Michelle Wie automatically makes Solheim Cup more interesting

I'm going one further than Ron Monster. Wie deserves to be on that team. US Captain Daniel said she wanted to select those who were playing the best and that would be Wie. she has easily played the best, most consistent golf in 2009 of anyone who didn't automatically qualify. She also has played better in 2009 than half of those that DID automatically qualify. Three top 3 finishes and no missed cuts in 13 events has put her at 17th on the money list, the 6th highest American. The only folks who are complaining about this selection are basing those complaints on animosities held for reasons other than Wie's performance thus far in 2009.

The trouble with the Solheim Cup is that it only involves women golfers from the United States and Europe. Some of the best golfers in the world are from other countries. The LPGA should structure a global golf competition classified by continents. The best lady golfers from North America, South America and Europe can represent one team. The other team could include lady golfers from the continents of Asia, Africa, and Australia. This structure will be more fair, competitive, interesting, and involve all the top golfers in the world. No top golfer should be left out. Right now, the Solheim Cup leaves out many top golfers like Karrie Webb (Australia), Lorena Ochoa (Mexico), Yani Tseng (Taiwan), Jiyai Shin (South Korea), Ai Miyazato (Japan), etc. The Rolex world ranking can be used to select the team. Also, each team need not be limited to 12 golfers. It could be expanded to as much as 18 golfers. The competition could be called the World Cup, East-West Cup, or some such title. This competition need not replace, but be in addition to, the Solheim Cup, like the men's President's Cup played in altnerate years when the Ryder Cup is not played.

Shanks,

I'm glad that you're not accusing me of resenting Bubbles' selection to the Solheim Cup team. I agree that she should be on the team, but my take is slightly different from yours.

Bubbles was the beneficiary of some truly poor play on the part of the other golfers who were her competition for the freebie. She was awarded the captain's choice by default.

Since the adjectives "better" and "best" are the comparative and superlative of "good', one might surmise that Bubbles played some excellent golf to outperform the good play of the others. Such was not the case. Bubbles play was fair, not bad and not good. The play of the others was very substandard and, yes, poor.

Now Bubbles will have an additional plus put on her resume. Her devoted fans will now be able to say "she was on the Solheim Cup team as a rookie!" Jim C will be the first to use that gem.

Why don't we just have Korea against the rest of the world ? They are the dominant force on the LPGA these days. Kudos to the Koreans and shame on the Americans !!! Maybe there just is not that much talent these days in our American girls to get to the top level and be the best. It is all about the DESIRE to want to be the best. Americans are lazy and have a sense of entitlement beyond belief. I am slowly becoming a Michelle Wie fan. She is starting to realize her potential. She is making her own way now on Tour. You go girl !!!!

Yes Alex, another silver plattered plus to her resume. Ok she may have earned a "captain's pick" which to me is little more than a sponsor's exemption. Not realy earned. The problem with her pick on the team (and I'm from Canada so I don't really give a damn) is that you need people with a desire to win to be effective. She doesn't have that and I do wonder why Daniel felt, just because of her so so record to date this year, that she has what it takes over others in the mix that have been proven winners on the tour. Anyway, I'm sure it will be way less interesting that the Ryder Cup to watch (which is really quite boring most of the time). I can say one thing, I do not see Wie as making much of an impact on the final result, if she gets the nod to play at all.

Another way to elevate women's golf is this. Leave the Solheim Cup as is, with Europe vs. the United States. But let it represent one bracket. The other bracket will include the top women golfers from Asia vs. the top women golfers from the Rest of the World. Karrie Webb of Australia and Lorena Ochoa of Mexico will be on the "Rest of the World" team. This will be a two week event with the winning team from each bracket moving into the finals in the second week. The losing teams can also play each other for third place. They should provide monetary prizes like $100,000 for each player on the winning team, $75,000 per player on second place team, $50,000 for third place and $25,000 for fourth place. This will be more interesting and inclusive than having two teams representing only U.S. and Europe. Women's golf has evolved into a global sport. Any kind of team playoff should also be global.

Since MW was not one of the top 10 point earners, she did not "EARN" a spot on the team. Like smudge mentions above, she was "GIVEN" a spot. Unlike Paula Creamer during her rookie year who earned her spot by finishing 8th (I believe) on the list by winning a tournament or 2. Now, will she make an impact? I'm not sure. When the pressure is on, MW does not have much of a history of performing well. She'll be under even more pressure than normal to perform for her team (as it should be). We'll just have to wait and see.