

If she had opened up the face on her wedge a bit she could have held it close to the pin. I don't think she expected the roll she got and it took off on her.

hc2, I agree that Michelle has to continue to improve her putting, but I think the putts per round numbers are a little deceptive. Her GIR was very high, so she would tend to have longer putts than someone who misses the greens and has to chip more.

Liam said:
Michelle has twice the game, distance, shotmaking and ability then any woman on tour, including Annika and she just seems to find a way to lose.
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Actually I disagree with you there. Which of us is the Wie fan here? I think you are completely misreading Wie's ability.
She is a very good player, even at her young age, but she does not have twice the anything of Annika. In fact, Annika is still better than Michelle at nearly every aspect of the game.

Liam said:
John, first of all Michelle is not a champion, unless you're going to count the Jennie K. Wilson championship when she was 10.
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Actually she won the US Amateur Publinx Adult tournament at 13 years of age.



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Liam said:
Just for the record Michelle would have a huge advantage over Karrie in a playoff on 18 with her length and should have given herself the best chance to win, which was to get into the playoff, not try to pull off an incredibly low percentage shot.
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You are again mistaking the length advantage.
Firstly, just because it is a par 5, doesn't mean Michelle has an advantage. Maybe the hole isn't set up in a way suited to her game.
Next, over the four days Wie parred that hole on each occasion. Webb had a birdie and an eagle there, and again birdied it in the playoff, so Webb certainly had the advantage there.

Norman we can talk around the issue all you like, but the fact remains that Michelle needed birdie on the final hole and should have gotten it, just like she should have made birdie on that hole all week. You are supposed to be a world-class golfer, you know in your heart that she has more game then the other women out there. She has a decided power advantage, she spins the ball like a man, and she can work the ball better then all of them, including Annika. Is her game as polished as Annika's, of course not, but you know as well as I do that she has more game. It is a fine line the Wie warriors walk--Praise Michelle's talent and skill too much and eventually you will have to ask why she has not won yet, worship too little and be cast out of the cult.

As much as I was rooting for Michelle and Lorena to win, I was very hapy for Karrie Webb on her much deserved win. It is pretty obvious that Karrie has the complete package when it comes to being a golfing champ. Karrie hit a beautiful flop shot at the playoff hole on a dicey lie in the rough. That is a sign of a champion: the ability to execute shots in tough conditions. In contrast: Michelle failed to lag her putt on the twelfth which resulted in a three putt bogey; failed to get up and down from the sand on the par 3 14th which resulted in another bogey; and failed to get up an down on the 18th hole to join the playoffs. These little things is what separates the Champions from the pretenders; and Michelle simply does not have that artistry to execute those shots. I don't even need to reiterate her problems in putting. In Michelle, I see someone focused more on technique, and less on feel and creativity.

That is what makes Tiger Woods so amazing: he has the shotmaking, power, feel, shortgame, creativity and artistry all wrapped up in one guy and that is simply super rare: most of the time players are one dimensionsal: good long hitters, with average/poor short game; or vice versa. Michelle Wie from the early signs is a one dimensional player (shotmaker, long hitter) with average/poor short game. If this remains, she will quite simply never get to dominate the Women's game. She may have a win or two, but not at the winning rate as Annika. At this stage of her career, I would suggest her to make friends with Tiger just like Annika did; and give up the range for a while.

As I said on Tim's blog, Michelle played well but T3 is not winning. She came close but so did Gulbis and Ochoa came even closer. The 18th was playing as one of the easiest on the course. Many birdies and even a few eagles were recorded on it. She needed a birdie to get into the playoff, but the fact is she couldn't do it yet AGAIN.

