Michelle Wie already a winner at Sony Open

Bandaged wrist, she hasn't used that excuse for failure yet.

3001-1?... Should be more like 3,000,000-1... A monkey with a tin cup stands a better chance of winning a PGA event. 3001-1 should be the odds of her making the cut...

At least Wie has realized the importance of ensuring your excuse is ready before the tournament starts. She didn't have the heat stroke one ready prior to the John Deere. But it appears her advisors have righted that ship as she has the bandage to the elbow to let all viewers know that, if she does what we all know she will do and miss the cut yet again, she did not have her "A" game this week.

I'm baffled by other things though. First, when can you remember a professional golfer showing up to a tournament with a bandaged wrist. I'm not saying professional golfers don't suffer from wrist injuries. What I"m saying is that given the importance of the writs to the golf swing, most would not play if it was serious enough to don a practical cast .

Second, now that she is a professional and has a career ahead of her, why would she and more than that, her sponsors who have backed her, allow her to play with any type of injury for fear that it could lead to something actually serious and impact on her future.

Makes no sense for the Wie team, for a second assuming there is an acutal "injury" which if you can't tell I don't believe for a second, to allow their golden goose to risk any potential worsening of the injury. No sense whatsoever. But then that is exactly how the Wie team has operated from the get go. No sense. Lots of dollars, but no sense.

So we'll all sit back and await the inevitable. The only question will be when she plays the injury card and bows out. Will it be when she gets to 3 over and 10 back of the cut line on day one. Or will she tough it out and end up dead last again, however this time with the excuse ready in "hand" that it was her wrist that let her down this week.

The question is how many more times do we have to endure. I'm a single digit handicap and figure if you gave me 20 chances to make a cut in a PGA tour event, I just might make it. So where are my sponsors exemptions? Me please. And did I read correctly that she says "I like exemptions. It's like someone giving you a $100." Holy crap, of course she likes exemptions. It is the only way the circus act can continue.

So Chink actually won it and Wie-Wee just happened to be his partner? Not too impressive.

Smudge,

I will not comment on this bit of Wie fawning by our intrepid bloggers.

I will instead leave it to you and other Wie skeptics to take up the cudgel.

Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if the Bubbles played well in this event, being as she has a wrist injury. Since she can't take the pressure, a built-in excuse is invaluable to her. So don't think she can't break 80 this year.

Are derogatory racial epithets allowed on this blog site? Noticed the use of the "C"-word by John D above. So, then, is the "N"-word OK? What does the administrator (if there is one) have to say about this?

"Comment from: WieWonderer [Visitor]
Are derogatory racial epithets allowed on this blog site? Noticed the use of the "C"-word by John D above. So, then, is the "N"-word OK? What does the administrator (if there is one) have to say about this?"

I guess you are new to TravelGolf WW and didn't ealize you wandered into the old demented white guys racist forum.

err: realize

One-putt,

C'mon, a traditional man shouldn't be so PC. I don't get bent out of shape when people use epithets relating to the groups from which I'm descended.

Yeah, nobody bats an eye when others refer to me as a gorilla. And, I don't get all bent out of shape about it, either.

fare

To all who comment here, please do not use racial slurs when you talk about others. It's just downright mean and, as the administrator, I do not condone it.

Anyway, you guys are so erudite that you do not need to resort to such name-calling to make your point...do you?

After watching Jackass II, I can not help but thinking how the Wie camp not recruit the Wee Man into the entourage. The PR possibilities are end less.

As a club golf professional, I have had the opportunity to play in many pro-am events. You play as an individual professional and then as the team/professional in the same event. I have won 3 individual events in my career, and countless many as a team competitor... My total of professional wins is 3. If MW played with someone, her professional total is still 0. Regardless of what Nike comes up with or the Wie Camp. She has 0 wins.

Maybe a stupid obeservation on my part, but if she is serious about qualifying for a PGA event, if truly injured and the Wie Camp is not getting ready to use it as an excuse, why is she playing in silly season events such as a skills challenge?

0 wins.

Don't kids in Hawaii go to school?

