Re: Why doesn't Michelle Wie play in the ladies tour?

$$$$$$$$$$
Fame
Ego

(Proabably in that order)

Re: Why doesn't Michelle Wie play in the ladies tour?

I can see men and women competing in poker, darts, spelling bees, even race car driving etc. but not golf, arm wrestling, etc.

Re: Why doesn't Michelle Wie play in the ladies tour?

She's not old enough.

She's good enough to beat the men in a local US Open qualifier (she placed first).

According to the Rolex (what-a-f'n-joke) rankings, yes. And according to the defacto rankings, yes. And according to the history books, if she's not, she's probably top 3.

Re: Why doesn't Michelle Wie play in the ladies tour?

Even though she has turned pro. She is only playing on sponsors invitation and hoping she can gain an excemption for next year, thus not having to go through Q School.

Re: Why doesn't Michelle Wie play in the ladies tour?

I would love to see her qualify for the US Open proper just to watch her making up excuses as she finishes 85-85 somewhere near the bottom of the field.

I blame her dad and, as usual, I blame the Swoosh. Her old man pretty obviously wanted a son and since he didnt get that he decided to make do. Nike will probably make more money publicity wise out of her trying and failing on the mens tour than they will if she is a regular top five on the LPGA.

D.

Re: Why doesn't Michelle Wie play in the ladies tour?

Yeah! What you said, Mizunoman!!!

You just put into words my entire opinion of the Michelle Wie machine, but I'd probably throw Leadbetter's name in there with Papa Wie and the swoosh.

It's really a shame, though, because it would have been nice to see her pay her dues like all the young LPGA golfers now.

Re: Why doesn't Michelle Wie play in the ladies tour?

Well, she won the local US Open qualifier outright.

It will be interesting to see how she does in her Sectional.

I think this is a wonderful move by Wie. To me, this is how she should be competing in Men's events. I hate sponsor exemptions.

I'd love to see her earn a spot in the US Open, and do well. At 6'+, she's tall enough to generate enough power to play with the men. I don't know that she has the strength to play Men's Tour rough, though.

To qualify her way into events is fine with me. To be exempt, and take a spot from a guy trying to keep his card? No thanks. If she want's to play on the PGA Tour, I suggest she go to Q School.

Re: Why doesn't Michelle Wie play in the ladies tour?

give her a chance, thats all we can do, it would be pretty neat to see the first woman to win a mans major, just give her a chance because we all know she would kick the hell out of our asses

Re: Why doesn't Michelle Wie play in the ladies tour?

Well, that's one of my problems with Wie. She is being given too much. Granted, she is trying to play into the men's open. But, she is being given so many sponsors exemptions (on all tours), it's sick. I agree that her exemptions hurt the lowest ranked PGA card holder who is trying to grind out another season or just put food on his family's table. She should have paid her dues on the amateur circuit, then in the LPGA, like the true golf greats. She looks like a total prima donna going the route she is taking (or is being led to take).

Re: Why doesn't Michelle Wie play in the ladies tour?

We have had this conversation so many times now. I think we all pretty much agree that whatever she can play her way into she deserves 100%. I just think that she will be destroyed by a real course set up for a US Open. Heck those tracks make fools of some of the very biggest hitting of top players every once in a while (Goosens final round at Pinehurst anyone?). I still cant see why she wants to play in these things at the moment. All she will learn to do is lose, why doesnt she spend a couple of years learning to win, which she will do on the LPGA and surely often, and then go after the US Open and so on.

I dont mean for this to be taken the wrong way, but if she was your average caucasian college girl, would all this be happening to her. She would simply be another very promising young Pro.

Remember, there's no advantage for the USGA in this young woman winning the US Open, like there is for the Evil Swoosh, corporate pressure has already made most of the PGA Tour tracks Tiger friendly (I challenge anyone to say thats not true, look at the stats and the testimony of guys like Furyk and DiMarco) it will be interesting to see if the same happens on the LPGA which is surely even more susceptible to the vagaries of corporate sponsorship than the PGA Tour....

D.

Re: Why doesn't Michelle Wie play in the ladies tour?


"winning the Open?" Hmmmm I think the Coprorate swoosh and press would go crazy and the exposure would be off the charts if she qualifies and would only increase if she comes close to making a cut, this whole thing is a no risk proposition for Wie. I think the risk and pressure for her is when she plays LPGA events and does not win or place in the top 10. At some point if she continues to lose people may realize she is not even the best female golfer.

I also think that if she somehow qualifies there is "no expectations" I think that if a female is going to make a cut an open setup maybe just as good for her if not better then the regular tour bombers course. In the Open hitting fairways is important, greens is important etc. which my guess is that a Female could be as consistent in those catagories for 2 rounds on a given week. If your just looking to make a cut and not firing at pins, and need to shoot a couple 75's that might be something she could do if her Driver is accurate on the right week. Goosen, Els and the rest I think blow up because they are looking to win are 4-5 shots back and start firing at pins, short side themselves or their driver leaves them and are in the deep rough etc.

As for Tiger I am not sure The Swoosh is too blame, I think that long drives have always sold more tickets then Smart course management. Wether it is Daly or Tiger. I think that all of the "Golf Sponsers" perfer the setups not just "The Swoosh". But, it might be interesting in 5-10 years when the long driving course no longer is to Tigers benefit if changes will be made. Because my guess is that with guys like Holmes, Weitterich, Vejegas etc and they only will increase it will not be long before Tigers out of the top 10 in driving.

Bob

Re: Why doesn't Michelle Wie play in the ladies tour?

personally i think she should be allowed to play in the mens competition yet i think that she is mainly doing it for the money and the fame.

Re: Why doesn't Michelle Wie play in the ladies tour?

The tournament's offer her these exemptions because they have bills to pay too.

Everybody compares Tiger's route to golfing glory to Wie's. She's 16, when she turns 20 we can then criticize whether it was the right path or wrong one.

Personally I think the argument that she's learning how to lose is a little bogus. Look how Anika played at the Colonial several years ago. Then look what she did after the Colonial. She gave a lot of the credit for all those victories to the experience she gained at the Colonial. I guess Phil Mickelson should of quit playing in majors a long time ago, as he was just learning to lose.

The other thing we don't know is, is she playing against the men to win the tournament, or just to improve her skills on playing conditions 3 times tougher than the women play.

I personally think since she to young to be a full LPGA member that she should play in every professional tournament she can. She will play in her limit for the LPGA and the best way to get more experience is to play on the PGA.

Re: Why doesn't Michelle Wie play in the ladies tour?

Golf has gotten more out of Michelle than she has gotten out of golf. Just like Tiger, the television ratings and fan participation numbers to up significantly when she is in a tournament.

She is paying her dues by being the best 16 year old (male or female) player out there. Did any 16 year old boys win thier sectional qualifiers? She's good and is going to get better. If she could putt she would have easily been in the Open. As it is she beat well over 1/2 the men in her sectional. Don't forget, she's 16 years old!