China invents golf, Sophia Loren is hot, Wie won't dominate, other meanderings
Tuesday February 28, 2006 | 12:49:33 299 words, 4369 views
China is making a push to prove it invented golf with a new museum exhibit. We here agree completely after deducing that disagreeing would make us a Web sita non grata to 1.3 billion Chinese.
It is almost statistically proven that if you believe it’s great to watch Arnold Palmer play golf these days, you also believe Sophia Loren and Sean Connery are currently incredibly sexy. Just let it go, people.
In the Philippines, players are breaking away from the Professional Golfers Association of the Philippines (PGAP) and reviving the Touring Professional Golfers’ Association of the Philippines (TPGAP).
I wonder if, like me, you just went from not knowing the Philippines had a professional golf tour to suddenly knowing they have two. Oh yeah, the terrific lower-weights boxer Manny Pacquiao is like a god in that nation, also. This concludes all of my knowledge of the Philippines. Please head to Bangkok Al’s blog for further information on the region.
Debating Michelle Wie is fun, but lets be clear: a girl from Sweden, a girl from Japan, and several girls from South Korea will completely dominate the LPGA Tour in 2006.
Speaking of Miss Wie, some of her fans, both pro and con, are amazing. Artists looking to draw cartoons of Wie should think twice. I can’t imagine a teenage girl has stirred this much emotion since Joan of Arc. Though I boldly predict Michelle’s future will turn out much cooler.
Still, if you’re already finding Mi-Wie too old and cynical, you need just wait until April 27, when you can root on 12-year-old Dakoda Dowd at the Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open in Orlando, Fla.
Congratulations to Geoff on his Match Play Championship victory, the greatest sporting accomplishment by an Ogilvie since Ben hit 41 home runs for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1980.
–WKW
Comments, Pingbacks:
Comment from: ToddCommish [Visitor] · http://toddcommish.blogspot.com
I am also astounded by fervor with which the Wie-ites defend their messiah. It's almost like BJ Wie is posting to the boards as "Norman" and "Paul W" trying to protect his investment. Facts are:
1. She IS the most precocious talent in golf since, well, Eldrick.
2. She has been hyped more than any golfer since, well, Eldrick.
3. She has been placed at #3 (now #2) in a ranking system (suspiciously weighted to the almost the exact number of tournaments she's played) by a sponsor of the LPGA (can you say "successful publicity stunt"?)
4. She's won the same number of LPGA titles as Jason Gore, Al Gore, Gore Vidal, and Chris Baldwin combined.
5. Whenever #4 is pointed out, the Wie-ites always cry "But she's only 16!" ignoring the fact that she's been entering LPGA tournaments for two years now, which seems to be enough to be ranked despite her lack of wins. If she's old enough to cash the big checks from Sony, it's not too much to expect a W.
6. For now, she's the LPGA equivalent of Peyton Manning, great stats, says the right things, makes a lot of money, and hasn't won a damn thing.
Mind you, I would be shocked if she didn't finally break through this year and win a tournament. She has the talent, but not the maturity... yet.
1. She IS the most precocious talent in golf since, well, Eldrick.
2. She has been hyped more than any golfer since, well, Eldrick.
3. She has been placed at #3 (now #2) in a ranking system (suspiciously weighted to the almost the exact number of tournaments she's played) by a sponsor of the LPGA (can you say "successful publicity stunt"?)
4. She's won the same number of LPGA titles as Jason Gore, Al Gore, Gore Vidal, and Chris Baldwin combined.
5. Whenever #4 is pointed out, the Wie-ites always cry "But she's only 16!" ignoring the fact that she's been entering LPGA tournaments for two years now, which seems to be enough to be ranked despite her lack of wins. If she's old enough to cash the big checks from Sony, it's not too much to expect a W.
6. For now, she's the LPGA equivalent of Peyton Manning, great stats, says the right things, makes a lot of money, and hasn't won a damn thing.