"Comment from: Mr. Wonderful [Visitor]

Maybe a stupid obeservation on my part, but if she is serious about qualifying for a PGA event, if truly injured and the Wie Camp is not getting ready to use it as an excuse, why is she playing in silly season events such as a skills challenge?"

It wasn't a very demanding contest that raised money for the Hawaii Jr Golf program that Michelle owes a great deal to for their support over the years.

To Smudge:

The last player I know who entered a tournament with a bandaged wrist was Paula Creamer last year. Nobody made a big deal of it. Why are so many people bent out of shape over this.

Wie is 9 over through 10. I think we've seen her best golf. Expect a quick WD.

Hey, Bubbles, the girl with those vaunted 300 yard drives, is averaging 206 yards off the tee through seventeen! Yes, she definitely doesn't hit the ball like the average woman.

+9 through 16. Way to go Wie-Wee.

Judge,

Another breakthrough for Bubbles! 78 in the first round of the Sony!

All she needs is a 63 tomorrow and she MIGHT make the cut.

It just goes to show you how valuable it is to have BJ on the bag.

Don't count Bubbles out yet. She's a stubborn girl and a fighter.

On the plus side, Bubbles is one shot better this year than she was last year at her annual freebie at the Sony.

She's only 15 shots out of the lead. Stranger things have happened. Well, maybe not.

Oue-Putt...

Much appreciated on the information regarding the Hawaii PGA Junior. Can see if she is 100%, but resting the wrist if not. Host bloggers made such a big deal over her "winning"...thought this was a serious event, not that the Hawaii PGA Section or their Junior Tour isn't.

Don't see much good coming out of her playing tomorrow other than fulfilling a sponsor committment and her pride... Sad when a person has a dream and the game is going a different direction than desired. I witnessed her play first hand when she was 12, sadly, she was better then, and swing looked much better than too. I credit that to DL screwing up another good young talent...

The news media made it point to mention Michelle's bandaged wrist. It's puts her in a no-lose situation.

If she plays well, she's a champion.

If she has a poor performance, it's her wrist (or some other excuse).

Team Wie is using every trick in the book to keep up the hype.

Hey, you Wie-wee's,

Get off that suicide watch and look at the bright side!

Just look at how good Bubbles did in relation to her two playing opponents.

Sure, she was beaten by ten strokes by that superstar, Stephen Marino.

And yes, he did outdrive her 323 to 206.5 yards. But, so what?

Look how bad she outclassed Gavin Coles.

Coles only beat Bubbles by seven strokes and outdrove her by 74 yards.

Bubbles' game is getting very close. Just what it is getting close to remains to be seen.

RE: Chink. Did anyone venture the guess that it was a typo? Maybe he wrote Chink instead of Ching.

If the wrist is hurting, she should withdraw. 78 is crappy on this golf course.

She hit one fairway and five greens. Isn't that an improvement over last time?
206.5 yard drives? Ah yes......the wrist......that's the trouble.......

Now, 206.5 yards . . . I'm not sure if that's a three or four iron for me.

Judge, Where is our pal, Kimo?

Isn't he the misguided soul who predicted Bubbles would be around for the weekend?

If he was kidding, what is happening to Bubbles is no joke.

Right now, I doubt if she could hit the side of a barn with a handful of rice.

Yeah, that's it ...I have a bandage on my wrist....caused a typo. Yeah, that's it.

Alex,

Kimo might have a bandage on his wrist too. Actually, the best place for the bandage would be on Bubbles' mouth.

Alex...

Welcome back, or maybe it was I who was away to long...

Go MW, know a 63 is in ya...!!!

Mr. W.

Why was MW's dad on the bag??? Are the pro caddies not too happy about
her history of not sticking around for the weekend???

Judge,

Bubbles has locked up the long-earrings trophy.

Also, she is numero uno in the inane interview department.

She hit one fairway out of 14.

She couldn't hit a hog in the rump with a bull fiddle.

To look on the bright side Michelle improved over last year and is not in sitting in last place yet.

John D,

Your comment about kids going to school in Hawaii brought up an interesting point.

So far this school year, Bubbles has missed five weeks of school due to her futile attempts to make a cut on the men's tour and to win an event on the LPGA tour.

