Morgan Pressel topples Michelle Wie as Hawaiian fan favorite
In the battle between the tortoise (Morgan) and the hare (Wie), the latest results are in: Morgan Pressel has taken the lead!
With her second win on the Tour, Pressel has been making slow and steady progress in order to solidify both her position in the Rolex Rankings and as a serious contender in the LPGA. With a slew of top-ten finishes, a USA team win at the 2007 Solheim Cup and a pairing with Gulbis and Kerr to win the 2007 Wendy’s Three Tour Challenge under her belt, Morgan Pressel is pacing herself to become a long term player and fan favorite.
Morgan has even been hailed as an ambassador for Kapalua, a distinction of which I am sure miffs Wie. Golfworld.com’s 2009 Reader Survey listed Kapalua as the sixth best resort course in the world!
Michelle, instead, has tried to cut corners to superstardom, occasionally snubbing the LPGA Tour in favor of fast fame on the PGA Tour, but to no avail. Some of the “lifers” on Tour tried to offer advice, but Wie would not listen. I’ll even bet that Ms. Bivens in particular now regrets modifying LPGA directives so that Wie could have more exemptions. With title sponsors fading quickly, perhaps Bivens felt this was a chance for the LPGA to gain more ground? It didn’t work.
Tactics from Team Wie have backfired and the Big Wiesy is now forced to prove to the LPGA that she can make it as a contender while at the same time watching her exemptions and celebrity status evaporate. The “welcome mat” has been removed from several events such as the Ginn Tribute hosted by Annika Sorenstam and even on her home turf at the Sony Open in Hawaii!
But the race is not yet over. Wie will have the opportunity to mend fences by becoming a champion this December at Q-School.
Even so, sources say that Pressel will not give up her new Hawaiian celebrity status without a fight. I understand that a new event is being planned forcing both ladies into Hula and poi-eating contests! LOL
Could a new LPGA season of excitement be on the horizon?
Photo Credit: © http://lpga.kapalua.com, Minnesota Public Radio
5 comments
All that you say is true, but don't think for a second that your facts will mean a thing to the Wie Warriors, at least those few who remain fanatically loyal to Bubbles.
To the diehard Wiebots, Bubbles' persona transcends a successful golf career or any other measure of success.
Several Wie-wee's still believe that Bubbles is not only a superior golfer than both Morgan and Paula, this despite those two having posted ten LPGA wins between them, they often conjure up all sorts of convoluted statistics to "prove" their fantasies.
If Bubbles were never to win an LPGA tournament, which, by the way, is a distinct possibility, and even if she were to give up golf altogether, they would still think she should be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Alex USMC 1969-73
Wie is still a tremendous draw and nothing would be better for the Tour than a good "come back" story. After all Wie still has a fan base of gargantuan proportions, and Pressel is a most talented and attractive professional. Let the games begin.
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