Michelle Wie takes a tumble as Rolex changes its rankings

Funny thing about the Rolex Rankings, Michelle Wie could really care less. Given her talents I suspect it won't take long for her to be back to the top 2 or three.

All the whiners should feel good to. Now everyone that has been bumped up a notch to appease the grumblers, will always wonder if they really were that good or only got there because of the bitching.

The reality is that her ranking will change (downward) because she has played in about a third of the tournaments that the other full time tour players have. The old system used 15 tournaments as the benchmark, the new one has no minimum so it is natural that she drops since she golfs in so few. At least for now. Frankly, how can you argue with her #2 ranking now?

The LPGA is such a Mickey Mouse league. It chickened out. Come on, have some backbone. So what if Michelle Wie becomes the number 1 player if she wins the British Open? I would find it extremely amusing.

This should really help Michelle Wie's confidence. How can you not be confident when the opposition makes it so obvious they are afraid of you?

Ironically, the reasoning behind using a 15 tournament divisor was to make the rankings more relevant and current seeing that there are so many young, emerging players in the women's game.

I guess the Rolex Ranking people can never win. Previously they were criticised for using the 15 tournmant minimum, bec that's exactly how many Wiesy had played up to that point. And now they are accused of changing the divisor and removing the minimum so that Wiesy can't be number 1, if she wins at Wetabix. Ooh, all the Wiesy conspiracy theories.

Even a Wie Fan must realize that the Rolex ranking were flawed from the beginning. Michelle is a wonderful young golfer, but she doesn't deserve to sit in second place without a "W" to her credit.

I don't think the LPGA ever dreamed a non-member would be sitting in third place on the Rolex board when they began the ratings. When Michelle continued to move up the rankings and threaten Annika's first place ranking, the LPGA decided to raise the bar.

If Michelle continued to do well in events there was a possibility the number one golfer in the world would be someone who hadn't won an event. Remember Annika has only finished ahead of Michelle in one event this season. Lorena, Karrie and Se Ri didn't do so hot last year and that keeps them down in the rankings behind Michelle until they purge those events.

If Michelle moves down to seventh place that still is a remarkable position for her age and experience. No harm...no foul, Rolex and the LPGA are just correcting their screw up when they first created this monster. They should have tested it for a season before deciding to use it in public, but the computer models never considered a Michelle Wie in the equation. This young lady will cause many changes along the way, some good and some bad. I don't think this one is all that bad and it gives Michelle some added motivation to win..

I posted this yesterday on Chrissy's blog, but it bears repeating:


Well they have decided to "tweak the Rolex Rankings" The article says it was due to intense
criticism due to Michelle Wie being ranked too high.

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=2537392

Now I could care less where they rank Ms Wie in the standings, it will make no
difference to my tuning in to watch her golf. It does seem to be another example
of the "Shoot self in Foot" attitude of the powers that be in women's golf in regards to
Michelle. This young lady is the most watched female golfer on the planet right now.
I don't care if you believe it is fluff and hype or genuine interest in a golf phenom, why
do they continue to try and distance themselves from the most popular golfer at their
tournaments?

Just read the linked article. It seems to me this new ranking formula makes far better sense than the current and places the top 5 in exactly the right order of merit. Sometimes, change is a good thing, especially when it gives the appropriate weight to popularity, sales-appeal, and personal gallery draw----ability. Performance and results are now in their proper place. Wie-fans can be sure their girl will be up there and in due time, will be given the chance to earn the #1 spot...patience.

"Even a Wie Fan must realize that the Rolex ranking were flawed from the beginning. Michelle is a wonderful young golfer, but she doesn't deserve to sit in second place without a "W" to her credit. "

One-Putt, my hat is off to you. I can not remember hearing a Wie fan ever acknowledge this point and I agree that no matter where she sits in the rankings it is a wonderful accomplishment. I will not speak for all the Wie "bashers", but I think what irratates me about Michelle's fans has always been their refusal to accept or acknowledge anything even slightly critical or negative regarding Michelle's career. I have said many times that Michelle Wie is a once-in-a-generation talent who is currently doing things in the women's game that were never thought possible by a teenager. I have also questioned her career path, the way that she has been marketed, and her ability to win. I marvel at her talent, just as I am skeptical of her future. It is nice to hear that even one of Wie's staunchest supporters recognized the folly of those rankings.

Now if I can just get one of her fans to admit that she should have turned at least one of her top 5's into a win I would be really happy.

I don't think anyone can, with a clear conscience, agree that a loser should be ranked second. Let’s get real. There are a lot of players who have actually WON an event that were ranked third and lower, behind a loser.

As I pointed out in another blog, under the new rankings that are coming out it would be possible for a golfer under 18, who is too young to be a member of the LPGA, to have a record of 16 LPGA wins in 16 events and to be ranked behind an LPGA veteran who is winless in the rating period--but always finishes second.

If you object to a system that alllows a golfer with no wins to be ranked second, why would you embrace a system that would allow another golfer with NO WINS to be ranked ahead of a golfer with NOTHING BUT WINS?

