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Michelle Wie simply pulled a Billy Casper at Ginn Tribute

Friday June 1, 2007 | 06:00:44 463 words, 4995 views

A lot of ink has been spilled on Michelle Wie’s bogus withdrawal from the Ginn Tribute, including two posts in this space - though I at least can fall back on the record of never having felt the need to write about Wiesy until yesterday. So I think two blogs, now make it three, is ok. I simply reached my tipping point yesterday with Wie.

(The two or three readers of this blog will also know that I’ve hammered on Sergio Garcia, the PGA Tour’s unfulfilled promise of a player, so it’s not like I’m bashing only one player. I’ve also been known to lay into Billy Mayfair.)

Some readers have chimed in with some new details to this train wreck of a story.

1. Michelle Wie’s manager was spotted on the golf course on his mobile phone, specifically inquiring about the scope of the LPGA’s 88 rule.

2. What’s more, a tournament official, says another reader, was giving journos a run down of the 88 rule in the media tent, and then promptly went out to the course to address the matter with the Wie Machine.

All this mind you before Wie decides to walk off the course.

Wie was at the tournament on the invite of Annika Sorenstam. This is her tournament, and the galleries that turned out to follow Wie were, if nothing else, a boon to it. What did Sorenstam have to say about Wie’s withdrawal? Squat.

“With this tournament having your name on it, obviously you want to have the best field here. What are your thoughts on Michelle withdrawing,” a reporter asked her.

“I just heard it outside. Why did she withdraw,” Sorenstam replied.

“Her wrist.”

“Well, that’s a bummer. I’m sorry for her. You know, that cannot be fun. I know what it’s like to have an injury. I guess mine healed better than hers.”

I feel sorry for the golfer who did not get a sponsors exemption to the Ginn because it was given to Wie. My colleague Chris Baldwin has got it right: Wie is an embarrassment to the LPGA Tour.

Some readers have chimed in saying Wie only did what that fat joke John Daly has been doing on the men’s side for what seems like years now. Maybe (though in Daly’s defense, he’s often not afraid to post huge, huge numbers. Missing cuts gets him back to the trailer quicker).

For me, she just pulled a Billy Casper. Remember this one? The golf great opts for a no-card and disqualified himself at the 2005 Masters instead of posting what would have been a Masters record 34-over-par 106.

In a similar way, Wie’s withdrawal assures that her abysmal 14-over-par (through 16 holes!) round will never show up on the tournament’s rolls. It’s like it never happened, although we know it did.

18 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Neileo [Visitor] · http://www.neileo.com

Just call her Michelle Tryon!!

Maybe she can join Ty on the Gateway Tour and finally make a men's cut in the U.S.!!!

Permalink 2007-06-01 @ 08:48

Comment from: Shanks [Visitor]

Actually, Wie had used 78 strokes through 16 holes. She would have shot 86 with a par on each of those last two holes that she didn't play - far from a certainty based on the way the round was unfolding.

Permalink 2007-06-01 @ 09:22

Comment from: WinningTheTurnoverBattle [Visitor] · http://winningtheturnoverbattle.blogspot.com

Another thing to consider is that even if Wie was able to get par on the last two holes to get an 86, she was facing a possible two stroke penalty ,that would have pushed her to 88, if her playing partners had filed a protest about the incident involving her father giving her advice earlier in the round

Permalink 2007-06-01 @ 10:22

Comment from: Rick [Visitor]

Members of the press such as yourself make money when people read the stuff you write. The members of the LPGA make money when fans come to watch them play. I guess if Michelle causes more people to come to watch the LPGA and more people to read what you write then it doesn't matter how badly she plays or how badly you write. You still make money either way.

Rick

Permalink 2007-06-01 @ 11:35

Comment from: Jim C [Visitor]

It sounds to me like what is bogus is the 88 Rule. It appears to be a rule designed to pressure presure badly performing sponsor's exemptions into withdrawing so that the LPGA can then erase their performances from the record book and then pretend that such performances never happened. Unloke the Billy Casper situation, there seems no evidence that Michelle Wie would have withdrawn simply to make herself look better without an LPGA Rule designed to pressure her into doing so.

Please explain why you have now posted 3 times on European Golf News in 2 days concerning a golfer you criticize for getting too mluch press, when the last two posts have absolutely nothing to do with Eurpoean golf.

Permalink 2007-06-01 @ 12:05

Comment from: Bob L [Visitor]

I find it extremely selfish she would take a sponsors exemption from a tour player to the John Deer. If she can barely break 90 at the LPGA she won't at the PGA tournament.

Permalink 2007-06-01 @ 14:09

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 @ 15:51

Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]

Unfortunately Bob this is MW'S attitude..."as long as I enjoy playing with the men, I am going to do so."

Permalink 2007-06-01 @ 15:55

Comment from: Scott [Visitor]

The big difference for Billy Casper and John Daly is that they weren't being threatened with a year's suspension from the PGA Tour if they posted a big number - Michelle was. That's a lot of lost potential income for any golfer, even one not playing the LPGA Tour that often. If, and it's a big if, she did withdraw to avoid the Rule of 88, I can't say I blame her. I would have done the same thing myself. The Rule of 88 is what's in the wrong here, not Michelle.

