Archive for November, 2006

This Honolulu Advertiser Story was picked up by SI.com about a possible Michelle Wie Part II. Another young female from Honolulu will be trying to make it through the Sony Open Local Qualifyer at the Makaha Country Club on Oahu, 16-year-old Ayaka Kaneko . Although we aren’t sure about her marketability, if Ayaka makes it into the Open at Waialae Michelle might have a little added pressure to make the cute.

Move over, Michelle. You might have female company in the Sony Open in Hawai’i next January. Michelle Wie, Hawai’i’s teen golf phenom, has received an exemption for her fourth try in making the cut in the PGA Tour event at the Waialae Country Club. Ayaka Kaneko, 16, will enter the Monday qualifying on Jan. 8 at the Makaha Resort Golf Club. Kaneko hasn’t played Makaha yet, but she hopes to do so soon, and often, in the next six weeks.

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technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, Sony, Open

Michelle Wie is making all types of headlines as she starts her second year as a professional golfer. She began the year with high hopes, making the PGA tour cut, winning a women’s major, and rewritting women’s golf in a similar fashion to what Tiger Woods has done with men’s.

But if you’ve been following the 17-year-old Wie over the last year you know that her ride has been anything but rewriting history. She wasn’t able to even win a women’s tournament and didn’t make the cut in any of her PGA tour tries. But she isn’t giving up and that’s what you gotta love about Michelle Wie.

Asked if she’s going to stop playing against the men, Michelle Wie said. “Not at all.”

She’s a true competitor. Frustrated at even some of her best shots, and showing dashes of brilliance even at the young age of just 17 years old. She can out drive most men on the PGA tour, or at least stick with them, and once she tunes her accuracy she’ll be a force to be reckoned with.

Ask anyone who plays golf, accuracy comes with time, you have to train your muscles and you mind to repeat the same exact swing every time you step up to the ball. With Michelle Wie so young she hasn’t had the time that some of these men and women have had and once she gets a few more years under her belt, watch out!

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

Michelle Wie is still determined to succeed against both the men and women, even after missing the cut again at a men’s tournamnet.

This past week Michelle Wie failed to make the cut against the men in a tournament she play in Japan, the Casio World Open. She shot rounds of 81 and 80 to finish the tournament 17-over par and in second to last place prompting some around the world of both golf and sports to call for an end to the embarassment.

But Michelle doesn’t see it that way and has vowed to continue her climb to the top of professional golf, both male and female. After the tournament she stated that she feels very close.

“I feel like I have to make a couple of adjustments on my set, my clubs. And I think I’ll be good.”

And about her stopping play in men’s tournaments she said

“I think I want to play a lot of men’s events next year but my tour schedule is not finalized yet.”

Don’t count her out of the money though. Although she finished close to last in this men’s tournamnet she came away making a reported $870,000. Nearly as much as the winner of the tournament. So to those of you wondering why she’s putting herself through the pain and embarrasment of finishing last all time, ask yourself if you would do the same. Heck I’d go out there and come in last place for $10,000. Any takers?

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

MIchelle Wie had high hopes of making the cut this weekend at the Casio World Open in Japan. But those aspirations fell short today as she tumbled even further behind the field of men shooting an 8-over par, 80.

That combined with Michelle’s 9-over par shoot yesterday put her at 17 over par for the two rounds of golf. A massive 27 strokes behind the leader of the tournament.

This was Michelle Wie’s 12th start against the men, in which she has made the cut once while playing a tournament this year in South Korea. Michelle Wie finished second to last to second round finishers in this tournament, just edging out her nearest competitor who had an 18-over par.

MIchelle looks to take on the men again saying that she “didn’t play like myself today and it doesn’t bother me because I know I can play much better than this. I learn a lot from playing with the men.” Her next men’s tournament will be the 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii where she lives. That’s a PGA event that usually sees the likes of Stuart Appleby and Vijay Singh, amongst others.

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, Casio, World, Golf, PGA, LPGA

Michelle Wie’s week leading up to the Casio World open was great. She was donating money both at home in Hawaii and in Japan, she was wowing reporters with her Japanese, and she was discussing her goals to play under par. It all sounded great, and she seemed ready to get those previous mens tournaments behind her.

But things don’t always go according to plan.

