Is Tiger Woods taking a lesson from Michelle Wie, Sorenstam delivers, golf tips from Leadbetter and Rick Smith
Monday March 23, 2009 | 13:43:11 551 words, 28457 views
Michelle Wie reportedly received $700,000 in appearance fees to attend the Asian Tour’s 2006 SK Telecom Open. Tiger Woods’ bonus for showing up at the Australian Masters will top the $3 million mark with the state government footing half of the bill! Are appearance fees a good idea and can they help fuel a weakened economy?
Crowds no doubt swarm to an event where Tiger Woods is in the mix. A report from Ernst and Young stated that an estimated “10-20,000 overseas and interstate visitors would travel to the southern city to see Woods.” That translates into over $19 million dollars in income for Australia! This is a win-win situation for the Masters but the Open, which plays only two weeks later, will probably suffer with a lax in funding and attendance.
Endorsement deals are lining pockets but, in the future, will larger-than-life players require appearance fees before even deciding to play? Phil Mickelson’s presence at the Barclays in Singapore grossed him seven figures, Michelle Wie is said to have received over $20 million in just one season and, although fees for LPGA golfers are far less than their male counterparts, Annika Sorenstam earned over $12 million off-course and champions like Cristie Kerr and Natalie Gulbis are known to travel to events on private jets.
In this new media age, you can even “rent” your very own sports personality right off of the internet! Procurement agencies such as Mastergolf.com claim to be able to “turn events into sold-out standing room only spectacles". Gulbis is said to command a mere $18-38,000, Nancy Lopez’ fee is over $35k and Crenshaw and Couples top out at over $65,000 each.
Although no blame is to be exacted in this column, one of the earliest golfers paving the road with appearance fees could be tracked down to Greg Norman who, as far back as the mid-nineties, is said to have commanded honorarium upwards of $200,000 and fuel for his private jet.
Top golfers are now considered celebrities and are basically being paid to perform. Whether they win or lose, they are still the draw that bring fans, and their dollars, out to the courses. So I ask, is it better to be Tiger Woods who happily accepts, and seeks out, appearance fees or Lorena Ochoa who, according to her brother and manager, is “not the kind of girl who’s looking for options to be on TV or in magazine articles,” but “just wants to be the number one player in the world.”
Also, on this week’s Golf for Beginners show, Barry and I offer several swing drills. One assist comes from the David Leadbetter Academy which can help set your hand position in your backswing and the other drill comes from Rick Smith whose drill will help increase your accuracy!
We also talk about Annika Sorenstam’s two big announcements and their effect upon the LPGA Tour!
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Comments, Pingbacks:
Comment from: Stacy [Visitor] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/golf-for-beginners
Time Magazine has placed Michelle Wie's name alongside of Clinton, Bush and Wiesel as a hero and pioneer who has shaped the world. Do you agree?
http://www.time.com/time/2006/time100/
MW's comment about it? "I just want to see how good I can become, and if I can help to shape the world then that’s awesome, too."
Spoken like a true teenager! http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/61950
http://www.time.com/time/2006/time100/
MW's comment about it? "I just want to see how good I can become, and if I can help to shape the world then that’s awesome, too."
Spoken like a true teenager! http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/61950
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2009-03-23 @ 18:29
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Love her or hate her, Michelle Wie makes people react.
How that affects the world in general, I'm not sure.
Judging by the number of strong views posted in these blogs, she leaves no one unmoved.
How that affects the world in general, I'm not sure.
Judging by the number of strong views posted in these blogs, she leaves no one unmoved.
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2009-03-23 @ 20:24
Comment from: Oneunder [Visitor] · http://www.thewiewatch.com/
What is with people jumping on golfers for going after appearance money ? 1st it's Anthony Kim, then Michelle Wie, now Tiger. Come on anyone of these golfers could have their career end tomorrow, I say let them get what they can while they can.
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2009-03-24 @ 08:07
Comment from: Bill Mabey [Visitor]
Re appearance money for Tiger, it is far more acceptable that he collects it, as he does have his charitable organisations that he supports with this. If he didnt ask this, then the Media Moguls earn more profit from his appearance and where does that go?? I understand that this is a reason for his fees - he doesnt really need it as he has sufficient income already to live the rest of his life and some!!
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2009-03-24 @ 15:10
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
Envy is a cancer that will devour you! Evidently, Worldgolf.com has never learned this.
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2009-03-24 @ 21:26
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Appearance fees are like exemptions. They are given by the hosting body to attract players that will bring attention.
Woods and Wie are both capable of that. Is it money well spent? Apparently the tournament organizers feel it is.
As far as I am concerned, I don't contribute one penny to the fees so my opinions are only that...my opinions. We are not required to agree nor are we ever consulted.
Woods and Wie are both capable of that. Is it money well spent? Apparently the tournament organizers feel it is.
