Oct
24
David Leadbetter compares Michelle Wie's career to the Titanic?
David Leadbetter is mouthing off “woulda coulda shouldas” to the press again regarding his phenom-turned-Titanic.
That’s in his words, by the way.
After suggesting to the press that Michelle Wie shouldn’t play mens tournaments earlier this summer, now he’s going public analyzing her dreadful 2007 season.
This coming from the Toronto Globe and Mail:
“If she hadn’t played those [men’s] tournaments, then everybody would have considered 2006 her best season yet,” Wie’s swing coach, David Leadbetter, who had made his opinions known to her and her family, said Monday from his home in Orlando. “It was absolute madness for her to play them. That started the whole debacle. Now with (agent) Greg Nared leaving, you feel like this is the Titanic.”
Not exactly Bob Rotella-like wisdom from Leadbetter…I wasn’t aware it was in a swing coach’s best interest to throw an already hurting student under the bus. Hopefully, he gave Team Wie all of this sage advice prior to the season, and isn’t just trying to cowardly save his own reputation by pointing out her mistakes weren’t what he would have advised.
It looks like Leadbetter is already plotting his move to the next teen phenom - there’s at least 50 to chose from these days.
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14 comments
Comment from: ww [Visitor] 
maybe Ledbetter is as responsible as Wie'
s parents. Hovering needs to end.
s parents. Hovering needs to end.
10/24/07 @ 13:15
Comment from: Brooklyn [Visitor]
Judy Rankin offered an eye-opening assessment on Leadbetter recently. She said she became worried about Wie after a conversation with Leadbetter. He told Judy, Wie was one of the most teachable students he'd ever come across. That sent off alarms for her; Judy feared his efforts to 'technically' re-engineer the kid's swing would choke her natural ability to death. You add Leadbetter's content with all the other stuff going on between her ears and you've got......
10/24/07 @ 14:22
Comment from: Michael [Visitor]
Hey, didn't Michelle play much better before Ledbetter got his greedy fingers on her?
10/24/07 @ 15:59
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
Michael...greedy fingers indeed...Leadbetter gets $1,800.00 an hour for teaching. Harmon gets $2,400.00 an hour for teaching.
10/24/07 @ 17:04
Did anyone ever call Tiger "teachable"? Of course not. He is a learner, but is not "teachable." What Wie lacks is what her parents failed to give her...courage to make her own decisions. Even Sean O'Hair and Anthony Kim's psycho parents gave them more than the Wie's coddled Michelle with.
10/24/07 @ 22:50
Comment from: Josh [Visitor]
DL - you built up the hype, you took your wedge and now your dumping her!
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HFI/is_2004_April/ai_114423281
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HFI/is_2004_April/ai_114423281
10/25/07 @ 07:00
Comment from: Florida Mike [Visitor]
I think getting rid of David Ledbetter would be the best thing that Michelle could do (besides distancing herself from her parents). Her swing was phenomenal (is that spelled right?) before the Wie family and DB decided she needed to go for flatter, longer drives in order to compete with the men. Me and my daughter continue to pray for her and hope that she will get back to basics, return to her previous form and reach a level of maturity consistant with her age and position.
10/25/07 @ 08:18
Comment from: 2under [Visitor]
Leadbetter has left alot of devastation in his wake. He doesn't exactly have the best track record.
10/25/07 @ 08:47
The game comes easily at times, and occasionally for long stretches, but hard times are always around the corner. This is when you see what people are made of. Woods has endured them, as has Nicklaus and all the other greats. But none of them tried to short-cut their way to stardom. Ty tryon is a great example - he may never play as well as he did at 17-18 years old. Wie may be in the same boat, although she took it to a higher level. And now we witness the likely trgic story of the diminutive Tadd Fujikawa (T-Fooj). It's nearly unbearable to watch such a waste.
10/25/07 @ 08:55
Comment from: Jax [Visitor]
Shanks--Another good post, your thoughts are as usual are on the money. One thing I'm getting a little tired of, however is the constant comparisons between Michelle Wie and Ty Tryon--
First of all Ty never took the easy road or a "short-cut" as you imply. He was a Monday qualifier at age 16 when he became the youngest to make a cut on the PGA tour at the Honda Classic(he eventually finished 39th) and he was the youngest ever to EARN his PGA tour card by making it through Q-School(I think he actually shot a final day 66 to make the top 35). I stress these points, because he did earn his way onto the tour and into events, something Michelle Wie for all her past high finishes has never done.
