Archive for July, 2006

Michelle Wie was close on the final day of the Evian Masters. Being paired with the leader in the final round is a huge advantage, especially to someone who hasn’t won their first tournament yet as a professional.

Michelle Wie went into the final round 1 shot back of Karrie Webb and was poised for the infamous first pro win. On the ninth hole just before heading into the back Wie pulled neck and neck with Webb on the par 5 with an eagle.
Then on the 11th hole Wie went up by two strokes when she sank a birdie putt while Webb missed her par oportunity and had to settle for a bogey. Then two holes later she gave the lead right back making her own bogey on 13. A couple more errant shots, some exciting saves, and Michelle was just back of Webb.

Finally on the 17th hole Webb sank and 18 foot putt for birdie distancing herself by two strokes over Wie going into the final round. With a tee shot sailing off into the rough, another shot to the bunker it looked like Wie was just conceding victory to Webb. Then she nailed the birdie putt for a save but was too little too late to surpass Webb who played conservatively and went for par the hole way.

Wie had some chances but couldn’t put it away when she needed to. A bogey down the stretch and some errants shots that required big saves and even bigger putts will win you tournamnets when lady luck is on your side. Today it wasn’t, but MIchelle Wie showed why she should be considered top on the LPGA.

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, Evian, Masters, LPGA, Golf

Michelle Wie sits 1 stroke behind Web at the Evian Masters in France. Karrie Webb is the lone leader going into the final round tomorrow.

Michelle Wie has been playing very well this round saving par and making birdies with great saves and wonderful putting. Her drives have been huge, but at times hugely off line. She will need to try and control her strength if she wants to make a serious run at her first title as a professional on the LPGA tour.

She is playing great but the final round has been her struggle point in the past. We’ve seen a different Wie this year though. Michelle Wie is becomming more composed at the end of the weekend sinking high pressure shots. She heads off tomorrow in the leaders pairing trying to go after a win.

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, Evian, Masters, France, Golf, LPGA

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, Golf, Evian, Masters, LPGA

Michelle Wie was poised to make history on this past weekend at the John Deere Classic and instead made a Medic call.

Many sports writers thought if there was a tournament for her to make the cut in this was going to be it. The field was good but not the greatest and the course wasn’t unmanageable. Meaning, her slightly shorter game wouldn’t hurt her using higher irons on second shots. However, one thing stood in her way.

That Midwestern Summer Humidity.

Michelle Wie faltered on the first day posting poor scores to begin her run at history. Missing key puts and not finding a rythm hurts even the best golfers. Even Michelle Wie. Then on the second day she was trying to tough out stomach pains and nausea when she had to throw in the towel.

Wie was taken from the course and pumped with IVs.

After that performance many are beginning to doubt and hope that she doesn’t play any more mens tournaments before mastering the womens tour. I’m not sure where I fall on this stance but I do know that those managing her have to realize that her public stock is dropping and she may start losing a lot of fans due to these sideshow antics at PGA tour events.

But then again I can’t take my eyes off them so someone has the right marketing idea.

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, John, Deere, Golf, LPGA, PGA

What’s your take on the subject?

On one hand it’s quite a spectacle to see this 16 year old amazon taking on the best male players in the world, on the other hand, she’s getting exemptions into a tour where those at the bottom of the pack (also the ones she replacing) need to make it in to put food on the table.

Maybe it’s not that bad but Jaime Diaz over at ESPN has a good article on why Wie shouldn’t play in another PGA Tour event until she becomes the best woman golfer in the world.

She hasn’t won a single tournament since the 2003 US Women’s Public Links Tournament, but she is only 16 and it is quite a spectacle to see. She finishes high in her tournaments and she makes amazing shots, but should that couple with her decent looks (ok good but she is only 16) be cause for a publicity stunt.

There are other big hitters on the womens tournament like Britney Lincicome whom beat Michelle Wie this past weekend and out drove her on almost every hole. However those women aren’t heading out to the men’s tour.

We think that Michelle Might be better off focusing on the Women’s tour and dominate that one before taking on the men and publicty stunts. We just hope that Sony and Nike see it the same way.