And her publicity machine has put out the information that she is a straight "A" student and that she has enough credits to graduate early.

What curriculum is she taking? Is there such a thing as correspondence course high school?

And what's with this "early graduation?" My five kids all graduated from high school in the last fifteen years, and none were offered the opportunity to graduate early.

They all attended Catholic schools in the Chicago area, but as far as I know, the excellent public schools in our neighborhood do not offer "early graduation."

Or, as Ghet UnRheel says, does Bubbles get special treatment because she is a "star?"

"If I just get everything right, get the ball in the fairway -- get the ball anywhere in play, actually -- I think I can definitely tear this golf course up," she said.

If I was just stronger, if my tee shots were only longer and straighter, if my iron play was more accurate, if my wrist didn't hurt, if the sky wasn't blue, if I was just plain better...You get the point. I actually thought she "tore up" the course pretty well yesterday, literally speaking, of course. It is time for this circus act to end, Michelle's round was a few lucky breaks away from being in the mid-80's. Look at how far she has fallen, people are actually celebrating the fact that she played the backside in even par, even par is a triumph on what amounts to her home course on a completely perfect scoring day? I agree with the majority of those on this blog who say that she has regressed, her swing seems more ridgid and her yardage seems way off--The real question is not how these swing changes and this debacle will affect her game against the men--She has no future in that department, but rather how it will carry over against the women. The LPGA is her future, always has been. Many of the so-called Wie bashers saw this from the start and were roundly attacked as being shortsighted, foolish, sexist, racist and every other name in the book, yet through it all we held firm in the belief that Michelle Wie did not have the game to compete against men and or dominate the women. The second claim is still up for debate, though 0 wins in some three dozen attempts speaks volumes to me, but the debate of Wie vs. the men is over and has been for quite some time.

Alex,

Yes, you have to wonder how she could be so inaccurate without being able to hit the ball out of her own shadow. Short hitters are supposed to have the advantage of at least being able to find the fairway.

As for not sitting in last pace, One-putt, the man she is ahead of, Abe Mariano, is a 47-year-old golf instructor who called qualifying for the Sony in a play-off "the highlight of his professional golf life." Notably, another golf instructor and qualifier whose last name is Chin, sits a few places ahead of the Bubbles. Thus, I guess we can conclude that she has great potential to be a teaching professional.

Big Deal,

In my household, we all had a hearty laugh when Bubbles made a comment about having a stretch yesterday when "she drove the ball real well." I almost fell out of my chair.

She averaged 206.5 yards off the tee and missed 13 of 14 fairways, yet she thinks she drove the ball fairly well.

She has become the "Baghdad Bob" of post-flop golf interviews.

The difference in MW's swing from 14 to present is noticeable. It's less fluid and more mechanical than it was in her early years. I understand that her short game has improved and the long game has diminished but, when playing on the PGA Tour against these pros, you have to have the whole package.

My thought is that, with all of the pressures put upon her, she has forgotten how to play like a kid and to just enjoy and play happy golf!

Comment from: John D [Visitor]
Yeah, that's it ...I have a bandage on my wrist....caused a typo. Yeah, that's it.
2007-01-11 @ 21:00

I suppose the D in your name stands for 'Douchebag'? or perhaps 'Door knob'...

Actually MW shot her excuse in the foot (wrist ??) by posting a 35 on the back nine.

Her post round comments demonstarte that Michelle Wie is one of two things: She is either completely delusional, or an arrogant, egomaniac. I believe she is both. She sure talks like a golfer, always trying to turn a 68 into a 64, but the problem with her is that she is trying to turn 78's into 68's. She reasons that a few bad breaks here and there, a few wayward drives and errant approach shots are the difference, when in reality it was numerous fortunate bounces and some miraculous scrambling that kept her score in the 70's. She claims her swing and game are close, close to what? When male or female pros for that matter have multiple rounds in which they struggle to break 80 the only thing they feel close to is losing their tour card and fututre in the game of golf. Lucky Michelle lives in a world that will pay her huge amounts of money fror having long legs, a bit of talent and a lot of untapped potential.

To PaulF above, the reason people are making a big deal out of her bandage is that it is just to convenient. And now she has the excuse to WD. Now likely she won't becuase Sony would freak out as would Nike, but I bet it's on her mind.