Ford if the truth be known, I am not particularly a Michelle Wie fan, I am a fan of golf. If Michelle plays or not I follow the PGA, Euro Tour, LET and LPGA. I'm as big a fan of most professional golfers as much as Michelle, I'm a Chris Dimarco fan, a Karrie Webb fan, an Annika Sorenstam fan, a Se Ri Pak fan, a Lorena Ochoa fan, a Paula Creamer fan and yes even a Laura Davies fan when she has logged 66 wins in her career. Of course I am a Tiger fan and a Fred Couples fan, hell I'm even a David Duval fan.

I'm not a Phil, Vijay or Monty fan and I could do without a few of the LPGA players in the field each week.

The reason I get in on the Wie debate is not because I think she is better than anyone else, it is simply that she is playing at a level we have never witnessed from a young girl before and people should respect that fact. I don't think any sane person could say that Michelle does not have the potential to become one of the games finest players. Unfortunately the media has made her larger than life and now a society used to instant gratification expects results.

I started playing golf with my grandfather when I was 12 to get to spend more time with him. The first thing he taught me when I finally gained enough experience to hit the big course was, you can never have a bad day playing golf.

Now think about that for a moment Ford and it kinds of brings everything into perspective. Golf is simply a game, played in a beautiful environment where you can get lost for a few hours.

Over the years I have become a pretty good golfer and I think the the biggest reason is I don't take the game too seriously and let it carry over to the next shot. If I yank one left or push one right, I accept the fact I won't hit every shot perfectly and play the one that is in front of me, not the one I hit before.

Michelle Wie seems to have this same attitude and if she keeps playing as well as she has so far and improving her game, it will all fall into place someday.

I'm satisfied with her progress and need no instant gratification.

One of the best posts I have seen on this site One-Putt.

I play often with my father, who has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and as I watch him struggle with his balance, coordination and timing I wonder how many more times we will be able to play. I cherish every moment with him on the course as he taught me as your grandfather taught you to play.

Sometimes we get so caught up in being right that we begin to argue simply for the sake of arguing and we forget that we should simply enjoy the game when we play and when we watch. From your latest post I can see that you and I are actually quite similar in our appreciation for the game of golf and for many of it's past, present and future stars(Yes, I include Michelle as both a present and future star) and you have put things in perspective quite nicely.

Now I wish I had your patience and attitude on the course, but for now it's one small hurdle at a time.

Everyone Ford should treasure those moments in time we spend with our parents or grandparents. Mine are gone now and the only thing I have is those memories to look back on. I never got the chance to know my father who fell in Korea, so my grandfather was the big guy in my life.

He passed away the summer after my senior year in high school and one of the things he left me was his golf club membership share. You might think this is strange Ford, but I haven't been back to play at the club for over twenty years, yet I am still a member in good standing.

Someday my son will be given this membership along with a couple of others and just maybe he will go back East and play the course and think of me as I do my Grandfather each time I play a round of the best game ever invented.

Go out and play with your Dad as often as you can Ford and after he is gone you will still feel him beside you each round you play. Sometimes it becomes much more than just a game. I can still see the grin on my Grandfather's face after he hit one flush or the same grin he displayed when he yanked one into the trees and said; "challenge shot coming up".

Nice tribute to your father and grandfather. I am sorry about your father, my grandfather and great uncle both fought in the Pacific during World War II, with only my grandfather returning home. They both would be ashamed, as am I of some of the comments I directed towards you and your honorable service to this country. I hope you will except my sincere apologies.

I am playing with my father this weekend and though it has been near 100 degrees in my neck of the woods I know there is no place we would rather be.

By the way, I'm demoing a set of Taylor Made RAC TP irons for the round--I requested extra stiff shafts not sure if that request will be met, but I'm looking forward to playing with them either way.

I see another TaylorMade convert on the horizon Ford. Hit em straight and enjoy your day out with dad. I noticed The Golf Warehouse (TGW.com) has them on sale for 400 bucks less than I paid for mine and they are offering a free rescue or fairway wood with the purchase of a R7 460 driver. I wish I had as much patience buying golf clubs as I demonstrate when playing golf. :-(

Ford and One-putt,
What a thing to find on a friday night after the Braves lost. I must tell you that I enjoyed reading both of your comments and I would just like to add: I lost my father almost a year ago, he introduced me to the game of golf and taught my to swing a club by having me use a swing blade to cut some tall weeds we had growing in the back yard. One of the reasons that I am a "Wie Warrior" is that it is getting my daughter interested in golf. Now if I could only get her to work in the yard

Mike that one made me smile. :-) and LOL

Let's face it the powers in womens golf just did not want Wie to be the number one ranked golfer.

Look at the people at the top including Anika if they go out to the golf course ten times Michelle win 7 of 10. With the way the ranking were structured it was inevetable. If you cionsistantly beat the top golfers you would be #1 regardless of whether or not you win or lose.

Think of the joke the ADT playoff would have been if the #1 golfer was not there now it's OK because she will only be sixth or seventh.

Like everyone already said it won't matter much in a couple years once she actually gets out of school anyway, assuming she even joins the LPGA since it would keep her from playng all the men's and overseas tournaments.