Michelle Wie one round from making history or excuses in South Korea

I'll just dispel one myth. The Asian Tour is not that weak. William didn't say it was, but in some places around the internet, people have been claiming that half of the lpga tour would be able to make the cut in this event, and that is simply wrong. At over 7,000 yards, that takes nearly every woman player out of having any chance of making a cut there.

As regards Michelle, I hope for the best for her. We need to remember that she would have had the easier conditions in round 1, and will have an afternoon tee time and more difficult winds to contend with. So a 73 for instance, wouldn't necessarily be that bad a score.

But I really hope she makes the cut. It has become increasingly annoying that many stories like to state that she has missed all 7 attempts at mens cuts. Although this is true, it masks the fact that she missed the first 2 of those at 13 years of age, at a time when she was still regularly missing lpga cuts.

This would at least banish that statistic if she makes the cut.

It is a cut of 60 players from the 153 in the field, so it would be indeed quite an accomplishment, given that theses guys are professionals who play on this tour most weeks.

Interesting Note: Ty Tryon shot 82, to be in 152nd position, that is 10 storkes behind Michelle after the first round.

A slight correction, re:
"...becoming the first female golfer to that in a men's event since Babe Zaharias at the 1945 Los Angeles Open."

That should read:
"...becoming the first female golfer to that in a men's event IN A MAJOR PGA TOUR EVENT since Babe Zaharias at the 1945 Los Angeles Open."

Si Ri Pak made the cut and had a top 10 finish on the Korean Tour a while back. The Korean Tour is not, however a major PGA tour. The Asian Tour is.

Today should be exciting. Does anyone know where to find in-progress news? They don't seem to have an on-line leaderboard anywhere that I can find, but hourly summaries would be nice.

Maybe you guys are thinking cut for Michelle all while she is thinking "hey let me win this thing and shut everyone up". If not for two holes that got away from her she could have carded a 66 today.

Here is a link for you John:

http://golf.sktelecom.com/english/greeting_10th.asp

Click on the "Live Scoring" button

If not for 15 or 16 bad holes, I have been on line to fire a 66 as well, One-Putt. Bad holes count.

However, good work finding a scoreboard. Do you know that LPGA.com doesn't have one word on the front page about Wie? That seems odd to me.

And good catch John, I got "American" female golfer in there now. Thanks,

--WKW

The probable reason the LPGA isn't featuring Wie is that she is neither an LPGA member nor competing at one of their tournaments this week.

I really hope she makes it to the weekend! The spirit of "Babe" lives on!

It is incredible to me the standards that this remarkable teenager is held to by the male golf world. What she is doing for the women's game and golf in general is Tiger like and the LPGA will benefit immensely from her presence, as will golf world wide. God bless Michelle, may she play for decades.

One side effect to Michelle Wie making the cut in Korea will be that she will probably get fewer offers from the US PGA to play since they won't be "the first". I hope she makes the cut, because then the media won't feel obligated to report on every publicity starved tournament that offers her an undeserved spot ahead of a grinder pro that's trying to earn a living.

Since when do they give sponsers exemptions to "grinder pros" trying to earn a living. There is no benefit to the sponser.

That argument reminds me of what people used to say 30 years ago about women in the workplace. People said you should favor men for open jobs because they need to support a family.

ToddCommish,
Sorry, but you are definetely wrong about your assessment of what will happen if she makes the cut.

The pga tournaments won't be bothered if it isn't the first male cut she makes at their event.
It will still be the first pga cut, for them.

Also, making a cut here will further enhance her reputation and make pga tournament even more eager to invite her, if that's possible.

I think Paul W, refuted your other comment correctly.
I have received sponsors exemptions myself. In fact I received one to a local event on many occasions, and sponsors exemptions are not for grinder pro that's trying to earn a living. They are for local favourites or former greats, or someone who will generate interest in an event.

It is a common misconception, that sponsors exemptions would go to the next pro on the list not already qualified, if Wie didn't get it. That is just not true.
Not many people actually worried about sponsors exemptions before they were given to Wie. They have been given for as long as I've played golf, and they never ever go to the next alternate on the list.

The prize money at the SK Telecom is an amount one-tenth that of the Wachovia. The strength of the field of the SK Telecom is similar, about one-tenth of that of the Wachovia. The only player I can find in the SK field that is ranked in the top 150 worldwide is KJ Choi. Many, if not most, of the Korean players are part-time pros at best. Several have zero winnings thus far this year, and many more have earned less than $10K at golf this year. Also, there are several Korean and other amateurs in the field. One Korean pro in the field, who has earned $3400USD this year at golf, admitted his part-time status. He has a regular job in the booming Korean hi-tech industry. This is not to say that the golfers at the SK are not quality players. It's just that the "quality" is not even close to that of the PGA tour. In fact, I don't believe that the quality and depth of the SK Telecom field approach those of a Nationwide Tour event.

