Golf with Shanks - Latest Comments on Michelle Wie at Kraft Nabisco & Tiger Woods at the Masters add drama to start Major Season

Shanks [Member] in response to: Michelle Wie at Kraft Nabisco & Tiger Woods at the Masters add drama to start Major Season

Shanks [Member] — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 22:38:58 +0000

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.

One-Putt [Visitor] in response to: Michelle Wie at Kraft Nabisco & Tiger Woods at the Masters add drama to start Major Season

One-Putt [Visitor] — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 22:27:52 +0000

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.

Shanks [Member] in response to: Michelle Wie at Kraft Nabisco & Tiger Woods at the Masters add drama to start Major Season

Shanks [Member] — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 18:52:12 +0000

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

Alex [Visitor] in response to: Michelle Wie at Kraft Nabisco & Tiger Woods at the Masters add drama to start Major Season

Alex [Visitor] — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 17:44:53 +0000

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."

One-Putt [Visitor] in response to: Michelle Wie at Kraft Nabisco & Tiger Woods at the Masters add drama to start Major Season

One-Putt [Visitor] — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 00:29:54 +0000

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.

Alex [Visitor] in response to: Michelle Wie at Kraft Nabisco & Tiger Woods at the Masters add drama to start Major Season

Alex [Visitor] — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 00:58:24 +0000

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.

One-Putt [Visitor] in response to: Michelle Wie at Kraft Nabisco & Tiger Woods at the Masters add drama to start Major Season

One-Putt [Visitor] — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 21:58:52 +0000

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.

Alex [Visitor] in response to: Michelle Wie at Kraft Nabisco & Tiger Woods at the Masters add drama to start Major Season

Alex [Visitor] — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 15:28:42 +0000

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.