As far as I am concerned, I don't contribute one penny to the fees so my opinions are only that...my opinions. We are not required to agree nor are we ever consulted.
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2009-03-24 @ 23:45
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
It seems that Ron Sirak of Golf Digest was praying that Michelle by playing a practice round on Saturday had disqualified herself. To his chagrin, after doing more research, he discovered that the LPGA had changed the rule so players could play after 5:00 pm the Friday before the tournament and not Sunday. First there was Bumberger, now there is Sirak, both true Wie haters!
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2009-03-25 @ 19:07
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/blogs/localknowledge/2009/03/wie-almost-crosses-a-line.html
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2009-03-25 @ 19:11
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Joe Cool. I honestly don't believe that their is another golfer (not even Tiger) that is as closely scrutinized as Michelle Wie.
It seems to me that every sports reporter and many golfers can't wait to play a "Bamberger gotcha" on Michelle.
The only way this will ever stop is when the R&A along with the USGA changes that stupid rule of outsiders being able to tattle on players about supposed violations.
Even if porven unfounded, the media gets a supposed violation in a story and beats it to death for their own titillation.
That is sad. Can't really say that it gives golf a good name either.
Same applies to the next titillating tidbit about WMA supposedly dumping Michelle Wie. Like who cares, thats between them and the Wies. But the media gets a bone in their jaws and will never drop it as long as they can get any meat in a story.
Now we will be inundated with more opinions about how bad the Wies are again..*sigh*
What's wrong with just watching the game and leaving the player and their coaches to pick their performance apart? or the player and their agents to look after the players private financial affairs.
It seems to me that every sports reporter and many golfers can't wait to play a "Bamberger gotcha" on Michelle.
The only way this will ever stop is when the R&A along with the USGA changes that stupid rule of outsiders being able to tattle on players about supposed violations.
Even if porven unfounded, the media gets a supposed violation in a story and beats it to death for their own titillation.
That is sad. Can't really say that it gives golf a good name either.
Same applies to the next titillating tidbit about WMA supposedly dumping Michelle Wie. Like who cares, thats between them and the Wies. But the media gets a bone in their jaws and will never drop it as long as they can get any meat in a story.
Now we will be inundated with more opinions about how bad the Wies are again..*sigh*
What's wrong with just watching the game and leaving the player and their coaches to pick their performance apart? or the player and their agents to look after the players private financial affairs.
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2009-03-26 @ 11:55
Comment from: Jim C [Visitor]
I read about the Saturday round in Wie's pretourney LPGA interview, and I was wondering about it. I think a lot of people were. The LPGA should have anticipated such questions and explained the situation as part of the interview.
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2009-03-26 @ 14:04
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
putt4par,
Of all the controversy that Michelle has had during her career, I think dissing the "Queen Bee" Sorenstam hurt her the most with the LPGA players. I am sure there are fits of frustration from many LPGA pros when Michelle is hitting a 3 iron as far as they hit their 5 wood. The media sharks will always be sniffing for blood when Michelle is in the picture. I always thought it was incredulous that Samsung officials let Bamberger step off the distant from the waste area, through the fairway and on the green to "measure" Wie's distant to the flag. I have been following golf for 55 years and I have never heard anything like that happening anywhere. The Ron Sirak article was completely bias and very negative toward Michelle. He emphasized every controversial incident since she turned pro. I did not renew my subscription to Golf Digest.
Of all the controversy that Michelle has had during her career, I think dissing the "Queen Bee" Sorenstam hurt her the most with the LPGA players. I am sure there are fits of frustration from many LPGA pros when Michelle is hitting a 3 iron as far as they hit their 5 wood. The media sharks will always be sniffing for blood when Michelle is in the picture. I always thought it was incredulous that Samsung officials let Bamberger step off the distant from the waste area, through the fairway and on the green to "measure" Wie's distant to the flag. I have been following golf for 55 years and I have never heard anything like that happening anywhere. The Ron Sirak article was completely bias and very negative toward Michelle. He emphasized every controversial incident since she turned pro. I did not renew my subscription to Golf Digest.
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2009-03-26 @ 21:56
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
Since Michelle turned pro, the media have always complained about her endorsement money and appearance fees. You can pay a major league shortstop $200,000,000 for a ten year contract and the medias mouth is zipped shut. Football, Basketball and Baseball contracts are usually negotiated on the players "potential" just as Michelle's was. Again, not a peep from the media. I think it is about time that the media keep their big mouths shut and let Michelle enjoy the 2009 season.
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2009-03-26 @ 22:04
Comment from: Boondock [Visitor]
Stacy,
Why do you drag out something from 3 years ago?
What if people bring up stuff that you did when you were a teen and crucify you?
Why the hate-on?
Envy is one of the seven deadly sins.
Why do you drag out something from 3 years ago?
