Hot, young golfer Ashleigh Simon, South African version of Michelle Wie: "No dudes for me"
Add commentsI’ve been reading about Ashleigh Simon and once interviewed her in South Africa for a story. We sat on a verandah in the hot African sun drinking iced tea, after a round at Glendower Golf Club, one of South Africa’s top courses.
She’s sort of that country’s version of Michelle Wie, and she told me then, about two years ago, she wasn’t very interested in playing in men’s tournaments.
“I like playing with men in exhibitions, but not competitively,” Simon said. “I feel women should compete against each other and the men should do the same.”
She’s reiterated that since turning pro in May.
She did play in a men’s event when she was 14, but it was a lark, she says, nothing serious.
She got a special invitation to play with 74 men on a South Africa tour event at Leopard Creek, the top-ranked course in the country, according to Golf Digest.
Simon finished dead last.
Still, South African golf writer Michael Vlismas called her “possibly the greatest female golf talent ever to emerge from these shores.”
There’s that word again – “possibly.”
In a sense, Wie could be acting as a cautionary tale for other bright, young prospects.
The only problem: Simon also has Nike as a corporate sponsor. I hope she gets different Nike weasels on her entourage than Wie.
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The Accidental Golfer:
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Similar to Tiger and others who have taken a traditional route, she learned to win before she took the money.
At this stage there is no comparison between Ashleigh Simon and MW......Ashleigh welcome to the US and good luck at the Jamie Farr tournament!!!!!!
http://www.southafricagolf.com/
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might improve the genetic health of his
resulting progeny.
When will these stageparents realize that they just can't push teen age girls to that extent?
In my opinion there is no comparison between Michelle Wie and Ashleigh Simon other than they are teenagers. Ashleigh Simon has won MANY tournaments and all the top Women's Amateur tournaments. She won her first Pro Tournament in 2004, the only Amateur to do this. She has won a pro tournament each year since and finally has turned pro.
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How many top 5s does Ashleigh have in majors?
Do you think she will make the cut at the Jamie Farr?
Whatever amateur tournaments she did win were far from lpga standard.
She might find out a bit about top level womens golf at the Jamie Farr, even though that isn't exactly the biggest lpga tournament.
As you said, there is no comparison between Ashleigh Simon and Michelle Wie.
Wie has shown herself to be a very good lpga golfer. Ashleigh Simon has plenty to prove if she is to get anywhere near that level of golf.
Get real and current, MW has not broken Par in over a year in competition. In each tournament she continues to do worse. She has become a head case which I find regretable. She has hurt her reputation with all the withdrawals. Time to move on, let her enjoy collge and give it a try another time if her sponsors will permit it.
One does not know the level of the South African competition but it is impressive that hse has dominated at each level as she has moved up. I think this is the better way to train and develop as a golfer rather than the more side show type of path of MW.
I expect time will show that Ashleigh Simon was better prepared to turn pro at this stage of her career than MW. MW may have more god given ability but if not nurtured properly it goes to waste as we have seen with other athletes in various sports. As you are entitled to your opinion I have mine. I am simply happy to see talented new young ladies improve the quality of the LPGA.
I forgot to mention that Ashleigh won the Catalonia Masters a few weeks ago. It is a European Ladeies Tour Event so she is now the youngest pro to win on the LET. Winning is what it is all about.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=4&art_id=vn20070620071624199C375526&set_id=
Ashleigh is tied for 120th at the Jamie Farr, not one of the bigger events on the lpga tour.
She is 5 shots outside the cut line.
It really doesn't matter how many small events a player wins if they aren't good enough when it comes to the big leagues.
She may become a great lpga player but she has plenty to prove.
Why isn't anyone complaining about the freebies she got to the Jamie Farr & the matchplay?