That said I've decided to change tune. I'm now a Wie supporter. She has shown me that I too can be a professional golfer and compete with the best of the world. I mean 43 on the front? Missing all fairways? That is a lousy day for me. So I'm quitting my job, getting my dad out of retirement to carry my bag, and I'm calling Buick to get me my exemption. Wish me luck everyone.

Stacy, you hit the nail on the head. How many times do you go out and play for fun and play your best golf by far. What Wie has not and will likely never learn is to actually play under pressure. That is why she didn't win a major last year. Doesn't have the heart, the will, the guts, the determination. All things Tiger has which keeps him at the top of the game. Yes he has some natural ability but I would argue that is not the key to his winning. It is all the other stuff, the non athletic stuff that makes him Tiger. Wie only has the natural athletic ability. Everything else she lacks. If she doesn't find it, she'll never win.

Bubbles would win a lot of converts if after one of these debacles she'd just state, "You know, I just played lousy today. That's all I can say."

"Michelle Wie already a winner at Sony Open"

In the category of ill-conceived, ill-timed, and absurd blogs, that title should win the first five places and retire the trophy.

Alex,

The stretch during which she drove the ball well might have been the first 100 yards in the air off the thirteenth tee.

Judge Smails,

Bubbles being a teaching professional? I don't think so. She doesn't even know the rules of golf.

Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
John D,

Your comment about kids going to school in Hawaii brought up an interesting point.

So far this school year, Bubbles has missed five weeks of school due to her futile attempts to make a cut on the men's tour and to win an event on the LPGA tour.

And her publicity machine has put out the information that she is a straight "A" student and that she has enough credits to graduate early.

What curriculum is she taking? Is there such a thing as correspondence course high school?

And what's with this "early graduation?" My five kids all graduated from high school in the last fifteen years, and none were offered the opportunity to graduate early.

They all attended Catholic schools in the Chicago area, but as far as I know, the excellent public schools in our neighborhood do not offer "early graduation."

Or, as Ghet UnRheel says, does Bubbles get special treatment because she is a "star?"

Haven't you beaten this subject around enough guys? If it is good enough for Stanford you should accept the fact Michelle has a stellar academic background.

There were a couple of LPGA gals who joined the tour from private schools and were allowed to complete their studies by mail. Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel both joined the tour in January of their senior year and went back to graduate with their class.

Morgan received an offer for a golf scholarship to Duke, so her academic credentials must have been quite stellar Alex.

One-Putt,

That's all very nice, but when did Paula and Morgan become subjects of this thread?

It is possible that Bubbles has a stellar academic background. Notice that I didn't say probable.

O-P, I realize that you have a lot emotionally invested in Bubbles, but I don't.

As I recall, you fell for the Wie hype hook, line, and sinker. I for one did not fall for the hype.

I am skeptical of everything that Bubbles' publicity machine comes up with.

Is the admissions office at Stanford complicit in this charade? Possibly.

did anyone else notice that Michelle is getting chunky? She talks the talk like she's a pro and is serious about training, but it looks like she's hittin' the buffet lines in Waikiki pretty hard.

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/photo?slug=hier10301102220.sony_open_golf_hier103&prov=ap

º_º

fred g.,

Yes, I noticed that she is getting a bit chubby as well. That is not good for the image she is cultivating....

Round hat on a round face is a no-no....

Judge Smails,

Where are our pals Ghet Rheel and Jim C? They must be licking their wounds again.

But don't worry. They'll be back as soon as they can concoct either some new and different excuses for Bubbles, or they resurrect the same old, tired canards.

Guys, Bubbles must be chowing down a lot of that kim-chi soup that BJ says she likes so much.

Stacy,

I'd like to know your take on Kelly Tilghman's announcement last night that the Golf Channel would feature the play of Bubbles on prime time tonight.

Unless the Golf Channel comes to its senses, tonight's telecast will be the first to highlight the play of a golfer missing the cut by double digit strokes.

Kimo, do you still believe that the Golf Channel is not trying to be a de facto publicity arm for Bubbles?