Laim said:
Norman we can talk around the issue all you like, but the fact remains that Michelle needed birdie on the final hole and should have gotten it, just like she should have made birdie on that hole all week. You are supposed to be a world-class golfer, you know in your heart that she has more game then the other women out there. She has a decided power advantage, she spins the ball like a man, and she can work the ball better then all of them, including Annika. Is her game as polished as Annika's, of course not, but you know as well as I do that she has more game.
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Liam,
why should Michelle have got birdie on this hole, on any day? Why shouldn't Annika have got many more birdies in the tournament, or maybe some less bogies? You are basing your comments on a bias against Michelle and not taking anyone else into account.

Wie put herself in contention to win the tournament, and most certainly did not falter down the stretch.
By contrast,
Annika was 6 shots behind her.
Morgan Pressel was 9 shots behind her.
Paula Creamer was 13 shots behind her.

All of these are extremely talented players.
Annika is a much better player than Michelle, but I don't believe you have attacked her performance.
Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel have a disadvantage as regards length, but Morgan Pressel certainly has alot of amateur experience and success, success which we were told would bring immediate lpga success. It hasn't turned out that way.
As I learned the hard way, being an amateur champion means very little when you turn professional.

As regards Creamer, she is a proven winner on the lpga tour, having won twice last year, one of those, a very large thumping of the field at the Evian Masters. Should Paula not be performing better, than 14 shots off the lead?

I like Paula Creamer, and I think she will succeed again, and I do think she will win majors, although maybe not for another while. I am not putting down her performance in any way, because she will have many more chances. I am simply using her, as an example of the hypocricy of the anti-Wie brigade.

On your assertion, that Wie is this sort of super talented wonderwoman, who is far better than anyone else and should be beating fields easily, I simply don't buy that.

Maybe she will be that sort of player at some stage, but you need to get a grip on reality. She is 16 years old and a very talented girl, but not up to the level that you insist she is at.

Liam,
Also on the winning thing, she has had very few chances to win.
She plays a very limited schedule.
In my opinion if she played 25 tournament this season, she would probably win about 4, but given that she plays one every now and again, two 3rd place finishes, and not only that, but two finishes, just 1 shot behind the leader, are amazing.

hc2, you are a complete contrast to Liam.
Liam over estimates Michelle a little and hc2 completely underestimates her.

hc2, decided to list some bad shots that Michelle played on the 12th and the 14th.
He failed to mention of course, her birdies on 7 and 9.
More importantly he failed to mention, that when there were 3 of them level at -7, Michelle hit a beautiful approach shot on hole 16 to give her a couple of feet for birdie.

That shot was enough to put her back in the lead, but then Karrie got lucky, with an eagle to go to -9.

Also, hc2 failed to mention that Michelle played an excellent lag putt on 17, when she was 40 feet from the hole.

Also, hc2 failed to mention that Michelle's 2nd shot on 18 was a couple of feet from being perfect and the ball would have naturally went towards the hole.

Also, hc2 failed to mention, that for Michelle's 3rd shot on 18, Ochoa had a similar shot in the playoff and she putted it, and ended up 18 feet from the hole, and missed her putt as well.

"Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Liam,
Also on the winning thing, she has had very few chances to win.
She plays a very limited schedule.
In my opinion if she played 25 tournament this season, she would probably win about 4, but given that she plays one every now and again, two 3rd place finishes, and not only that, but two finishes, just 1 shot behind the leader, are amazing."

You forgot to mention Norman that out of her limited exemptions she will infact play all of the top tournaments Women's golf has to offer. She doesn't duck the competition and tees it up with the best women golfers in the world.

Karrie played a round we have not seen from her in many years and with a little luck thrown into the mix earned the win. The youngsters are reinvigorating the game of some World Golf Hall of Fame Members. Julie and now Karrie have stepped up to the challenge and not rolled over in the end. This is great for the game.