Be honest Stacy the real reason the LPGA does not cover Wie in non-LPGA events is the same reason they won't list her stats or increase the number of exemptions for non-members:

It is simply the "Good Old Bitches Club" who wants to maintain their monopoly on Women's Professional golf around the world.

Hey John "Chom ma nay yo."

You're right again Alex, heck you could make the cut at the SK Open or any other Asian Tour event for that matter.

Why don't you look at the European Tour "Order of Merit" and you may find the names you are looking for. One example would be Charlie Wie who sits in 26 place in the O of M and won the Maybank in Malaysia. Jeev Singh won the Volvo China Open this year.

The purses in the rest of the world are not as large as the US PGA and these guys need to play more tournament golf in order to earn a decent living.

The PGA had 77 players earn over a million last year and expect a 100 will this year.

One-putt: To resort to using the term "bitches" when describing females (that are NOT dogs) just shows a lack of command of the English language.

Just like your comment is scurrilous and fallacious.

Alex,
You are right that the pga tour is a far superior tour to the asian tour. However I'd like to address some tour issues.
The Nationwide Tour has practically identical prize money to the Asian Tou. However that doesn't mean it is as good. The only reason The Nationwide Tour is on a par for prize money is because it is heavily subsidised by the pga tour. The Asian Tour doesn't have the luxury of being subsidising.

As regards, relative importance in ranking points, here are how the tours compare to each other as regards minimum points given for events on those tours:

- 12 points for Europe and the United States (points to 27th place).
- 8 points for Australasia and Japan (points to 19th place)
- 7 Points for Asian and Nationwide Tours (points of 17th place),
- 6 points for Southern Africa and Euro Challenge Tours (points to 14th place),
- 3 points for the Canadian Tour (points to 6th place).

Stacy,
I don't condone the term "bitches" in this case, but some points are true.

The lpga certainly hasn't gone out of its way to encourage and nurture the obvious talent of Wie.

Earlier this year, she asked for an extra exemption, so that she might play in both events in Hawaii. They refused and so she only played 1 event there.
Also, when asked about changing their rules to let her become a member, and yet pursue other tours, they have refused so far to change their rules.

Their rules are outdated and only allow their members 2 non lpga conflicting events. This is an obvious ploy, to try to stop the growth of other womens tours and is in very poor taste. In Wie's case, I don't think she would adhere to this rule, because she will want to play many non-lpga events.
If the lpga don't cop on, she may not join at all. In that case it is the lpga who would be losing out.
For her talent, they should be willing to facilitate her in whatever way they can. I think they will begin to learn this and eventually change some rules.

Norman, There is one correction to your initial reply. Ty Tryon is 12, not 10 strokes behing Miss Wie after the 1st round of the SK. The very fact that a collossal failure like Tryon is in the SK Telecom field says a lot about its lack of strength, quality, and depth. Since virtually nothing is known about almost all the other players, there can be no way of knowing how mediocre and lacking in credentials the rest of the field is.

Who cares if it's the Asian Tour - anytime a 16 year old girl is competitive with men anywhere - professional or otherwise, it's amazing.

I agree with you that rules must be changed and probably will be changed over time but rules should not be changed to accomodate one individual.

In a way you cannot blame the LPGA for trying to protect its turf. That is done in any business throughout the world.

In case you haven't noticed, golf is a big business.

One-Putt, "Al-guess-ssum-nee-da"

I am getting nervous. Wie is at 14th with 6 holes left.

...and -3 for the day, -5 for the Championship, five back. She would need to drop 5 or 6 shots in the last four hole to miss the cut.

Update: -6 after 16. Two to go.

Wie is now at 10th place with 3 holes left.

Wie couldn't save a par on 16th hole. Now she is 15th with 2 holes to go.

She's safe. Quintuple bogey is hardly likely!

I was hoping she be in top 10.

There's still plenty of time for that. The pressure will be off tomorrow. Five back with two rounds to go is no big deal. (Mind you, she might tank tomorrow, who knows...)

Five under, tied for 16th, five off the lead after the second round. Michelle Wie has easily made her first cut on a major men's tour.

Congrat to Wie!

This should really boost her confidence wherever she plays.

Now we wait for all the "but it's not the PGA tour gripes to start".

3... 2... 1...

Does anyone here still think that it was a waste of time for Michelle Wie when she kept "failing" to make the cut against the men? Would she have been better off if she didn't have those chances to learn and compete against the best?

Where's Limbaugh, better yet, where's Baldie? We have to hold these people accountable. Off with their heads! (lol)

Now what will the PGA, LPGA and Euro tours do now that they have a 16 year old history maker in their midst? Where will she play? What card will she shoot for?

