Enough hating: time for the LPGA, golf fans to start pulling for Michelle Wie

You are giving MW too much credit. Her main claim to fame was hitting some long drives and being commented by Ernie Els. That started the media frenzy that launched the overly hyped "Best Player of All Time..." I still believe she has character issues. She is a very talented golfer, but not more so than any other of the current upper players on the LPGA. I wish her luck on her career but I definitely will not look to her to "save" the LPGA. The media has tried to force her down our throats for so long it will take some time to get over that. Afterwards, who knows, if she stops with the excuses when things go wrong or the transaparent "I'm trying my best and just want to have fun" answers, maybe...

"For whatever reasons, the public has associated Wie with women’s golf, and it’s the mainstream TV viewer that is going to move the needle."

The reasons are that golf fans...both PGA and LPGA...are predominantly male. Mainstream sports TV viewers are predominantly male as well, and Michelle Wie plays the kind of golf males like to watch, with her big beautiful swing and risk-taking style. She also spent a couple of years playing in...or attempting to play in...men's events. And this, more than anything else, is what made her a household name and a source of fascination for the (predominantly male) golf/sports fans.

Men generally don't enjoy watching women's sports too much, be it tennis, basketball or anything else. They don't relate to the playing style, thus they don't get to know/like/hate the stars. ... except for the one who dares to try to play their game on their turf.

I think those of us who love the LPGA tour should hope not only that Michelle Wie contends regularly and starts to win on the LPGA tour, but that she continues to occasionally take a stab at the men's events. Fortunately, I think we can count on the amazing Ms. Wie to do both.

In two weeks the LPGA is getting 4 hours of network TV for the State Farm Classic, and zero hours the next week for a Major. All because of what Wie did at the State Farm last year, and what she figures to do this year.

Agree with golfgirl.

Michelle only started playing full time this Spring and not as some think that she has for 6 years. Contending and winning is all about consistency and that comes with steady tournament play, especially for someone as talented as she is.

When her 1st win happens and it will, the floodgates will open for her as she finally has placed the last piece of the puzzle into position... that would be: HOW TO WIN. When that happens, it will be good for the LPGA and good for golf as a whole.

The talent is undeniable as she continues to spend 2009 attempting learn how to win. I hope that too much damage has not been inflicted on her young psyche, precluding her from getting over the final internal hurdles. But there is no guarantee that will ever happen. As of right now, Sunday afternoons are too tough for her.

You know what? Just once in a post-tournament interview, I'd like to see her annoyed with letting another one get away. Most competitive people tend to respond that way. Not her. She's got the had-a-good-time response embedded in her brain.

I agree with JR...well said,

I do not think wie can "save" the LPGA. If the tour is losing money right now...join the rest of corporate America during this deep recession. Wie (Bubbles) has a character issue that many do no relate to. Endless excuses, hair brained interviews after poor performances, and lack of respect for event directors has hurt her more than her lack of winning. She has already been rewarded more than any other female golfer, and does not have the desire or guts to win. I do think she will win one of these days, but I do not think she will ever be a consistent champion like Sorenstan or Ochoa, or even Creamer.

I think her best day are behind her and if the LPGA is counting on her to increase sales, they may be in trouble.

Jim C... the next major is televised.. here's the schedule..

Jun 11 12:30-3:30 PM ET GC
Jun 12 12:30-3:30 PM ET GC
Jun 13 4:00-7:00 PM ET GC
Jun 14 4:00-7:00 PM ET GC

Where did you get your info? In fact, the next 3 tourneys are televisted and I don't think that MW has anything to do with it.

Wie's image is being used by the Golf Channel in order to associate a recognizable face with the LPGA Tour.

It is not necessarily a bad idea. I have never really seen such interest before Wie came on the scene, not even when Annika Sorenstam was the top golfer.

When will the Wie Warriors come to thier senses and admit Wie-Wee is a loser? Most likely, she may win 2 events in her career and she will be inducted to the LPGA hall of fame. (She's already a member of the Hall of Shame) Don't worry, they'll bend some rules to make it happen.....watch.

GC and ESPN2 are not network tv. The State Farm gets 4 weekend hours on NBC as well as ESPN2 which probably reaches more homes than GC. Why is NBC televising 4 hours jof a monor LPGA event?

Jim C, some folks have selective memories or no memory at all where Michelle Wie is concerned.

The LPGA has on many occasions said that when ever MW plays, the hits on their web site increase dramatically.

GC, and the MSM sports networks as well as ESPN2 have all said that viewership increases greatly when MW plays.

I would think that the LPGA could be forgiven if they were to place a bit of hope for their tour with Michelle playing full time, even maybe winning.

The one constant I see in these blogs is that Brandon is right, it's time to get over your hatred, dislike or whatever you wish to call it.
The LPGA needs fan support, not the same old tired rants about MW. 4 years of the same tired arguments from some members of these blogs hasn't proven anything other than your dislike for her. Isn't it time you move on?

"Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Jim C, some folks have selective memories or no memory at all where Michelle Wie is concerned.

The LPGA has on many occasions said that when ever MW plays, the hits on their web site increase dramatically."

Most of the hits are to see how bad she is doing.

Holy cow!

Read the interview by the winless princess (below).
How many times does she say "yeah", "obviously",
"you know", "a lot of fun", "have fun", and "I mean"?!
Only our old fried "like I said" is missing.

Seems her command of the English language is getting worse, not better.

She is really stupid, so much is for sure.

