Mainstream media still pimping Michelle Wie PGA Tour shot over Ricoh Women's British Open
Friday August 1, 2008 | 07:33:05 am 307 words, 14691 views
Michelle Wie’s first round at the PGA Tour’s Legends Reno Tahoe Open is getting more attention than the first round at the Ricoh Women’s British Open - at least in mainstream U.S. sports media.
On ESPN News’ looping coverage, they are showing several shots of Wie’s first round. First an approach shot into a par 5 that nearly went in, followed by the birdie make, followed by a nice up-and-down pitch for par.
They didn’t show action of any one else at the tournament (are there any other players in the tournament?). According to the ESPN write-up (which dwarfs the Sunningdale coverage), Wie had more people watching her tee off on the first tee than anyone else.
They then showed one shot from Annika Sorenstam at Sunningdale before flashing that Juli Inskter was on top.
I suppose the coverage difference makes sense because this is more like weekend play for Michelle Wie. Friday is the new Sunday for her, because if she is able to make the cut, it’s safe to say she’ll finish at the bottom of the weekend field. Friday is for all the marbles.
The fact she still has this kind of pull should only infuriate the LPGA Tour further after she decided to play against the men rather than qualify for the British. That said, if Wie is playing well, it only stands to help the LPGA long term.
I still can’t decide how big of a deal it is if she in fact makes it. It is a long golf course and its a PGA Tour-sanctioned event (though the top players are all competing at the WGC at Bridgestone this week).
Still, a woman - who isn’t even in the LPGA’s Top 50 players - able to make a cut on a 7,400-yard golf course is impressive, but I don’t want to encourage this behavior, either.
Comments, Pingbacks:
Comment from: Steve [Visitor]
Don't you get it yet? She's a superstar - way beyond just women's golf. She reaches young (and many older) women -- plus many men -- like no other US female right now. That's why NIKE pays her all that money. Do you prefer the likes of Spears and Lohan as US pop icons?
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08/01/08 @ 08:43
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Hey Brandon, is it just easier to quote all the other lazy hacks or do you really believe your own babble?
She didn't decide to play the men rather than go to the Womens British open as you have implied. Read the following link.
http://golf.about.com/b/2008/07/31/clearing-up-wies-womens-british-open-choice.htm
Sometimes there is some logic in what she has done.
She didn't decide to play the men rather than go to the Womens British open as you have implied. Read the following link.
http://golf.about.com/b/2008/07/31/clearing-up-wies-womens-british-open-choice.htm
Sometimes there is some logic in what she has done.
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08/01/08 @ 09:10
Comment from: Brandon [Visitor] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/brandon.tucker
From the link you posted:
Wie didn't withdraw from the Women's British Open final qualifier on Monday - because she was never entered in it. She withdrew from an earlier qualifier for reasons that appear mostly to be about logistics; and it was only after she knew she wouldn't be playing in the Women's British Open that Wie announced she would be playing the Reno-Tahoe.
From my article:
The fact she still has this kind of pull should only infuriate the LPGA Tour further after she decided to play against the men rather than qualify for the British
Sounds sync'd up to me. She was in Reno Monday instead of at the qualifier.
Wie didn't withdraw from the Women's British Open final qualifier on Monday - because she was never entered in it. She withdrew from an earlier qualifier for reasons that appear mostly to be about logistics; and it was only after she knew she wouldn't be playing in the Women's British Open that Wie announced she would be playing the Reno-Tahoe.
From my article:
The fact she still has this kind of pull should only infuriate the LPGA Tour further after she decided to play against the men rather than qualify for the British
Sounds sync'd up to me. She was in Reno Monday instead of at the qualifier.
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08/01/08 @ 09:20
Comment from: Shanks [Visitor]
I'm thinking she was just extremely disappointed that they're playing on an inland course, rather than some awesome links somewhere in the UK.
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08/01/08 @ 10:05
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Right, to you it probably would.
Makes for a much juicier story your way, doesn't it?
Makes for a much juicier story your way, doesn't it?
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08/01/08 @ 10:21
Comment from: Steve [Visitor]
Maybe the LPGA's solution for leveraging Wie is to increase the number of invites per year for non-qualified players. Otherwise it's a sticky situation for them because if Wie is serious about college (big if) then qualifying school is out and that will drive her to play more PGA stops. Moreover, given her star power she probably won't consider Q school either way. Increase the exemptions. perhaps to unlimited?
By the way, Inkster is incredible...
By the way, Inkster is incredible...
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08/01/08 @ 10:46
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
Brandon, you are dumber that I thought you were...get a life!
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08/01/08 @ 12:05
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
There wasn't one easy pin placement on any of the holes. She played in the afternoon with wind and hard greens. One point that everyone is forgetting is the fact that she scored better than 55 other PGA pros on a very difficult golf course. The BBC even trashed her by saying her 73 was "smoke and mirrors."
The way the State Farm Classic was mishandled, I doubt Michelle is in a great big hurry to join the LPGA any time soon. I think the Stanford program should be put on hold for a while.
Jeff Overton's 65 was seven strokes better that his 2008 average. This guy is 6'4" and 200 pounds who just had an exceptional round of golf. Let's see how he does in the second round.
The way the State Farm Classic was mishandled, I doubt Michelle is in a great big hurry to join the LPGA any time soon. I think the Stanford program should be put on hold for a while.
