Michelle Wie - Sideshow

After watching that tournament in Japan and watching Michelle choke to miss yet another cut in a men's event, I'm convinced this girl's on her way to becoming a sideshow.

I don't know if anyone saw it, but she left an uphill chip about 25 feet short on 17 knowing she had to par home to make the cut. As she was setting up for her par putt, a camera went off. She backed away, went through her routine again, and, of course, proceeded to miss the putt and bogey. Fine.

Here's where I have a problem: after she bogeyed 18 (surprise) to miss the cut, she said in her post-round interview that a camera went off at the wrong time on 17 - as if that's what caused her to miss a 25 foot par putt (nevermind the hacker chip that preceded it)! Granted, it distracted her, but she stopped the swing, stepped away, went through her routine again and THEN missed the putt. Is she trying to imply that if that camera doesn't go off, she would have calmly drained a 25 footer for par? Give me a BREAK.

This is completely ignoring the fact that the cut line jumped another stroke and she went on to miss about a 4-footer on 18 to finally indeed miss it by a stroke.

I don't know, I just find myself starting to dislike her attitude, and if she does miss the cut at the Sony Open in February AGAIN - which she will - I think it's time for her to take her Nike contract and go find some game.

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Mike Ryan
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I think her advisors need to have a look at where she is going. It is without doubt that she would benefit massively from playing successfully at collegiate level and in more LPGA "normal" events but the lure of dollar from making a cut in any mens event seems to be the big challenge.

Her technical ability isnt really in doubt but she isnt learning to win at any level which would increase her mental/competitive strength. What will her achievement really be when she makes a cut in a minor tour event and finishes joint 45th?

The novelty applause of being a 6ft 14 yr old who can smash a driver 300yds has gone and been replaced by an expectant audience wanting her to come up with the goods and win some events. I'm sure once she gets her 1st win more will follow swiftly but I think she has a much longer path before it happens.

Re: younger players developing in line with expectation - this happens in most sports and isnt always down to size/strength, its often the mental side that does not grow at the same pace. Even with the best early intentions how many just get fed up of the daily grind that takes away their initial pleasure of just playing the sport?

I hated to see her choke on 17, 18.

I would like to see her try and get through Q-school. Thats always been the only proof, needed to play. She has been close to making cuts on the pga, IF she keeps trying she will make cuts and ge used to the way it works. IF she gives up on the pga like annika, then she can go compete with annika and they can share 1st, 2nds all year. im sure she will win next year on lpga. and still get a hs deploma. lol.

shes pro before any of us. Dam impressive to me.
g

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iamygod
gt

I agree. Especially in the case of Ty Tryon - it was a bad move to be pushed on tour so young.

What? The USGA figures that you'll play to your handicap 1/4 of the time. If they honestly could not play to their handicap regularily, it would go up. That's the point of the handicap system.

I'm willing to bet wet fish that the difference between the few boys and you is short game.

I'm really, really interested in how he does this. Where I come from, keeping your handicap high intentionally is known as sandbagging - a less than honest practice. Be careful, Ricky.

That's a pretty succinct concept of trying to pick out 'the best of the bunch' in early teen years. However, the caveat is that the physically 'undeveloped' players must have killer short games to be able to compete. If one of these 'developed' players has a killer short game, and now has distance to boot, just growing up wouldn't put you in an ass-kicking position.

The old saying goes - a good putter is a match for anyone. You could be very good, as long as when you miss greens, your opponents don't start thinking 'now he's done'. In other words, your short game has to be able to get you close enough to the pin to one putt (this generally means inside of 6').

Generally I agree with the developing thing, but I totally disagree with the handicap thing. In golf, assuming they're honest about their handicap, and that they're submitting ALL their scores, then I would take a +3 player over a 10, too. It's the easiest and most visible indicator of your golfing ability.

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Can you beat them both playing off scratch?
In matchplay?
Over a couple if rounds of strokeplay?
Makes a huge difference what the format is...