Mind you, I would be shocked if she didn't finally break through this year and win a tournament. She has the talent, but not the maturity... yet.
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2006-02-28 @ 13:28
Comment from: June [Visitor]
You are actually Baldwin in disguise, right?
That's the only explanation that makes sense.
That's the only explanation that makes sense.
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2006-02-28 @ 13:51
Comment from: David Meyers [Member] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/david.meyers
I thought Sophia died?
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2006-02-28 @ 14:10
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
William said in the above rticle: "Debating Michelle Wie is fun, but lets be clear: a girl from Sweden, a girl from Japan, and several girls from South Korea will completely dominate the LPGA Tour in 2006."
Considering that Mi-Wie isn't even in the LPGA and cannot enter anymore than 7 more events on that tour, thats not a difficult forecast to make.
And I am not convinced that Miss Pressel will continue to fold either. Then again, watch out for a peppy little gal from Paraguay, we might all get a surprise.
Considering that Mi-Wie isn't even in the LPGA and cannot enter anymore than 7 more events on that tour, thats not a difficult forecast to make.
And I am not convinced that Miss Pressel will continue to fold either. Then again, watch out for a peppy little gal from Paraguay, we might all get a surprise.
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2006-02-28 @ 14:22
Comment from: David [Visitor]
I just can't get my head around the so-called 'fact' that Michelle Wie is the 'second best female golfer in the world.'
She just.. isn't. I don't really care what the rankings say, and to be honest, I don't have a lot of respect for the system. I think they just stuck Annika at the top, then placed the rest of the players randomly into the list. Hell, I'm sure I'm listed in the rankings somewhere.
Michelle is brilliant - but hey, she isn't a member of any tour, she's played two LPGA Tour events as a professional (disqualified in one), and she has not won anything yet.
How's that for World No. 2? I can think of better players than Michelle Wie.
She just.. isn't. I don't really care what the rankings say, and to be honest, I don't have a lot of respect for the system. I think they just stuck Annika at the top, then placed the rest of the players randomly into the list. Hell, I'm sure I'm listed in the rankings somewhere.
Michelle is brilliant - but hey, she isn't a member of any tour, she's played two LPGA Tour events as a professional (disqualified in one), and she has not won anything yet.
How's that for World No. 2? I can think of better players than Michelle Wie.
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2006-02-28 @ 14:43
Comment from: Brian [Visitor]
June,
His logic is so much flawed it's not even worth mentioning. But let's give him a chance.
Like so many Wie critics, his criticism is based on the media hype even though he seems to despise the media hype.
I am sure he actually used be a fan of Wie but became a victim of the media hype turned his disappoint into hostility.
His logic is so much flawed it's not even worth mentioning. But let's give him a chance.
Like so many Wie critics, his criticism is based on the media hype even though he seems to despise the media hype.
I am sure he actually used be a fan of Wie but became a victim of the media hype turned his disappoint into hostility.
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2006-02-28 @ 14:50
Comment from: Wayne [Visitor]
What can I say William -- it must be great for Asians to finally have a bunch of superstar sports heroes they can look up to. We now have athletes like Yao Ming, Ichiro, Wie, and let's not forget the magnificent El Tigre!
It wasn't long ago when Asian kids got picked on a lot by other groups. I've seen this happening less and less, mainly due to media exposure of these great athletes. Before, they only had Bruce Lee.
That's the power of the media. It's the same reason why black leaders clamor for more representation on TV and movies. Let's face it, the more exposed we are to other groups of people, the more comfortable and less threatened we feel. We get to see people who looks different from us to be more like us. And that's not a bad thing.
It wasn't long ago when Asian kids got picked on a lot by other groups. I've seen this happening less and less, mainly due to media exposure of these great athletes. Before, they only had Bruce Lee.
That's the power of the media. It's the same reason why black leaders clamor for more representation on TV and movies. Let's face it, the more exposed we are to other groups of people, the more comfortable and less threatened we feel. We get to see people who looks different from us to be more like us. And that's not a bad thing.
