LPGA vets come out against Michelle Wie's PGA Tour decision

Jul 30

LPGA vets come out against Michelle Wie's PGA Tour decision

Even though she isn’t playing in this weekend’s Ricoh Women’s British Open, Michelle Wie can’t seem to stay out of the story.

In fact, her not playing is what’s causing the controversy. Several LPGA veterans are questioning why Wie is skipping a major to play in a PGA Tour event, the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open.

“I really don’t know why Michelle continues to do this,” Annika Sorenstam told The Associated Press. “We have a major this week and, if you can’t qualify for a major, I don’t see any reason why you should play with the men.”

Wie did qualify for the British Open but chose to take the sponsor exemption for the PGA Tour tournament instead.

“I feel kind of sad for her,” Helen Alfredsson, who recently won the Evian Masters, said. “I think she’s a very good person. I feel sad for the guidance that she seems to not have in the right direction.”

Wie’s last appearance on the tour was at the State Farm Classic two weeks ago, where she was disqualified for failing to sign her second-round scorecard.

Golf courses and nature meet in Minnesota, more on Germany, and Will Ferrell as Tiger Woods in this week’s podcast at TravelGolf.com.

« Ochoa wants to spoil Annika's fun; Wie shrugs off criticism

Ricoh Women's British Open: Annika take a bow, Wie takes a hike »

8 comments

§ PaulF said on : 07/30/08 @ 08:46
When did Wie qualify for the British Open? To my knowledge she did not qualify. She needed an exemption.
§ Oui Oui Oui said on : 07/30/08 @ 10:54
I feel sad for Alfredson for feeling sad for a teenage multi-millionaire.
§ RonMon said on : 07/30/08 @ 13:53
She opted to not enter the British Open qualifier, is what Dot is trying to say. Wie did pass the US Open qualifier this year.

Dot, how do the vets feel about dogs and cats?
§ Wendy (UK) said on : 07/30/08 @ 14:42
Not a single mention of (until now) or plaudit for Alfie's win.
Golf fans or celebrity worshippers?
§ Dave said on : 07/30/08 @ 15:29
> I feel sad for Alfredson for feeling sad for a teenage multi-millionaire.

Please don't. She just won the Evian Masters, a very big tournament (she won it two other times as well), and also has a major to her credit. She's had a great career.

Just stop bloody talking about money - golf's full of millionaires - usually, though, a golfer's success comes before the millions do, not so with Wie though.

I am with Alfredsson on this one - whoever is guiding her is guiding her in the wrong direction.
§ Joe Cool said on : 07/30/08 @ 18:39
Kids,
I just read a hole by hole description of the course (145 slop) that Michelle is going to play. GOOD LUCK!! You not only have to hit it long and straight, you have to place the ball in certain areas of the fairways. The bunkers sound like you could lose a camel in them. It should be interesting to watch.
§ JR said on : 07/30/08 @ 21:20
I read that MW shot an 81 in the pro-am today. She is scheduled to go off in the late afternoon in some wind tomorrow... should make for an interesting score.
§ Pacrim said on : 08/01/08 @ 06:56
Her first round 73 got a lot of folks interested. A thousand on the first tee alone, not to mention the 750,000 hits on PGATour.com.

I guess we can give Williamson and Duval credit for the largest Thursday crowd in event history.

Are the other women playing this week? I didn't notice if they were or not?

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