Norman,
Com'on now. You are just trying to ignore the obvious fact. Whenever Michelle has a putt with more than four feet from the hole; or has a semidifficult shot in the rough or sand, everyone shakes including Michelle, the fans and the commentarists. She is a one dimensional player and seems like will be for a long time to come. As I said earlier, if she putted average, and if she was more of a clutch player she should have won this thing by five or six shots at least. It should have been a runaway because her shotmaking is way superior than 95-99.9% of the LPGA players. She had numerous putts within 12 feet; and hardly made any of them. That goes back to what I am saying: she is extremely good in one aspect of the game, and mediocre in the other. I am just being plain objective and nothing more. The thing is putting, short game, and clutch play down the stretch is more about artistry than just mechanics; and right now Michelle is not an artist on the golf course.

Comment from hc2:"Michelle Wie from the early signs is a one dimensional player (shotmaker, long hitter) with average/poor short game. If this remains, she will quite simply never get to dominate the Women's game. She may have a win or two, but not at the winning rate as Annika."

Funny, I seem to recall that her competitors in the men's publinx were all praise with her short game. Same with her playing partners at last year's John Deere Classic. You don't consistently contend in majors with a one dimensional game.

Hal, hc2 has the luxury of being able to say what he means and mean what he says when posting on an internet blog anonymously. Michelle Wie's playing opponents in men's events do not have that option, lest they incur the wrath of the politically correct thought police. One can only imagine what the hue and cry would be if some male golfer would candidly give his opinion that Michelle just doesn't have the long game, the short game, the putting, or the GAME, period, to compete with men at any level, and that she should first try to win on the women's tour. That man would be a candidate for legal lynching by the feminist fanatics. Besides, pro golfers as well as amateurs are for the most part gentlemen.

Those Chris Baldwin postings are getting out of hand. I have decided to stop posting in there, and I encourage others to follow suit regardless if you are pro or anti Michelle Wie. There is just simply no discussion there, but more like everyone insulting each other. I dont' need that.

Michelle Wie was not simply after a win or nothing. Her T3 qualified as the top 5 in a Major that qualified her for next year's Kraft. She probably has now earned enough in 2 events to get as much money as a top 35 to get her a US Womens Open invitation.

Dear Wie fans, Michelle Wie will appear on "60 minutes" this Sunday, April, 9th.

I don't get it. Why are so many people critisizing Wie on the path she is taking. Some say she needs to "learn how to win", then there are some who says she needs to win on Women's tour before competing with men etc.
And what is wrong with getting multimillion $ endorsement deals ? This is a capitalism world and that is how you play the game.

It is her life and her decision to make. Don't give 'advice' to others unless being asked for...

I agree with Jay. Wie will be fine...and she keeps getting better under pressure. There is not one path in life. I think Wie is following hers well.

Scott, Jay, et al, I agree, Miss Wie will probably turn out well, barring any unforeseen circumstances. She will almost certainly win more than a few times on the LPGA tour. She may eventually make a cut on the PGA tour, IF she plays her absolute best in a secondary event. But there are several things she won't do in her life. She will not win any awards for her public speaking, she won't graduate from Stanford with a degree in astrophysics, and, despite the fervent hopes of her ardent admirers, she definitely WILL NEVER win a PGA tournament.

You are right, Alex! The expectations some have for her are ridiculous. She may never make a cut on the PGA TOUR. She DEFINITELY won't win.

As stated by the Prophet Alex to his devotee Scott:

She will not win any awards for her public speaking, she won't graduate from Stanford with a degree in astrophysics, and, despite the fervent hopes of her ardent admirers, she definitely WILL NEVER win a PGA tournament.

She may not win an award for public speaking, but she will be paid very well to speak publicly and the audience will listen to what she has to say.

She may not major in “Astrophysics”, but she will earn a degree in some discipline sooner or later and perhaps later an MBA to help her manage her growing empire.

She may not win a PGA event, but she will rewrite the history of women in golf for many years in the future and leave a lot of men behind her in the field along the way.

The Prophet Alex of course was President of his local Toastmasters and high school Debate Team at sixteen.