She began the day at the 10th hole at the Kuroshio Country Club. There was a slight drizzle, which everyone had to play in for the day, and she started out with troubles. Michelle began on that hole with a bogey and followed shortly after with bogies on the 14th through 18th holes as well. Her drives weren’t on from the get go making it tough for her to get into a rhythm.

The leaders for the tournament shot a 6-under 66 while Michelle Wie finished the day with 9 bogeys, putting her at 9-over 81. She sits in 101st place just two strokes ahead of last place. It’s going to be tough for her to come back and make the cut, but crazier things have happend.

Here are some quick quotes we found from other players on the Men’s Japan Tour that will play with and against Michelle Wie this week and the Casio World Open, where she will try again to make the cut in a men’s tour. She missed this tournaments cut last year by only a stroke.

The Peninsula On-line had a few quotes for the Japanese men. Most notable was one of her playing partners for the day. Kaname Yokoo spoke of Michelle Wie’s driving distance by saying:

“i hear she drives 300 yards. But it is natural as she is taller than I am… Golf is not about the driving distance.”

and of their other partner, Yusaku Miyazato for the round who was 2003 rookie of the year he said.

Yusaku hits long and well. I will try to score better than her.”

Michelle Wie will once again be battling not only competition that is male, but the male ego as well.

The course she is playing on this weekend is the Juoshio Country Club which is a par-72 7,235 yard course.

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, PGA, Japan, Golf, LPGA

Michelle Wie is back in Japan, donating money, promoting her skills, answering questions, speaking Japanese, and being a general good will ambassador for the LPGA tour.

But she isn’t there to play women’s golf, nor paly against the best women in the world. She’s there for the men’s Japan Golf Tour. Michelle Wie will take her chance again at Casio World Open. Again, I say, because last year at this same Casio Open she bogeyed her final two holes to miss the cut by a stroke. So close.

She said in press conference that this year she wishes to “play under par,” which would more than likely get her into the final two rounds of the tournament and thus having her make her second cut in a men’s tournament and second cut on an Asian tour event.

She’s played in 11 men’s tournaments, and at only age 17 she’s got a long and most likely prolific career ahead of herself. Her last 3 men’s tours didn’t turn out so hot, however, so this will be a chance to redeem herself. She dropped out of the John Deere Classic and finished last in both the European Masters and the Lumber Classic.

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, Japan, Golf, LPGA, PGA

Did you know that Michelle Wie is fluent in Japanese?

Neither did a lot of reporters as she spoke fluently about her golf career to a flurry of reporters at a news conference in Tokyo, Japan.

The 17 year Wie who recently was invited back to the Sony Open talked to reporters on her trip to Japan about how her practice is improving as well as her game and she is working towards making the cut on the PGA tour and competing regularly against the men.

She will play in the Casio World Open on the Japan Golf Tour from November 23 to the 26th.

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, Golf, Schedule, LPGA, PGA, Men, Women

Michelle Wie, the teen golfing sensation from Hawaii was invited yet again to play the PGA tour event, The Sony Open, at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu Hawaii.

The course, which is now presumed to be her home course, since we don’t see her out at Olomana golf course anymore will be a challenging one, but one that Michelle Wie can play well it.

Michelle will compete against the men on January 11 through hopefully the 14th where she will try and make her first cut on the PGA tour. 17 year old Wie played well in the LPGA this year but took a lot of criticism for her PGA tour events. She’ll look to rebound and keep fighting for her chances on the men’s tour.

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, Sony, Open, Golf, LPGA, PGA, Men

Michelle Wie is at it again. First, shortly after turning pro she donated $1 million to help victims of Hurrican Katrina.

Now she’s helping to rebuild a computer room at a Wai’anae elementary School in an effort to help out the homeless population of Hawaii. As reported by The Honolulu Advertiser, the west part of Oahu and Wai’anae has the highest concentration of Homeless on the island of Oahu and the elementary school where Michelle Wie is helping, Kamaile Elementary, is believed to have the most homeless students.

Michelle’s plan is to purchase 30 “top-of-the-line” computers, pay for computer programs, new furniture, TV’s and other equipment. The pricetag on the refurbishing is $60-$100,000.

technorati tags:Michelle, Wie, Donation, Oahu, Hawaii, Computers