--Coolio

----------------------------------------
MIKE SCANLAN: Michelle, thank you so much for coming in. Your first time here at the LPGA Corning Classic on the heels of a nice finish last week at the Sybase Classic. If you would, just talk about coming here to Corning, what you think of the course and the community, and just some general thoughts on the event.
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah, it's my first time here obviously; sad that going to be my last. You know, the players are talking about, you know, the weather last year, so I was preparing. I wore about four or five layers this morning. The weather is nice out there today, and it's supposed to be nice for the rest of the week.

I'm really excited to be here. The golf course is really beautiful. It's a lot of fun. It's an interesting golf course. It's like an old traditional golf course you can play many different ways. I think it's going to be a lot of fun this week.

Q. Talk a little bit more about your hopes coming off the good finish last week and coming into this week? Do you feel like there's some momentum in your game right now?
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah, I think I had a good week last week. You know, obviously there are a couple things that I wanted to work on, so just working on those things this week. Hopefully, you know, gonna to try hardest out there. Hopefully it will be good.

Q. You're known is as longhitter. There are a lot of trees. Are there holes, like 2 and 5, short par5s, talk about those and having to score on those, and then some of the doing legs and the trickier shots.
MICHELLE WIE: Well, it's a placement golf course. You know, you have to place it in the right areas. These greens look pretty tricky, but the par5s on the front are pretty short. I definitely have to score well on those.

There's some good birdie opportunities, but at the same time the greens are pretty tricky. You have to put it in the right places.

Q. You mentioned that this is kind of a sad day, sad tournament here, this being the last one. People have also been terming it as celebration of sort. Is that the atmosphere has kind of been working, and that people are here to celebrate the Corning classic, as well?
MICHELLE WIE: I think so. I mean, you go in the locker and room, you go on the putting green, and hear the older players or any kind of players that have played here the last couple years and they all say good stuff about it.

I've heard about some people who have played here for 20 years or played here for 30 years. They really appreciate the tournament and appreciate what everyone at the tournament has done for them.

Just hearing about that made me wish there was a couple more years left. But, you know, it's been really fun.

Q. You are the most experienced rookie out there. What kind of expectations did you put on yourself coming into this year?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, I just overall wanted to have fun. You know, I just couldn't wait to play, you know, in a lot more tournaments, play almost every week.

And just to be out here, to be able to play that much golf, it's just, you know, a lot of fun for me. And obviously playing some good golf and win some tournaments, that's definitely my goal.

I guess my goal is just to go out there and try my hardest and play my hardest. That's really all I can do.

"The LPGA has on many occasions said that when ever MW plays, the hits on their web site increase dramatically."

Certainly... Paris Hilton, car crashes, Michelle Wie, train wrecks, ... all result in increased viewership. What is new?

--Coolio

""Comment from: John D [Visitor]
"Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Jim C, some folks have selective memories or no memory at all where Michelle Wie is concerned.

The LPGA has on many occasions said that when ever MW plays, the hits on their web site increase dramatically."

Most of the hits are to see how bad she is doing.""

Really? It must be nice to read the minds of the entire golf fan population.

Putt4par;

How that deportation from Canada to Iran working for ya? I hope you are adjusting to the Iranian culture ok.

Your previous post complained about the "same old rants" from the Wie haters. Actually Putt4par, these "same old rants" are not the same as Bubbles continues to make stupid decisions. A good recent example is her choice not to participate in the event pro-am. The rants regarding this are new, she did not get her way, so she did not participate since she is a BRAT.

In reality, your defense of her is the only "tired old rants" that I have read on these blogs. Regardless of how classless this individual is and regardless of her actions, you continually defend her and put others down.

Additionally, John D is correct. Most people are watching her now to see how poor she will perform. She is doing well as of lately, but her consistency is so bad, and she is so capable of doing something bizzare (like walking off a tee box and withdrawing to avoic an 88 or heat exhaustion), that she attracts attention. But most folks are making fun of her, not supporting her.

Lance R

Since we are all in love with Wie now due to the advice of Brandon and Putt4par, regardless of her actions both on and off the course, I have noted today that our beloved Bu88les already has four bogies through 15 holes and is tied for 105th place. But none of this matters, as the future of the LPGA is directly dependant on her attendance, not her performance. So we should all take a moment and thank Bu88les; otherwise, the LPGA may go bankrupt.

Any bets on whether Wie-Wee gets to play on Saturday? My money is on NOT!

"Any bets on whether Wie-Wee gets to play on Saturday? My money is on NOT!"

Another MC would indeed be cool!

John D and Coolio:

If Bu88les is going to make the cut, she will have to do better than yesterday and at least break par. She has been playing well as of late, and I think she will make it by a stroke or two. But, if she does not, I will be listening intently to hear her priceless excuses. We shall see....

LR

Lance R,

Unfortunately, I think you are right.

Coolio

Creamer and Pressel both had great starts. Why not root for them instead of against Wie?

Jim C,

I do root for Creamer, Ochoa, and many others. Have you ever rooted against a team before? How about the 2007 New England Patriots? Were you not glad to seem them lose in the Superbowl against the Giants? How about the World Champion Detroit Pistons, were you not glad to see these guys lose to the San Antonio Spurs in game 7?

The character of the athelete or team is where fans are created. In the case of Bubbles, her actions on and off the golf course are unacceptable to many, so she has many golf fans rooting aginst her (like myself). It is not a case of hatred or "tired old rants" as Putt4par would claim, it is just an athelete the many feel has character flaws and one that we prefer to see fail. In the case of myself, I love to hear her speeches after a poor performance. They are priceless. But if you like her, good for you as she is playing well during her last events.

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