Jeff Overton's 65 was seven strokes better that his 2008 average. This guy is 6'4" and 200 pounds who just had an exceptional round of golf. Let's see how he does in the second round.
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08/01/08 @ 12:13
Comment from: Brandon [Visitor] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/brandon.tucker
Amen Shanks,
If there's anything we know about Wie, it's that she's a student of the game and an ambassador to tradition.
If there's anything we know about Wie, it's that she's a student of the game and an ambassador to tradition.
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08/01/08 @ 12:14
Comment from: Stacy [Visitor] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/golf-for-beginners
If Wie makes the cut, she's going to be invited to plenty more PGA Tour events. Even if she M/C's, Michelle is still going to have plenty of exemptons coming her way.
Between the PGA and LPGA Tours, Wie may never have to qualify again!
Between the PGA and LPGA Tours, Wie may never have to qualify again!
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08/01/08 @ 12:35
Comment from: Oui Oui Oui [Visitor]
I am surpirsed no one think about the 'independent contractor' clause that have been used (by the golfer himself or by the pundits) in many occasiosn to defend the decisions of many male golfers to skip out.
Why do people think she 'have' to play in the British Open?
Why do people think she 'have' to play in the British Open?
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08/01/08 @ 12:48
Comment from: ronmon [Visitor] · http://mon
I know you've been waiting for my one cent (recession) so here it is...Women's British should have world site qualifiers, just like the Men's British does. Who cares how she does it (short game, long game, putter, wedge, driver), as long as she does or doesn't do it. She has no Richard, so no Richard measuring. We STILL cannot get our heads around this renegade approach that she has. It is different, we cannot accept it, so it must be wrong.
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08/01/08 @ 13:16
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
I wonder what the fawning PGA will write now. Yesterday they had the headline, "Wie's solid opening round makes gamble to invite her a good one." Now perhaps it should be, "Wie's disastrous second round makes gamble to write a fawning PGA headline a stupid one"
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08/01/08 @ 17:19
Comment from: Coolio [Visitor]
Haha!
+9!
While The Princess of DQs and MCs (aka The Teenage Golf Sensation) disappointed yesterday, she delivered in full today!
--Coolio
+9!
While The Princess of DQs and MCs (aka The Teenage Golf Sensation) disappointed yesterday, she delivered in full today!
--Coolio
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08/01/08 @ 17:38
Comment from: Coolio [Visitor]
Joe Cool: 'The BBC even trashed her by saying her 73 was "smoke and mirrors."'
And?
Were they not precisely right?
--Coolio
And?
Were they not precisely right?
--Coolio
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08/01/08 @ 18:46
Comment from: Florida Mike [Visitor]
Hey Smails,
The pertinent fact is that she had a larger crowd following her than anyone else at the tournament. This happens whenever she plays. That is what really frosts people like anna and other lpga players. They can be in the lead and she is outdrawing them in the gallery dept! I can't quite figure out the mental errors the young lady brings to the game (DQ'S etc...), but I am still grateful for the fact that at the age of 15 she inspired my daught to take up golfing, and Smails, I'll play you head 2 head, or my daughter will. Ha ha
ps what happened to your buddy alex>?
The pertinent fact is that she had a larger crowd following her than anyone else at the tournament. This happens whenever she plays. That is what really frosts people like anna and other lpga players. They can be in the lead and she is outdrawing them in the gallery dept! I can't quite figure out the mental errors the young lady brings to the game (DQ'S etc...), but I am still grateful for the fact that at the age of 15 she inspired my daught to take up golfing, and Smails, I'll play you head 2 head, or my daughter will. Ha ha
ps what happened to your buddy alex>?
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08/02/08 @ 20:30
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
Florida Mike,
I'd be happy to clean up you or your daughter. Just remember, if she wants to play me, she has to play from the men's tees (equality, right?). And that goes for you, too!
Oh, also, bring your wallet.
I'd be happy to clean up you or your daughter. Just remember, if she wants to play me, she has to play from the men's tees (equality, right?). And that goes for you, too!
Oh, also, bring your wallet.
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08/02/08 @ 21:54
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
Coolio,
Let me know when you shoot a 73 from the tips in Reno, then you can be critical of MW.
Let me know when you shoot a 73 from the tips in Reno, then you can be critical of MW.
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08/03/08 @ 15:29
Comment from: Coolio [Visitor]
Joe Cool,
Like I said, let me know when your beloved MW has her first win under her belt (or, you know, like, breaks any meaningful age-related record, as she was supposed to), then you can obviously praise and defend her, you know.
You know, why are you defending her anyway? Is she, like, paying you or are you doing it because you are having a lot of fun? Or are you learning a lot? Maybe its a confidence builder and you can put it into the memory bank.
--Coolio
Like I said, let me know when your beloved MW has her first win under her belt (or, you know, like, breaks any meaningful age-related record, as she was supposed to), then you can obviously praise and defend her, you know.
You know, why are you defending her anyway? Is she, like, paying you or are you doing it because you are having a lot of fun? Or are you learning a lot? Maybe its a confidence builder and you can put it into the memory bank.
--Coolio
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08/03/08 @ 21:06 Leave a comment:
Brandon Tucker
a WorldGolf.com Blog
WorldGolf.com's Brandon Tucker offers his unique perspective on golf and travel destinations from Scotland and Ireland to Myrtle Beach. He also chimes in on news events on the PGA and LPGA Tours, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and other happenings around the world of golf.
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