Wie taking another shot at a PGA event
So exactly who do you think is directing Michelle Wie's career -- herself, her father, someone who is the reincarnation of the captain of the Titanic bent on wrecking what once had the promise of a great sports journey?
Whoever it is, they decided that the next step for the 18-year-old Wie would be to take another crack at a men's tournament. Now, remember that Wie has made just a handful of cuts on any tour over the past two years. This comes immediately after Wie found herself in another in a string of messy situations when she was disqualified from a tournament in Springfield, Illinois last weekend where she would have been just one shot off the lead headed into the final round. Wie forgot to sign her scorecoard after the second round.
So here's where Wie stands -- she is playing in a men's event, the Legends Reno-Tahoe, next week and she has one more LPGA event remaining, the CN Canadian Women's Open next month. If she doesn't earn at least $80,000 at the Canadian Open -- which would require a finish in the top three -- she's looking at qualifying for women's events for next season.
When will someone grab the controls here?
Comments
I hope she learned her lesson about signing the score card, but that does seam to be a bit silly. I guess I better stick to the putt-putt courses.
Posted by: Captain Jack | July 22, 2008 12:26 PM
Michelle was the one who wanted to play in The Masters, to play on the PGA, to turn pro to pay for expenses, etc. Her father did not push her into those decisions. Since she cannot play in LPGA events, why not play in a PGA event if she is invited?
What was Michelle doing in the Scorers Tent while she was NOT signing her scorecard? I will bet she was deluged with dozens of autograph requests. No wonder she forgot to sign her card!
Posted by: Vernon Wong | July 23, 2008 1:04 AM
I'd be at the Ledgends in Navada supporting her dream if I could be!!
Posted by: Marian Nickel | July 23, 2008 4:00 AM
The only scenario where a player would deliberatley avoid signing a scorecard is where there was cheating involved and she may have wanted to wait for an accusation and an unsigned card would be the only defense against it. "I may have cheated, but I didn't sign the card." - No infraction. In Wie's world, she assumes the cameras are on her 100%. However she played in a very thinly covered event and therefore could have avoided getting caught. She has a solid record of cheating and this golf fan wouldn't put it past her to do this. In her confusion of avoiding getting caught, she was not aware of the sanctity of scorecard protocol.
Posted by: Jackson Ford | July 23, 2008 8:57 AM
The PGA Pros think this is a joke...it's a PR stunt...it take a spot away from a PGA tour pro that can win the tournament...and it isn't even close to producing a player in a PGA tournament that can compete..at best she can make the cut (whoop di do)...but here's the reality of it all..she's never played this course...it's in the high desert..at altitude..the type of course she's never played on before and she's just starting to play some decent golf...her last LPGA tournament had wide fairways and little or no rough to deal with and she still only hit 50% of the fairways...if someone in the Wie camp has a plan...they need to rethink what they're doing to her career. Not signing her score card was dumb..this might be even dumber.
Posted by: Jerry | July 23, 2008 10:40 AM
You're right about Wie playing with the men. It's a bad idea. But you need to check your facts about the cuts Wie has made. Her 2008 record is 4 cuts made, 2 cuts missed and 1 DQ.
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Cathy,
Thanks for the clarification. To further clarify, it appears that one of the tournaments she made the cut on this year was on the Eurpoean and not to be picky but I was referencing just LPGA and PGA events. According to one online source, it would appear her two-year record is six cuts made in 15 events, LPGA and PGA combined, with assorted withdraws and DQs in there. Interestingly, she is not even part of the LPGA's website player roster and as far as I can tell, her stats aren't even listed there. I'm making a fix on the original blog entry.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Cathy | July 24, 2008 7:21 PM
Michelle keeps being INVITED to tournaments. Why is that? It's because tv and live gates go up 30% or more when she plays, people WANT to see her. Who wants to see Lorena ochoa, paula Cremmer, Morgan Pressel, etc? Answer - their family and friends only. If the LPGA wants their puny ratings to go up, along with their purse money (can you say Tiger?) they should embrace this kid, not constantly criticize her. The wrist injury is healing, she is almost 100% and you will see her become the best women's player in history. Why do you think she earns so much?
Posted by: john martin | July 25, 2008 6:47 PM