What if people bring up stuff that you did when you were a teen and crucify you?
Why the hate-on?
Envy is one of the seven deadly sins.
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2009-03-27 @ 14:06
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
"It's weird because I didn't feel like I shot my score. I felt like I shot a lot better. Just a couple of missed putts here and there and a bad drive, but overall I felt pretty good. I just couldn't make things happen, couldn't get it going."
The comment after Michelle shot a 76 during the second round. The more things change, the more they stay the same. If she was not aware that she was shooting 4 over par, she needs to take up tennis. It looks like the third round is not going to be better. I will not be surprised if she finishes last in the tournament. When is she going to understand that she can not be a "part time golfer" and a "part time student" to succeed. The question is does she really want to succeed in golf? By next year she will have amassed approximately $60,000,000 and I doubt any wins on tour. Her attitude has never changed while playing on the LPGA. The "I just wanna have a lot of fun" is not going to get her a trophy. The six inches between her ears is her biggest obstacle!
The comment after Michelle shot a 76 during the second round. The more things change, the more they stay the same. If she was not aware that she was shooting 4 over par, she needs to take up tennis. It looks like the third round is not going to be better. I will not be surprised if she finishes last in the tournament. When is she going to understand that she can not be a "part time golfer" and a "part time student" to succeed. The question is does she really want to succeed in golf? By next year she will have amassed approximately $60,000,000 and I doubt any wins on tour. Her attitude has never changed while playing on the LPGA. The "I just wanna have a lot of fun" is not going to get her a trophy. The six inches between her ears is her biggest obstacle!
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2009-03-28 @ 14:34
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
It gets more difficult all the time to watch her play.
Have to agree with you Joe. Until she has that "burning in the belly" to win, she'll continue to be just a sideshow.
Have to agree with you Joe. Until she has that "burning in the belly" to win, she'll continue to be just a sideshow.
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2009-03-28 @ 14:45
Comment from: Jim C [Visitor]
Aside from 4 time winner Shin, Wie was the only one of the top 6 rookies in the ROY list to make the cut.
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2009-03-28 @ 14:58
Comment from: Lance R [Visitor]
Michelle's third round was not to bad, a two over 74 on a day where a lot of players were in the same range. I don't think Michelle will ever have that "burning in the belly" because of the awards she has already received. When a player has received all of the reward money that she has, all the attention that she has, and all the comparisons to Tiger Woods along with comments like "the biggest name in women's golf" and "reshaping wth golfing world", who needs to win. Actually winning a tournament is probably just a side note to her as she gets as much attention if she comes in last as she does if she comes in first (if not more).
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2009-03-29 @ 11:16
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2009-03-29 @ 14:18
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
putt4par,
I hope Michelle doesn't end up like a Capriati!
With the Nabisco Championship coming up, Michelle will definitely not make the cut if she can not shoot par. Maybe when she turns 21 she will be able to tell her parents sayonara. It seems they have doe more harm to her than good. After so many years of excuses, I think people have grown tired of the same old rhetoric. Maybe after next year she could land some lucrative tennis endorsements.
I hope Michelle doesn't end up like a Capriati!
With the Nabisco Championship coming up, Michelle will definitely not make the cut if she can not shoot par. Maybe when she turns 21 she will be able to tell her parents sayonara. It seems they have doe more harm to her than good. After so many years of excuses, I think people have grown tired of the same old rhetoric. Maybe after next year she could land some lucrative tennis endorsements.
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2009-03-29 @ 20:48
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Michelles performance was disappointing, to say the least.
She is going to have to decide what i more important to her, College or Golf.
And you're right, the excuses are wearing way thin.
Jim C, you are correct as far as you say but she has been playing at this level for a long time, she is only a rookie by way of it being her first year as a tour member.
As Joe Cool said, the excuses no longer cut it imho.
She is going to have to decide what i more important to her, College or Golf.
And you're right, the excuses are wearing way thin.
Jim C, you are correct as far as you say but she has been playing at this level for a long time, she is only a rookie by way of it being her first year as a tour member.
As Joe Cool said, the excuses no longer cut it imho.
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2009-03-29 @ 23:33
Comment from: Today's Marketing Associates [Visitor] · http://twitter.com/todaysmktgassoc
Hey, I think it's great Tiger has taken advice from Michelle. It's shows he's open-minded to success and leadership. Certainly, another vivid example of how we can learn from others. However Michelle one of my favorite females golfers will win many titles in the near future.
Robt-tma
Robt-tma
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2009-04-02 @ 14:32
Comment from: Lance R [Visitor]
Putt4par,
Hey dude, Wie wee just made the cut with an impressive 81 in the second round. You commented earlier that no other golfer attracts as much attention as she does. I agree, she was the most over hyped athlete in the history of sports, and that includes any sport. She peaked at an unprecidented age of 13, and the fans simply went wild. She is still a good player, and my earlier post claiming that she did well with a 74 is accurate. But she has not desire or drive to win, because she has already been rewarded more than about any other female (or male) golfer in the world.