ESPN.com - GOLF - Diaz: Wie shouldn’t compete on PGA Tour

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, Publicity, Stunt, Golf, Women, LPGA, PGA

Stephen Hawking, arguably one of the most intelligent human beings alive today discussed Michelle Wie today with a bit of a bitter tone.

In an interview where he was discussing the world and how we as a human race are tending to it Stephen Hawking threw in a bit about the 16 year old Michelle Wie and her turning pro before even winning many tournaments that matter. Now from the quote below I am unsure if he was referring to her taking on men or women but I found it quite interesting for him to be commenting on Wie in that context.

Stephen Hawking trying to be the funny man I guess. Here’s the quote, enjoy.

“In a world that is in chaos politically, socially and environmentally, how can the human race sustain another 100 years, especially with all the fuss over Michelle Wie? I’m not all that great of a golfer, of course, but shouldn’t you win your high school state championship before taking on pros?”

Source

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, Stephen, Hawking, Human, Race

The number 1 and number 2 seeded Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie were plowing through the competition at the HSBC Women’s Match Play Championships this past week. It was the match up that everyone wanted to see. Sunday was going to be the day.

But that great match up won’t happen this year as both Wie and Sorenstam fell today in their quarterfinal matches.

Sorenstam lost in a down to the wire one hole to Juli Inkster. It was a tough back and forth match all the way through to the end. Inkster sank a 4 foot birdie putt on the last hole to win just after Annika missed her putt from less than 10 feet.

Michelle Wie fell to Brittany Lincicome 4 and 3 in grueling match where Wie just couldn’t put holes together. Lincicome, 20 years old, moved ahead early and Wie just couldn’t come back and make up the deficit.

Lincicome who hits the ball as far or farther than Wie off the tee played magnificent golf and seemed a little bitter after the match possibly because the young Wie, who hasn’t won an LPGA tour tournament yet, was ranked much higher than her. She had this to say after the match:

“I don’t remember there being any like bad kicks. I don’t think,” she said. “She had a couple of putts where she blew it by.”

Michelle Wie was disappointed with her but shouldn’t be disappointed with her tournament play as a whole. She looked confident and came through in some tough situations. Her game is developing into something amazing and to think the Hawaiian is only 16.

Next week Michelle Wie will play in the PGA Tour at the John Deere Classic as the men stay in Illinois where they’re currently playing at the Western.

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, HSBC, Match, Play, Championships, Annika, Sorenstam

Michelle Wie advanced again in the HBSC Women’s Match Play World Championships. Wie played and beat this years LPGA Championship winner Se Ri Pak Saturday morning 2 and 1.

Michelle Wie will advance to the quarterfinals this after noon playing Brittany Lincicome who defeated Kyeong Bae 3 and 2 in the round of 16. Wie continues her impressive play in New Jersey in front of huge crowds following both her and Annika Sorenstam who also advanced onto the quarterfinals beating Brittany Lang 6 and 5.

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Michelle Wie survived another day at the HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship in Gladstone, New Jersey Friday. She played the ever erratic and very loud Christina Kim.

Michelle Wie beat her 3 and 2 ending the match on 16. Wie jumped out to an early lead over Kim on the first 3 holes to go 2 up. Michelle, the second seed overall in the tournament behind Annika will face the LPGA championship winner Se Ri Pak.

Michelle Wie has a very impressive record overall in match play extending to 25-8-0 in her very short (so far) career.

For an interview with Michelle Wie after the first 72 holes of the World Championship check out her LPGA.com Interview.

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, Match, Play, World, Championships, Interview

The HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championships started today in Gladstone, New Jersey on a humid and rather thick aired east coast summer day.

Michelle Wie started off shaky in her first round match against Candy Hannemann, the 63rd seed but regrouped and came out with a victory winning 5 and 3. She lost the first two holes with an errant drive on 1 and then Hannemann scoring a birdie on 2 left her down 2 holes.

She then halved the third and then came on strong winning the next six holes. After coming off her huge third place finish at the US Women’s Open, Michelle Wie had a great round with some amazing shots reminiscent of her brilliant saves on the course back in Newport.

Wie will move on to the second round with that victory to face 34th seed Christina Kim.

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, Golf, Match, Play, Birdie