To tell you the truth I'm still betting on Michelle attending Stanford as she pursues one dream at a time.

Where's Alex?

Congratulations to Michelle Wie on her historic achievement.
It is the 1st time in 60 years that a female has made a cut on a major mens tour.

Well done Michelle Wie.

One-Putt, I'm betting she does what SHE wants to do...whatever that is.

William said in the initial story:
Michelle Wie is one even-par round away from validation. - if she shoots 72.
Well so had a 69, so I guess Wie is validated.

Norman, Can you imagine what the crowd will be like today at Incheon?

Any estimates on what the crowds at the John Deere Classic will be like now?

I expect the 84 Lumber Classic organizers are high-fiving themselves in the hallway.

Bam-Bam, I'm right here. Where's your sibling Pebbles?:-) I love it! The Wie Warriors are going absolutely bat shit crazy because Bubbles MADE A CUT! If she finishes anything but last of the remaining players, the Fourth of July will come early for the Wie-nuts. History has been made according to the Wie men! And, according to Norman, the SK Telecom is a MAJOR event on a MAJOR tour. Yeah, sure, a major event with only one player in the top 150 worldwide in the field, an event which included the indomitable Ty Tryon on its roster along with several AMATEURS and many part time Asian pros(?). To the Wie-wie's, the ultimate has been achieved. There are no more fields to conquer. Bubbles should be fast-tracked to the Hall of Fame. Go Michelle! Upward and onward! Sponsors' exemptions forever!

The cold hard truth as to why people are upset when Michelle Wie plays men's events is that, as a 16 year old girl, she exposes the truth that golf is NOT A SPORT and that golfers are NOT athletes. Have you seen the pga pros? Half of them need to wear a training bra. Maybe they should be playing in the LPGA.

John Neal,
You are right. This achievement will further strengthen her reputation, credentials and appeal.

The pga tour events that are lucky enough to get her will be delighted.

Earlier this year, Jean Van de Velde, tried to have women banned outright from my tour.
Luckily the European Tour heads completely rejected his motion.

Hopefully the European Tour events will invite her. I'd love to play the same event as her, although maybe not in the same group.

Hopefully the European events will have the intelligence to invite and hopefully they will be lucky enough to get her.

She has already played on the pga, japanese and asian tours. That is 3 of the 6 main tours so far.

Hey, Norman! We know you are stark, raving mad about Bubbles. But we got the message after the 1st post. Really, you didn't have to post you adoration twice.:-)

And you feel to you had to post your bitter bile about Wie, oh, fifty times?

Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
Hey, Norman! We know you are stark, raving mad about Bubbles. But we got the message after the 1st post. Really, you didn't have to post you adoration twice.:-)

Foaming at the mouth Alex? This wasn't up to your usual writing standards.

FRED: "The cold hard truth as to why people are upset when Michelle Wie plays men's events is that, as a 16 year old girl, she exposes the truth that golf is NOT A SPORT and that golfers are NOT athletes. Have you seen the pga pros? Half of them need to wear a training bra. Maybe they should be playing in the LPGA."


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Bingo!

Alex: "Bam-Bam, I'm right here. Where's your sibling Pebbles?:-) I love it! The Wie Warriors are going absolutely bat shit crazy because Bubbles MADE A CUT! If she finishes anything but last of the remaining players, the Fourth of July will come early for the Wie-nuts. History has been made according to the Wie men! And, according to Norman, the SK Telecom is a MAJOR event on a MAJOR tour. Yeah, sure, a major event with only one player in the top 150 worldwide in the field, an event which included the indomitable Ty Tryon on its roster along with several AMATEURS and many part time Asian pros(?). To the Wie-wie's, the ultimate has been achieved. There are no more fields to conquer. Bubbles should be fast-tracked to the Hall of Fame. Go Michelle! Upward and onward! Sponsors' exemptions forever!"

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So, what excuse will you come up with when she makes the Men's PGA event?

Bam-Bam, You're a little misguided pal. It's the Wie Warriors who come up with the excuses, i. e., She's only 16 years old, she has to spend too much time studying, the wind affected her game more than the other players, etc. ad nauseum.

Michelle is only going to get stronger and smarter with her golf game. However, I am puzzled by the fact that she never utilizes her caddie's knowledge for reading putts or lining up to a shot. I think her mindset is strictly on the PGA Tour and the way "the boys" do it in tournaments.

I find it amusing to hear some of the "Wie Bashers" berate her when she shoots a 69 on a 7200 yard course. Really, macho guys, when did any of you ever break par?? On the LPGA there may be three players that can hit a 3 iron 230 yards...Michelle has been doing that for some time now.

I bet "Pepper Girl" nearly choked when she saw that MW putting improved since her last tournament.