Michelle Wie, Mickelson flip-flops. Also identifying poisonous hazards and a day just for golf?
Another Sunday another myriad of mishaps, this time at the Sybase Classic. Just chalk it up to more experience for Michelle Wie. With the press and fans clamoring for a win, all MW can do at this point is to offer up hope that, one day, things will be different, that one day she will break through barriers and the world will rejoice.
“I’m trying my hardest out there. Most importantly, I’m having fun,” claimed Wie, knowing that she once again had to defend her fragile ego as computer keyboards eagerly clicked out another story similar to the last.
At Golf.com, waiting for Wie to “just do it”, writer Michael Walker Jr. was forced to wax creative, coming up with a comparison between Wie and pre-Masters winner Phil Mickelson. Where a correlation can be made between any two likely suspects, Walker mentions that both golfers are “massively talented, adored by fans while generating mixed feelings among fellow pros (and) capable of an amazing, tell-your-friends-about-it birdie or a what-was-she-thinking bogey on virtually every hole.”
Phil Politi added in the Star Ledger that both Wie and Mickelson “thrill and disappoint all at the same time.”
Flip-flop feelings of highs and lows, ups and downs, of coming close yet falling short is what makes fans observe both golfers in spite of what is to come. We will groan, we will probably shout at the television, “come on, even I could have dropped that putt” but we will watch hoping for a miracle shot and for the day that Michelle Wie wins an event. She will win, it is just a matter of time.
One difference between the two which separates us from Michelle but makes us feel for Mickelson is that Phil resembles “everyman", the guy that is just like us, the underdog struggling for a win, a regular Joe.
Perhaps fans feel a bit of distance from Michelle because of the way she attained fortune and sponsorships without ever having won an event. Her professional etiquette is also still lacking as it was noted that Wie still walks off of the green before the final putt of her competitors has been holed out. Mickelson proved himself early on at the Northern Trust Open, one of only four golfers ever to win as an amateur and always provides a professional demeanor. We’re still waiting for Michelle to lift a trophy and hope that she will gain propriety as well.
Eagerly watched by fans, disliked by fellow golfers, both players have helped their respective tours gain and retain an audience. LPGA players were angry that Wie preferred the PGA Tour to the LPGA and, according to GQ Magazine, Mickelson was considered one of the Ten Most Hated Athletes with fellow golfers nicknaming him “FIGJAM”.
Love them or hate them, if it were not for “flip-flops” there would only be fairways and greens with no struggle needed to achieve greatness. Michelle Wie is now earning valuable points towards joining the prestigious Solheim Cup team and Mickelson is working out the kinks for the upcoming Colonial. If they both succeed, we will applaud; fail and the tabloids, internet and fans will have something more to talk about!
This week’s Golf for Beginners offers advice from Phil Mickelson on the flop shot. The video below was chosen to show Lefty’s ingeniuty and the ability to think outside the box.
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Also discussed is the importance of National Golf Day and what you can do to bring it about. Golfblogger.com helps us to identify poisonous plants so that we don’t have to add Calomine lotion to our shopping lists!
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Photo Credit: © Kansas.com, Marco Garcia, File/AP Photo
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17 comments
I agree, she will eventually win, but she has a lot of growing up to do and needs to pitch the idea of ever challenging the men. She is a challenger in the LPGA as shown over the past four events, but in the PGA, she is a joke. You are obviously a fan of hers, and you shoud be happy, she has played very well over four straight events. Typically, she falls apart after one or two good events.
But nevertheless, you should be happy with her very consistent performance.
Lance R
I am a fan of good golf whether it be from Michelle Wie, Mickelson, or any of the very talented members of the LPGA or PGA Tour.
You say that I should be happy but it is Wie that should be happy with her performance.
Most importantly? Really? I wonder if Tiger Woods ever said that. Typically, a statement like that one comes from losers. Probably, someone is feeding her that nonsense as a way to deal with her choking on Sundays. But having said that, I still have hope for her. She's so talented, it's hard to believe she won't win - at least occasionally.
I just looked at 50 different photographs of Michelle with the title of "Michelle's reaction to missing her putt." Obviously, Michelle is a very poor putter, especially when it is a crucial putt that she must make. I think they call it "the yipes." Unless she can conquer that monkey on her back, she will never win a golf tournament. I have been following her (progress?) for the last six years and she has always folded when under pressure. You can not average missing 28 fairways each tournament and expect to win. Most of the Korean LPGA players are averaging 85% of fairways hit and you know the results. Hopefully she will get it together this week and accomplish what she is capable of doing.