One-Putt, You've done quite a bit of prognosticating of your own in your post. Perhaps the most absurd of your predictions is that which gives an MBA to a high school junior. I really thought that Miss Wie's strong suit was golf. Her chance of earning an MBA are about the same as chance of winning a PGA tour event. Actually, O-P, in my chosen field public speaking and debate are of prime importance, and, as a matter of fact, I did excel in those disciplines in high school, college and law school.

Michelle Wie's strength in public speaking is not debate where winning means that someone else has to lose. Her strength is diplomacy. Alex might be a Justice Department type of guy, but Michelle Wie would be more of a State Department person.

Yes Alex your verbose demeanor in this blog is legendary and must come from years of training in the art of making lengthy inane orations to a captive audience and making them believe in the absurd. You are a Six-Sigma Grand Master of BS.

One-Putt, your last post is proof of the old adage, "It takes one to know one.":-)

Jim C, You and One-Putt should really try to come down from the clouds for a minute, and as you both are fond of saying, realize that Miss Wie is only 16 years old. You have her being adept at the art of diplomacy, a State Department person no less. And One-Putt, the number one Wie sycophant now that Norman is on sabbatical, says emphatically that Michelle will not only be a highly-paid public speaker with a rapt and attentive audience, she will not only re-write the history of Women's golf and leave a lot of men foundering in her wake, she will also amass a vast financial empire which she will manage by herself since she will more than likely earh a Masters' degree in Business Administration AFTER she gets a degree in something eventually. She's going to be a diplomat, a successful entrepreneur, a captain of industry, an MBA and a CPA, and a sought-after public speaker, all this while winning a slew of golf tournaments which will enable her to re-write the history of Women's golf. If you fellows expect these miracles from your 16 year old idol now, what will be your predictions when she eventually wins something? Will she be instrumental in conquering all debilitating diseases? Will she succeed in erasing the names of Mother Teresa, Marie Curie, Helen Keller, Florence Nightingale, and Eleanor Roosevelt from the history books as well as those of Louise Suggs, Mickey Wright, Nancy Lopez, and Annika Sorenstam? I fully expect such pronouncements since nothing seems beyond the imaginations of Wie admirers.

An average of $26,000 per round of Women's professional golf played in 2006 is a fact not fiction.

Finishing no worse than third in the first two events she played on the LPGA tour this year is another fact.

An estimated 12 to 15 million dollars in endorsement contracts and appearance fees for the past six months is not disbuted.

A seventy-five percent increase in broadcast viewers of LPGA events she enters and an average of a thirty-five percent increase in attendance at events with Michelle in the field is well documented.

Ranking second on the World ROLEX Rankings was not an accident, but a confirmation of her talent and consistency of play.

I would say this sixteen year old is well on her way to confirming what I stated.

One-Putt, what does any of that have to do with Miss Wie getting a Masters' Degree in Business Administration? I assume that you have no idea what it takes to acquire such a degree. Look at it this way: Tiger Woods has earned about 100 times as much money to this point as Miss Wie. He actually attended Stanford. But he never got his degree, much less his Masters'. And do you know why? Because he just doesn't have the time or perhaps the inclination. Don't forget also that Woods has won 60+ tournaments worldwide. Now, if money is Miss Wie's only consideration, she is no doubt on the right track. But nothing she is doing now will qualify her for consideration of the Nobel Peace Prize or any of the other grandiose accomplishments her devotees think she will earn.

She may not major in “Astrophysics”, but she will earn a degree in some discipline sooner or later and perhaps later an MBA to help her manage her growing empire.

Now Alex what don't you understand about the statement "perhaps later"?

The NPP is reserved for the Jimmy Carters' of the World and Michelle would not qualify. She is not evil enough.

As an MBA graduate I know exactly what it takes to hold the degree Alex and it ain't Rocket Science.

Tiger Woods is married and unable to return your love for him Alex. Give it up now before your heart breaks more.

Of course I am patient enough to wait fourteen years before I compare accomplishments between players.