Alex,

Yes, those two individuals' silence is deafening. As for One-putt, I've observed a very different tone in his posts. Unless I'm mistaken, they almost seem to exude an air of resignation, one indicative of the recognition of an unpleasant reality.

I find it fascinating that Tadd Fujikawa who is from Hawaii and younger than Michelle Wie and is playing very well and may make the cut in the Sony Open gets no mention. Also, Kimberly Kim who is the 15 year old U.S. Women's Amateur champ from Hawaii is a complete unknown to the media. I'd take either against Michelle Wie.

"Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
Alex,

Yes, those two individuals' silence is deafening. As for One-putt, I've observed a very different tone in his posts. Unless I'm mistaken, they almost seem to exude an air of resignation, one indicative of the recognition of an unpleasant reality."

I always root for the Underdog in any contest. My expectations have never been too high for Michelle in men's events, yet I believe she has the skills to hold her own against any woman golfer.

I do wonder what in the heck David is doing with Michelle's swing? Before Ledbettor started working with her full time, Michelle's swing was full, with a great arch and on plane. It appears he has shortened her swing and has her hitting much steeper into the ball. Why? She was longer and straighter before?

It could be a case of faulty equipment. I hit a demo Sumo2 and it still hits like a brick tied to a rope. It even looks like one now.

I wonder if Nike could possibly take over TaylorMade so Michelle could drop a decent driver and irons into her Sony bag.

Well it is not too late for her to petition the LPGA for early admission to the tour.

Judge,

You're right. One-Putt is on the verge of bailing out of the Wie airship.

He'd better bail out of the Wie airship -- it hasn't been in the air in a very long time.

One-putt,

I've said this before, but no one seems to respond. David Leadbetter is the kiss of death for a player's golf game. I know a professional who played the Sunshine Tour, and he told me that they used to call Leadbetter "Lead Poisoning." He explained, "We used to say, if your game is bad, go to Leadbetter . . . and it'll get worse."

You'd have to pay me to take lessons from him.

One-putt,

If you always root for the underdog, then I take it you're rooting for Abe Mariano.

I don't get this whole wrist injury thing...

To me it's just a setup to protect her "best-female-golfer-ever" image in the most likely case that she plays poorly, and I'll tell you why I think so.

Michelle is sponsored by Nike, Sony, and others for many millions of dollars. Common sense would tell us that with so much money and reputation at stake, she (and her parents) can no longer make decisions about Michelle's professional carrer on their own. They must also consult a manager/management company who's best interests are for "Michelle Wie" the product & athelete as well as all of the sponsors.

That said, why hasn't Michelle undergone X-rays and rehabilitation at the onset of the injury? Why does it only come to surface now? Team Wie tells us that Michelle is undergoing accupunture treatments. I do understand that there are many people who believe in accupunture and it very may well do all that it claims, but however, if you were Sony or Nike, would you be satisfied with holistic healing? At the signing of the contracts, wouldn't there be some kind of clause indicating medical insurance?

It seem far more important within the interests of the sponsors to maintain Michelle's "super-golfer" image no matter what. And to maintain the trail of lies ad excuses until she is actually able to perform at the level of their claims.

I think she was told to wrap her wrist. Her coaches and managers probably know better than anyone her playing ability right now, and it looks like she's getting worse.

If you disagree with me, don't call me names, just let me know why you think so. I'd like to know. :)

78 + 76 = not ready for prime time, probably permanently. I think Wie needs
to set a new goal: breaking 75 against the ladies. That will be a tall order,
but when that wrist heals I imagine it will be worth a shot.

Michelle who???? 16yo Tadd Fujikawa made the cut... what a story!!!!

JR,

I thank you; I had no idea Master Fujikawa was in the event. Doesn't this speak volumes? Everybody was fixating on the callow ambitions of that silly girl while the Wee lad was paving his way to becoming the second youngest player to ever make a PGA Tour cut. And why? I thought the sexes were "equal," and if this is so, surely a 16-year-old blowing by the cut line with a two round score of three under is a bigger story than a 17-year-old hacking it around.

Do you Wiezeals get it yet? Boys are better than girls in most worldly endeavors (yes, believe it or not, it's true). I especially want to emphasize this since some Wiemen actually claimed that the Bubbles was the best golfer of her age, female or male.