Has anyone mentioned to her about walking to the next tee before the other players putt out?
Now, for the thousandth time..."try my hardest and have fun." Michelle, how about "I am here to win the golf tournament."
Yes Joe, I know Wie-wee can not put, especially under pressure. I remember she had a shot at making the cut at a men's event in Japan in 2005. She played well during that event and was on the cut line heading to the 18th during the second round. If she made the put, she would have made the cut and it was only a 4 footer. But no...she missed it. She has made several other blunders in women's events.
That being said, I do think she will eventully win an event. She has so much talent, I think the law of averages dictates that she will win one of these day. But I feel that she will never be a champion that repeats victories. She simply does not have the heart or guts for it.
Lance R
At the Corning 90 players shot under par and Bubbles shoots a 73 on a 6200 yard golf course. Evidently, from the tee she has no idea where the ball is going to end up...certainly not in the fairway. Already she is 9 shots back after the first round and has already shot herself out of the tournament. I am sure she will say that she thought she played very well with just a couple of errant shots during the round. Creamer and Pressel shot 66 and are only 2 shots back. There is a possibility that Bubbles will not make the cut unless she really picks up her game during the second round. I am certain the the Solheim Cup Captain is observing Bubbles play every tournament. I do not think shooting a 73 at a "birdie fest" is having fun. Of course, if Bubbles thinks there is very little difference between a 73 and a 63, then she doesn't have anything to worry about. The saga continues!
I wonder when Michelle says "most importantly I am here to have fun" is she really saying "I have more money in the bank than every LPGA member and you are lucky to have me playing in your tournament." When Ischer who has won $8,800.00 so far this year, shoots a 64 under ideal conditions and Bubbles shoots a 73, she really should be embarrassed by her performance. Of course, Bubbles stated that "there is a lot of golf to be played." I do not think she will make the cut in this tournament. I was really surprised when I saw her caddie assisting her with one of her putts. Evidently, she still has not figured out how to hit her driver. I do not know if her Mother is still insisting that she uses the X-Stiff shaft or she has switched to the stiff shaft. She really can not have many excuses considering the 6200 yard course and ideal playing conditions. There were many par four holes that she was only 65 to 90 yards from the green and she could not birdie the holes. Her performance is very similar to the tournament in Mexico where most of the field was shooting 6 to 7 under par and she was shooting par or worse. Tomorrow is another day. The saga continues!
Michelle's comment after shooting a 73 under ideal course conditions where 90 players broke par. Is she the new "Alice in Wonderland?"
Bubbles played well today with a 4-under 68, but is currently 9 strokes back of the lead and the day is not over. I don't know if I have ever seen the scores this low, their have already been two 62s and a 63, and several players have multiple eagles today.
I know the course is relatively short, but these scores are incredible. Sorry Bu88les, eight under after three rounds is not going to cut it.
Lance R
I wonder if it is starting to sink into BUbbles brain that she can not shoot par or above in the first round and expect to win a tournament. There are just too many excellent players on the LPGA and Bubbles can not afford to have even one mediocre round. She has been averaging around 10 to 12 bogeys during a four day tournament and we know that is not going to have her holding a trophy in her little hot hands. Again she only hit 50% of her fairways and is ranked 146 on the LPGA. If she keeps saying that "I am going to try my hardest and most importantly to have fun" 2009 is going to be a long year, at least until she returns back to Stanford. I wonder if Nike and Omega are having fun paying Bubbles $500,000 a month each?
She should be able to have on round near par, Paula Creamer had a second round 72 and still nearly won. The problem with Bubbles is that she rarely goes way low...like a 65. In this tournament, you needed to follow up a par round with a 65 or 66 to be near the top, and I am not sure Bubbles can do that without hitting more fairways and putting a little better.
I think she played well in this tournament though, but you are right. She will not win until she changes her attitude from "having fun" and "learning a lot", to "I am here to win a golf tournament!"
Lance R
Give her a bit of space and let's see if she can change from competitor to winner. I think she is improving, if only a bit at a time. It's too bad for Wie that most of the top fellow golfers are Asian (esp at the Corning Classic...wow!) and focused on what they set out to accomplish. I think their great play is putting even more pressure on MW to achieve.
Do they teach English at Stanford?
What we do not know is how dedicated is Michelle off the course with her practice and gym workouts. One perfect example was the William sisters at the French Open. It was obvious that they were out of shape and could not compete with the tough Europeans. If Michelle shoots over par during the first round at Bulle Rock, she will not be able to recover.
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