One couls argue that Ty turned pro too soon and that his best golf days are probably already behind him, but at least he earned his shot, unlike another notable "pheonom".
First of all Ty never took the easy road or a "short-cut" as you imply. He was a Monday qualifier at age 16 when he became the youngest to make a cut on the PGA tour at the Honda Classic(he eventually finished 39th) and he was the youngest ever to EARN his PGA tour card by making it through Q-School(I think he actually shot a final day 66 to make the top 35). I stress these points, because he did earn his way onto the tour and into events, something Michelle Wie for all her past high finishes has never done.
One couls argue that Ty turned pro too soon and that his best golf days are probably already behind him, but at least he earned his shot, unlike another notable "pheonom".
10/25/07 @ 12:29
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
Jax,
I agree with your post, but I must correct one minor mistake. The youngest boy to make a PGA Tour cut was a 15-year-old in the 1950s. I can't give you chapter and verse, but investigate it and you'll find it's true.
I agree with your post, but I must correct one minor mistake. The youngest boy to make a PGA Tour cut was a 15-year-old in the 1950s. I can't give you chapter and verse, but investigate it and you'll find it's true.
10/25/07 @ 15:22
Florida Mike,
I agree with your thought that Bubbles should distance herself from her obsessive parents.
However, I respectfully suggest that you and your daughter save your prayers for something more realistic than Bubbles' developing a decent game.
Something on the order of peace between the Israelis and the Palestinian Muslims. Or twenty-five cents a gallon gasoline.
I agree with your thought that Bubbles should distance herself from her obsessive parents.
However, I respectfully suggest that you and your daughter save your prayers for something more realistic than Bubbles' developing a decent game.
Something on the order of peace between the Israelis and the Palestinian Muslims. Or twenty-five cents a gallon gasoline.
10/25/07 @ 18:21
Comment from: Florida Mike [Visitor]
Our prayers are for her to find a happy and productive life. Her Golf game depends on her and her determination, fortitude and mental toughness. My point is that as long as she is dominated by her parents, coached to achieve the impossible, instead of relearning and refining the swing that impressed (no AWED me and my daughter). Before they messed with it to try and improve her game againt men, she had a natural talent that was the reason for the myriad of fans. The fact that the media, the Wie parents, leadbetter and the others constistantly and systematically ruined both her game and her confidence. I still think she will be back, unless she cannot wrest herself from the slimeballs.
10/26/07 @ 11:18
Florida Mike,
It is quite likely that Miss Wie will eventually experience a happy and productive life.
It's just that the sport of golf might not be part of it.
It is not at all uncommon for female teenage sports prodigies to drop off the sports pages when they reach maturity. For reasons unknown, either disenchantment or disinterest, their prowess diminishes, sometimes gradually, sometimes rapidly.
Her poor golf game may be due to physiological changes. Or her problem may be psychogenic.
In any case, she isn't half the player she was 18 months ago. And maybe she never will reach that level again.
As far as her having a happy and productive life, that should be well within her reach.
If your definition of such a life is similar to mine, she can reach that goal by getting as much education as she possibly can get, learning a skill, a trade, or a profession, and working diligently at that skill. Also, remain a law-abiding citizen, eventually marry and have some children with these same aspirations. That is about all that can be expected from any child.
I'm sure you'll be satified if your own daughter achieves those goals.
It is quite likely that Miss Wie will eventually experience a happy and productive life.
It's just that the sport of golf might not be part of it.
It is not at all uncommon for female teenage sports prodigies to drop off the sports pages when they reach maturity. For reasons unknown, either disenchantment or disinterest, their prowess diminishes, sometimes gradually, sometimes rapidly.
Her poor golf game may be due to physiological changes. Or her problem may be psychogenic.
In any case, she isn't half the player she was 18 months ago. And maybe she never will reach that level again.
As far as her having a happy and productive life, that should be well within her reach.
If your definition of such a life is similar to mine, she can reach that goal by getting as much education as she possibly can get, learning a skill, a trade, or a profession, and working diligently at that skill. Also, remain a law-abiding citizen, eventually marry and have some children with these same aspirations. That is about all that can be expected from any child.
I'm sure you'll be satified if your own daughter achieves those goals.
10/28/07 @ 10:12
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