Permalink 2007-06-02 @ 02:52

Comment from: Jeff [Visitor]

Phil Mickelson withdrew from a tournament the same day because of a wrist injury. The only difference between the two was that Wie tried to hang in there longer when her injury really rendered her incapable of playing. Are you seriously suggesting, given her consistently stellar performance on the LPGA majors, that her poor score was NOT the direct product of her wrist injury?

Permalink 2007-06-02 @ 12:08

Comment from: John Z [Visitor]

Jeff,

That is exactly what the great majority of golfing experts are saying, never mind the overwhelming number of bloggers, many of whom were present Thursday in Mount Pleasant; that Michelle Wie, on the advice of William Morris agent Greg Nared, withdrew from the tournament with two holes to play rather than risk the dreaded "88" rule.

Those closest to her that day, her two playing partners, said that neither of them noticed Michelle to be in any pain or discomfort. Nor did either of their caddies see any evidence of injury. They further said that although they had casually talked with Michelle during the round, she had never once hinted that any previous injury was causing her poor play.

One reporter on the scene wrote that she showed considerable surprise when she was confronted by Nared on her way to the eighth tee, where immediately thereafter she withdrew.

Since you are apparently a devoted fan of Michelle, it must be painful for you to accept the evidence as presented, but it is all too obvious what happened.

From her poor play, her body language, and her weak excuses, it is obvious to anybody that can see that she needs a prolonged rest from any competition. It may be too late.

Permalink 2007-06-02 @ 14:17

Comment from: Jim C [Visitor]

It might have been nice if the LPGA had simply told her she could escape the 88 rule by simply not signing her scorecard as they apparently did with Mac Kinzie Kline the next day.

Permalink 2007-06-02 @ 14:24

Comment from: Jim C [Visitor]

My guess is that the LPGA decided that Michelle Wie would not be allowed to simply not sign her scorecard-when anyone else would have been allowed to do so.

Permalink 2007-06-02 @ 14:25

Comment from: John Z [Visitor]

Jim C,

I don't know where you got your information, but in fact MacKinzie Kline has become a victim of the "88" rule.

She has forfeited any further participation for the calendar year since she finished her round and posted the 89.

If she had taken the route that Michelle took she could have withdrawn with one hole to go. However, she played the 18th and recorded a triple bogey for the 89 and subsequent DQ for the rest of the year.

So, Jim C, your guess is quite wrong.

Permalink 2007-06-02 @ 15:33

Comment from: Donna [Visitor]

This comment is troubling:

"That's a lot of lost potential income for any golfer, even one not playing the LPGA Tour that often. If, and it's a big if, she did withdraw to avoid the Rule of 88, I can't say I blame her. I would have done the same thing myself..."

Golf is about integrity. To decide not to finish, if that's the case, so she wouldn't lose income is a sorry excuse for that decision. If she doesn't like the rules, she shouldn't play.

Permalink 2007-06-02 @ 19:45

Comment from: Alex [Visitor]

Jim C,

You seem to think that there is some sort of nefarious plot afoot by the brass at the LPGA to bring down the already crumbling career of Bubbles.

If anything, the opposite is true. She keeps getting preferential treatment from the LPGA at every turn.

Jim C, you still are evading my question. Is it still your firm belief that Bubbles will take down the winner's check at next week's LPGA event?

You've said that several times, if you remember, so many of us would like to know if anything has happened that might change your mind.

Permalink 2007-06-02 @ 22:08

Comment from: smudge [Visitor]

Question and forgive my ignorance for posing it. So there is some controversy over BJ alleging advising Bubbles to go back to the tee on that par 3 that she hit it into the woods on (twice) as well as other advice he may have provided along the way. So rule is no advice to the player from anyone other than the caddy during play. The advice here was based on rules. Ie. BJ in essence advising her on the rules that would allow her to return to the tee to play a shot rather than taking an unplayable that would not have improved her ability to play a shot. Ok so what is the difference in her manager providing advice about the 88 rule? Would thtat not be a rules violation as well? Is the only reason no one is debating that because she ultimately withdrew. Seems to me that is a blatant violation that should result in some sanction. She is now a professional and should at least be fined. Especially with all of the warnings previously doled out to her. Anyway can anyone assist me with this? is it a rules violation for a manager to advise a player about the rules of golf? or the rules of the tour? or anything for that matter?

Permalink 2007-06-04 @ 19:04

Comment from: Alex [Visitor]

smudge,

My understanding is that once the golfers are on the first tee, the only exchange of information or advice allowed is between and among the players and their caddies.

If a ruling is requested, only the golfers and their caddies are initially apprised of what that ruling is.

Managers, agents, parents and relatives, and friends ARE NOT allowed inside the ropes at any time, nor are the permitted to ask any information of any officials.

BJ Wie and Greg Nared had absolutely no business approaching Bubbles on the course once play had commenced.

It is a travesty that the LPGA brass hasn't come down hard on these indiscretion.

Permalink 2007-06-04 @ 20:34

Jeff White

by J.B. White

WorldGolf.com's Jeff White is based in Berlin, Germany, and writes on all matters of golf and travel, with a particular emphasis on the European golf scene, keeping you informed about what's happening on and off the golf course.