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Michelle Wie hits bottom, Mickelson out of the Memorial

Thursday May 31, 2007 | 12:58:34 283 words, 9163 views

Just when fans were eagerly awaiting a great weekend of golf featuring Michelle Wie, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, despair set in.

Michelle Wie proved to be doing the “moonwalk” in her quest to compete admirably in any professional tournament, PGA or LPGA. Some would still say that Wie is the perfect (?) “ten” even after her blowup hole on the back nine at the Ginn Tribute hosted by Annika Sorenstam, never finishing but coming in dead last (+14) before finally succumbing to her dreaded fate.

Wie didn’t see it coming although she did predict in her pre-tournament interview, “I know I won’t play my absolute, absolute best golf, but I’m still going to try my hardest.”

Almost concurrently, Phil Mickelson withdrew from the Memorial Tournament, citing an injury to his left wrist. Come on Phil, I’m a lefty too and know that the left hand only hangs onto the golf club. But, with the U.S. Open coming up Mickelson can take no chances so, although I’m filled with disappointment that Lefty is out for this event, I understand.

As far as Michelle Wie is concerned, I guess the pressure got to her although I’m sure skeptics will concur that her wrist was not completely healed. Perhaps Wie just wanted to attend her high school graduation? She gave the school a nice photograph hoping it would be blown up into her cardboard likeness (six-foot tall?) but they won’t need it now.

If she can’t compete on the same footing with the women in the LPGA, then how will Michelle Wie ever be able to make the cut at the upcoming John Deere? Is David Leadbetter the next PGA teaching professional on Wie’s chopping block?

13 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Stacy [Visitor] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/golf-for-beginners

As an addendum, word is coming in that she "said her withdraw was because she 'tweaked' the injury and not because of an LPGA rule that bans nontour members for the year if they shoot 88 or higher. Wie was two bogeys from that scenario when she stopped."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/golf/4851151.html

Permalink 2007-05-31 @ 14:42

Comment from: Time Bandit [Visitor]

I always thought Michelle was a bit overhyped, but I never thought we would be discussing the possibility of invoking the "rule of 88".

I hope this is just a matter of coming back to soon after an injury and not another indication that her game is regressing. Either way I hope the girl is OK, both physically and mentally.

Permalink 2007-05-31 @ 14:44

Comment from: tommy [Visitor]

stacy their is no addendum only spin. she wouldn't have played if it was hurting. this whole freaking thing is out of control.

Permalink 2007-05-31 @ 15:16

Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]

B J'S mantra

Greed...Greed... give me more,
It doesn't matter if her wrist is sore,

Suck it up girl, it's not that bad,
Be thankful now that I'm your dad.

Permalink 2007-05-31 @ 17:28

Comment from: Ron Mon [Member]

Let's remember that Sergio tossed a high-80s a few years back at Da Open. Although the conditions were a bit more challenging, he did rebound to become a perennial runner-up, so there is hope for MW's regaining her perennial runner-up status.

Permalink 2007-06-01 @ 15:53

Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]

I have to say something else about the Bubbles. I think there is no doubt that Alex and others were spot-on correct when they warned of the damage that the unorthodox career path chosen by the Wies could do to the girl's psyche. After all, how does a player of her abilities (and she is talented) go 14 over for 16 holes on an LPGA layout? It's unfathomable to me; my golf skills aren't equal to hers (yet) and I can't imagine shooting such a score on a women's tract.

The only explanation is that she is experiencing a psychological breakdown. Remember, this isn't just poor play; it's part of a pattern and more like of 10 handicap golf.

I'll go so far as to say that Bubbles may actually be afraid to step on the first tee in a tournament at this point, as she just may be deathly afraid of perpetuating the pattern. And the self-denial and phony positive talk won't remedy the situation; someone needs to bring her down to Earth and tell her that she must start confronting reality.

I remember her talking in an interview about playing matches against her father and saying that he "chokes." I think it may run in the family. "The sins of the father will be visited upon the child," anyone?

Permalink 2007-06-02 @ 11:07

Comment from: JJ [Visitor]

Injured... not injured... who knows? One thing is certain. Grown "men" write about her on these blogs nearly every day of their pathetic little lives.

Permalink 2007-06-03 @ 02:46

Comment from: Stacy Solomon [Member] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/golf-for-beginners

Judge, I agree with your statement that Wie is experiencing a psychological breakdown.

The only thing left for her to do is to get rid of every person in her "circle" including her dad and pick her own team. Perhaps, after starting college in the fall, turning 18 (a great age for breaking away) and moving far from the family, she will be able to think more clearly and make a showing.

Also, I don't think that she's choking like dad on the course. I believe that he's the one making her choke.

Permalink 2007-06-03 @ 13:19

Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]

Stacy,

One person she really has to jettison is Leadbetter. He makes players think too much about technique and become too mechanical, and she will never prosper under his tutelage.

Permalink 2007-06-03 @ 13:46

Comment from: Stacy [Visitor] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/golf-for-beginners

I wonder if Butch Harmon would want to take on Michelle Wie or would he be worried about losing credibility if she sinks deeper into the mire?

Harmon has already helped Phil Mickelson. Under his tutelage, Wie might thrive.

Permalink 2007-06-03 @ 16:34

Comment from: Alex [Visitor]

Stacy,

I know it seems unlikely or even impossible, but Bubbles career just might be over before it really had a chance to start.

Sports history is replete with teen-age prodigies that burned out before they were old enough to buy a car.

Bubbles, sad to say, is showing signs of doing just that, although I don't believe that even her harshest critics such as myself could have predicted that it would come so rapidly.

I don't think that Butch Harmon or even Svengali could help Bubbles with her destroyed psyche.

Permalink 2007-06-04 @ 10:27

Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]

Alex,

It's hard to say definitively, but at this point she may need divine intervention.

Permalink 2007-06-04 @ 13:38

Comment from: Oui Oui Oui [Visitor]

Stacy,

When you say Wie hits bottom, you are insinuating that she will not fall farther.

I beg to differ, I think the best (or worst depending on your point of view) is yet to come.

Her year is probably going to be a debacle.

Permalink 2007-06-05 @ 16:50

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