By the way, I doubt that Fujikawa is one of the best teen boys in the world, but he still makes Bubbles look a Tadd ridiculous.

Makes ya wonder where Sony and Nike are hiding with Michelle's endorsement checks...

Now only if Tadd had sexy long legs...

Judge Smails,

Tadd just turned 16 last Monday. He only stands five foot one inch and weighs about 130 pounds.

And guess what? He cleaned Bubbles' clock by SEVENTEEN strokes! Yes, he barely edged her out.

Ghet Rheel and Candace Polski, you both can come out of hiding now. It's over. We Wie skeptics anxiously await your post mortems. Please don't disappoint us.

Judge,

fred g. and Baby Blue Eyes have brought it to the attention of posters on this board that Bubbles seems to be getting somewhat wide in the hips and round in the thighs.

Last year, a Wie-wee said that this year she would put on ten pounds of muscle and be driving the ball with the big hitters. It looks as if that "muscle" may be just some added baggage.

Now, several Wie Warriors have complained about the nickname that has been bestowed on Michelle Wie by some skeptics on this board, to wit, "Bubbles."

In a spirit on conciliation, I respectfully suggest that the handle of "Bubbles" be discarded. With the addition of the added avoirdupois, she should have a more appropriate moniker. How's about we call her "Lard?"

The thing about Fujikawa, he didn't get in with a sponsors exemption. he
apparently qualified by winning a local tournament (per Nick Faldo).
This is the same person who qualified for the US Open last year and folks were
saying that if MW was in the same qualifying, he wouldn't of made it. Im very
happy for him.

JR,

Tadd Fuji is one teenage Hawaiian that might make it eventually in the big time. But don't think for one minute you'll ever get the Wie-wee's to agree with that assessment.

Their warped thinking does not include anyone but Bubbles, or rather, Lard. Sure, they will say, Tadd may have qualified for the US Open at 15 and made a cut in a PGA event at 16, but so what? Big deal.

Does Tadd get to travel in a private jet airliner? Does Tadd have a multi-million dollar endorsement contracy? Does he wear long, dangling earrings? No to all of these!

As Ghet Rheel says, stars get star treatment. Lard is a star so she gets a sponsor's exemption. Tadd is a nobody, a five foot one inch runt,with no charisma. Why should he get an exemption?

Alex,

We could just call her "Double-wide."

Actually I find Tadd has far more charisma than Michelle. He clearly makes it a point to appreciate the moment and not take it for granted. He (forgive me Tadd) is actually quite adorable. Sure he doesn't have "jail-bait" features (the kind of features that get you sponsors exemptions), but his smile is sincere and friendly.

Is his post game interview, Tadd made it a point the say, "I'm probably not going to win this tournament, (laughter from the room) no seriously (smiles) I'm not going to win this" a stark contrast to Michelle's over-confidence.

'"I have a lot of game in me, it's just not showing now," Wie said. "Once it comes out, it's going to be good."'

And I think Michelle needs to improve her attitude too.

'Her driving was so erratic that when she hit the fairway on her 10th hole, she covered her mouth and said, "Oh, my God!'' in mock surprise.'

Kudos to you Tadd! Keep up the hard work!

LOL @ "Lard" & "Double-Wide"
yeah, I noticed she's chubby now too.

Tadd is a good kid and will probably have a 'good' golf career - depending on how ambitious his goals are.

But like Michael Chang in tennis, eventually, his size will limit what he can achieve.

His best bet is to eschew all the sudden attention, work hard on his game, and set his goals one tournament at a time.

Judge,

We've been on opposite sides of the argument in the past, this time you are 100% correct about Leadbetter. He has ruined more than I care to mention. I witnessed MW up close when she was 12 at the Westfield PGA Junior. Carbon copy of Ernie. Gorgeous. Now it looks like Tin Cup's "unfolded lawnchair". With the company with whom I am a teaching professional, we have a deciple of Leadbetter. There is no other way to teach the golf swing other than David Leadbetters way. Students line up to get away from him after a lesson or two...

God Bless Tadd!!!