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2006-02-28 @ 17:53
Comment from: jon [Visitor]
A nice article on Dakota Dowd in NY Times today. A great story. I hope the girl will follow through. Golf is a hard game, requiring talent but also a nurturing environment. I hope she gets a sponsor.
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2006-02-28 @ 18:57
Comment from: Michael [Visitor]
It's a shame that Geoff and Ben Ogilvie do not share the same surname. After all Geoff's is spelt Ogilvy. However you are American so I guess you are excused
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2006-03-01 @ 02:24
Comment from: Bangkok Al [Visitor]
The Phillippines may have two golf tours, but the greatest Filipino sports hero is not a golfer, he's Efren "The Magician" Reyes, the 9-ball player. Also, off the subject, Manila and Angeles City in the Phils rival rival Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand as the best places in the world to get an STD. Unless we count Rio, right Bill?
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2006-03-01 @ 11:41
Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]
An STD? Well, I will defer to your expertise on this one, Half-cocked Al.
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2006-03-01 @ 13:54
Comment from: Wayne [Visitor]
Thanks for the great info Bangkok Al, you should take ignorant Wolfrum on one of your worldly jaunts. Just don't tell him about the STD stuff -- that'd be too much information!
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2006-03-01 @ 15:54
Comment from: jon [Visitor]
Wayne, be careful. If you provoke Wolfrum enough, he might just post his picture wearing a Brazilian thong bikini out of spite. What a ungoldly sight that would be.
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2006-03-01 @ 18:22
Comment from: Boola Boss [Visitor]
Comment to: David Myers: Sophia Loren, 72, is very much alive and looking as sexy as ever! She helped carry the olympic flag (the camera just loved her) in the opening ceremony.
As for Michelle Wie - in her own words:
"Well, it's not like I invented the world rankings," Wie said in response to the criticism she heard about her lofty debut in the ranking. "It's not like I put myself in No. 3…. All I did was play golf."
That says it ALL - Leave her alone! She can't play for a month, and then she takes on the best the LPGA has to offer in the Kraft-Nabisco major. She will let her clubs talk for her then!
As for Michelle Wie - in her own words:
"Well, it's not like I invented the world rankings," Wie said in response to the criticism she heard about her lofty debut in the ranking. "It's not like I put myself in No. 3…. All I did was play golf."
That says it ALL - Leave her alone! She can't play for a month, and then she takes on the best the LPGA has to offer in the Kraft-Nabisco major. She will let her clubs talk for her then!
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2006-03-03 @ 01:17
Comment from: Ju-Lu [Visitor]
William, Let's see...Wie or Sophia?
I would still take Sophia..of course,
my mind still thinks she is 35! And
don't forget some other ATF's...Senta
Berger and Claudia Cardinale. Just
ask Shanks about the favorites named
in Scotland. As for looks AND golf,
there is an absolute knock out who
plays on European women's tour....
about 5'10" with legs all the way up...NEVER MIND!!
I would still take Sophia..of course,
my mind still thinks she is 35! And
don't forget some other ATF's...Senta
Berger and Claudia Cardinale. Just
ask Shanks about the favorites named
in Scotland. As for looks AND golf,
there is an absolute knock out who
plays on European women's tour....
about 5'10" with legs all the way up...NEVER MIND!!
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2006-03-07 @ 14:46
Comment from: luis [Visitor]
who wants to invest for the hottest and the newest golf share/ membership here in the philippines? a golf course beside the beach! just email me thru luissumang@yahoo.com tnx
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2006-07-19 @ 01:38
Comment from: SophiaLoren.org [Visitor]
Wie or Sophia? - Sophia of course!
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2007-06-22 @ 05:36 Leave a comment:
William K. Wolfrum
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WorldGolf.com's William K. Wolfrum blogs about everything in the world of golf and travel, including Michelle Wie, Lorena Ochoa, Tiger Woods and other PGA and LPGA headlines. Plus, he offers the humorous and obscure in news, politics and pop culture.
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