One-Putt, Well, I'll say this much for you, you are patient. Old Brooklyn Dodger and Chicago Cub fans used to have a saying: "Wait 'til next year." You're more than willing to wait until 2020 for Miss Wie to come to full flower. And you talk of someone else being infatuated with a golfer! I'll bet you have a full-length poster of Michelle on your bedroom wall.

I would consider the poster Alex if I didn't have to move the Chagall.

Do you still have your Farah poster next to the prized print of the dogs playing poker?

Wie critics hold Michelle to a different standard than Tiger at the same age. Why is that? I don't think any of you would have expected Tiger to win a Pro event at 16. Yet you (as a group) consider Michelle's accomplishments a failure because she hasn't won.

That is truly a demented form of logic to support any argument.

I look at Michelle's game and see potential for greatness in the future, while all you can see is failure in the present.

Tiger never had anywhere near the hype that has been afforded Miss Wie at the age of 16. Or 15 or 14 for that matter. Tiger didn't turn pro until AFTER he had won three junior championships AND three consecutive US Amateur titles. I personally don't look on Miss Wie as having failed in anything YET. She just hasn't had the degree of success that her devoted fans have predicted for her and that they expect from her. If you folks weren't such fanatics, you'd admit that your expectations are unreasonable. Several of your ilk have actually said that Miss Wie will win a PGA event within two years. Now THAT is laughable.

My expectations have consistently been lower for Michelle than my fellow Wie supporters. I don't expect her to win at any professional tournament until she has manages to get her putter under control and eliminates the bogey from her game.

At the Fields she tied for first in greens hit in regulation and at the Kraft she was in first place alone. During her second round performance at the Sony she tied for hitting the most greens in regulation that day.

Tee to green is what keeps Michelle in her matches and then she gives it all away with her putter. That is why she pulled a wedge on the final hole of the Kraft, it was a club she had more confidence in to hole out or put it close.

Presently she is averaging two to three putts plus per round higher over the gals who win. That is eight to twelve shots she gives back to the field in every four round tournament. When Michelle can get to the 27 to 28 PPR level she will be unbeatable on the ladies tour. If she doesn't, I don't expect her to win unless the rest of the field gives it to her.

Will Michelle win on the PGA tour? It is highly unlikely for the same reason above....putting. That is what separates the good golfer from the great one.

One-Putt, in Miss Wie's first attempt at the 2004 Sony, she scored a 68. That round has been the benchmark that her ardent fans have used to say that she will make a PGA tour cut and eventually even win one on the big tour. In that round, she sank a couple of bombs of around 50 feet and had only 23 putts for the round. She had 13 one putt greens and no three putts. This was more than enough PROOF for her admirers that she was on her way, she would dominate the LPGA, be competitive with the men, and accomplish her lifelong dream of being invited to the Masters'. Now, even her staunchest fans are admitting that her putting is at best mediocre, and that she needs much improvement in that category if she expects to win. Hoping for such a dramatic improvement in what is arguably the most important phase of the game is a long shot. It is similar to someone saying, "I think that Alex could be an excellent cabinet maker if he would just improve his woodworking ability."

Excellent point, One-Putt & Alex. Ball-striking will only take a player so far at the top level of the game.

At one time putting was the worst part of my game until I attended a Dave Pelz seminar in SOCAL. He opened my eyes to the errors I was making around the green and after attending one of his acadamies for a weekend I cut ten strokes off my round and broke some really old bad habits I had picked up.

Michelle would do well adding Dave to her team. Maybe you noticed Phil had him in tow at the Masters.

Phil has always been a good putter. You may remember that he won a PGA tour event as an amateur. He had already won 20 times on the tour before Pelz joined his team. Pelz primarily has been helping him with the types of short shots required around the greens that are different in each Major championship.

I do agree that Wie needs putting help. But it would be hard to believe that she hasn't already gotten good instruction from someone.