Hey dude, Wie wee just made the cut with an impressive 81 in the second round. You commented earlier that no other golfer attracts as much attention as she does. I agree, she was the most over hyped athlete in the history of sports, and that includes any sport. She peaked at an unprecidented age of 13, and the fans simply went wild. She is still a good player, and my earlier post claiming that she did well with a 74 is accurate. But she has not desire or drive to win, because she has already been rewarded more than about any other female (or male) golfer in the world.
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2009-04-03 @ 21:24
Comment from: coolio [Visitor]
Yeah, too bad, The Teenage Golf sensation made the cut.
Like I said, I would have loved to see another MC added to her already impressive list of DQs and MCs (she is not also known as The Queen of DQs and MCs for nothing, you know).
Coolio
Like I said, I would have loved to see another MC added to her already impressive list of DQs and MCs (she is not also known as The Queen of DQs and MCs for nothing, you know).
Coolio
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2009-04-04 @ 01:27
Comment from: Lance R [Visitor]
Coolio,
Yes, I to would have enjoyed another MC just to hear her speech afterwards. She has consistenly been claiming to have "played better than her score." Well, the exact opposite was true during her first round 71. She scrambled for par over and over, and could have easily shot a 76 or 77 if it was not for her short game. Yesterday, she was all over the place. Joe Cool said it earlier, I don't think the "part time" golf is going to work for her unless she has set very low goals for herself.
PS - What happed to Julie Inkster in this tournament?
Yes, I to would have enjoyed another MC just to hear her speech afterwards. She has consistenly been claiming to have "played better than her score." Well, the exact opposite was true during her first round 71. She scrambled for par over and over, and could have easily shot a 76 or 77 if it was not for her short game. Yesterday, she was all over the place. Joe Cool said it earlier, I don't think the "part time" golf is going to work for her unless she has set very low goals for herself.
PS - What happed to Julie Inkster in this tournament?
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2009-04-04 @ 09:42
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Lance R,
If I'm not mistaken, isn't that the fourth time in the last two years that Bubbles has made the cut on the number? I know for certain of the last two events.
Her devoted fans seem like they will never face the obvious: that she just is not as good a player as they think she is, and is quite likely never to reach their high expectations.
That 23-putt round in the Sony five years ago which put her one stroke from making the cut in a PGA tournament, and the ensuing hype set these people up for never-ending disappointment.
Alex USMC 1969-73
If I'm not mistaken, isn't that the fourth time in the last two years that Bubbles has made the cut on the number? I know for certain of the last two events.
Her devoted fans seem like they will never face the obvious: that she just is not as good a player as they think she is, and is quite likely never to reach their high expectations.
That 23-putt round in the Sony five years ago which put her one stroke from making the cut in a PGA tournament, and the ensuing hype set these people up for never-ending disappointment.
Alex USMC 1969-73
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2009-04-04 @ 10:02
Comment from: Coolio [Visitor]
Lance R,
Yes, this "played better than her score" is so hilariously funny. She says it so many times, it's hard to believe she is actually serious.
But she is serious.... Poor Stanford.
"Yeah, you know, obviously, like I said, I feel I played much better than my score, you know."
--Coolio
Yes, this "played better than her score" is so hilariously funny. She says it so many times, it's hard to believe she is actually serious.
But she is serious.... Poor Stanford.
"Yeah, you know, obviously, like I said, I feel I played much better than my score, you know."
--Coolio
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2009-04-04 @ 15:01
Comment from: Lance R [Visitor]
Alex,
I believe you are correct about Bubbles making the cut on the cut number 4 times. What I remember most about her 2008 season is that she typically did make the cut (barely), but then she would finish dead last in the remaining players which is exactly where she is now after another 81. Of course, she did have a few poorer finishes, like the Longs Challenge where she missed the cut by 3 strokes. I can not wait to hear what she has to say after this round (if anything).
Coolio,
It will be hard for her to say she "played better than she scored" after she shot the same score in two consecutive days. But with her, you never know. ("well, ahh...ya know, there is very little difference between shooting 81 and 68).
I believe you are correct about Bubbles making the cut on the cut number 4 times. What I remember most about her 2008 season is that she typically did make the cut (barely), but then she would finish dead last in the remaining players which is exactly where she is now after another 81. Of course, she did have a few poorer finishes, like the Longs Challenge where she missed the cut by 3 strokes. I can not wait to hear what she has to say after this round (if anything).
Coolio,
It will be hard for her to say she "played better than she scored" after she shot the same score in two consecutive days. But with her, you never know. ("well, ahh...ya know, there is very little difference between shooting 81 and 68).
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2009-04-04 @ 18:06 Leave a comment:
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