Golfer Supremacy Rankings: If you can't take the heat, who cares?

Monday July 17, 2006 | 10:01:33 403 words, 4114 views

The dedicated staff at the GSR’s were all 16 once. Young, impressionable, bulletproof and complete emotional wrecks 92 percent of the time. Luckily for us, we didn’t have to do much on a national stage at that time. That would have just been catostrophic.

But perhaps we’re just weak. Or unlucky that we were raised by parents instead of business managers.

Golfer Supremacy Rankings

1. B.J. Wie

Comments: So, you say your 16-year-old daughter has a unique and marketable talent? Why not pimp it for all it’s worth? There’s money to be made, and heck, she’s tall, so therefore she must be emotionally mature enough to handle whatever situation you stick her in, or she sticks herself in. Get shelled trying to make a PGA Tour cut? No sweat, the check from Nike is in the mail anyway.

Was the pain Michelle felt in her stomach last week at the John Deere Classic from the heat, or perhaps a reaction from her pop wringing every cent out of her? Or from the burden of ambition unchecked?

We’ll say it was the heat, but perhaps - just perhaps - this frantic rush for greatness could come back to bite B.J. in the ass later.

But, hey, his daughter is unique. Maybe the things that happen to her as a young teen won’t affect her for her entire life, as they seem to for every other female in the history of civilization.

2. Bobby Wadkins

Comments: Wadkins overcame a four-shot deficit and played through blistering heat to win the Seniors Players Championship and prove once and for all that 54-year-old men are much tougher that 16-year-old girls, despite being much less fun to watch.

3. South Korean Golfer

Comments: Yet another fantastic performance by South Korean Golfer as she won the Jamie Farr Classic. South Korean Golfer has now won nine of 18 LPGA events this year and continues to outshine the “young guns” of the LPGA Tour.

“I won and I got a trophy. So I’m very happy,” said South Korean Golfer.

4. Australian Golfer

Comments: Australian Golfer continues to dominate the PGA Tour, as he won the John Deere Classic.

“Koala Bear, kangaroo, shrimp on the barbie, Elle McPherson, Socceroos, Crocodile Dundee!” said Australian Golfer following his one-shot victory.

Random Factoid: From John Stahlschmidt, Teaching Professional, ESPN Golf Schools, on how to play golf in hot weather.

“Make sure you are taking in more fluid than you are losing.”

–WKW

13 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Spencer Hux [Visitor] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/spencer.hux

I'm surprised Australian golfer didn't end his rant with "Fosters, Outback Steakhouse!" After all, these are clearly more Australian than any of the things he did mention.

Permalink 2006-07-17 @ 10:34

Comment from: Stacy [Visitor] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/golf-for-beginners

Wow! Half of the LPGA events this season have, so far, been taken by South Koreans. I wonder if they all have parents as pushy as BJ Wie?

Permalink 2006-07-17 @ 11:04

Comment from: Shanks [Member] · http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks

Random factoid #2: You can DIE from drinking too much water.

Permalink 2006-07-17 @ 12:00

Comment from: Jenny [Visitor]

And you guys will forbid, absolutely forbid, your talented 16 year old daughter, if you are fortunate enough to have one, to turn pro and earn $10 million plus a year?

Yeah right!

Don't be such a hypocrite Wolfrum

Permalink 2006-07-17 @ 16:01

Comment from: Ford [Visitor]

Jenny it's hard to answer that question. You're right none of us know until we are there, but one thing is painfully obvious, even to you and her legions of fans---It IS all about the money. Her entire career, short as it is at this point has been more about marketing strategy, creating a niche and packaaging Michelle as an attraction rather then winning. Sure, they would have taken a couple of wins, but they would rather have the endorsements. The families financial goals have been met, but Michelle's golfing goals seems more in doubt everyday. It's been a rough few weeks for Michelle, first she loses in match play to a girl not much older then her who has the same game as she does, distance and all. This is the worst nightmare for the Wie's, as Michelle and her transcedent game/power was supposed to be unmatched in the women's game. Then she is forced to retire from the John Deere creating a scene that was just plain embarrasing for all involved. Michelle was shown to be out of her league and the prospects of making a cut seem no better then when she was 14. I think, however the past few weeks have been the hardest for her fans, who have begun to unravel at the seams, interest in her forays into the men's game seems to be waning, predictions of total LPGA domination are lessening and overall support seems to be declining.

Permalink 2006-07-17 @ 17:13

Comment from: Paul W [Visitor]

Ford, do you have some evidence that Wie's "fans have begun to unravel at the seams" or is it just wishful thinking on your part? I see no signs of it. Wie is having an incredible year. It's only the Wie detrators who seem to think it's so important that she win right away. As a fan, I am very happy with how well she has done this year. My prediction for the year was that she would make a men's cut overseas and improve her record in women's events. That was a tall order and she has already surpassed my expectations.

As far as interest waning in her foray's against men, how do you explain that she supposedly increased charity revenues at John Deere by one million dollars?

Permalink 2006-07-18 @ 09:32

Comment from: Ford [Visitor]

Paul--Once again you have proved my point for me. Money is always mentioned as proof that Michelle is somehow relevant. There will always be people willing to watch a train wreck or attend the sideshow. The John Deere was an unmitigated disaster, I don't care how much money was raised. From a purely golfing standpoint Michelle's recent attempt to qualify was a joke and her physical issues raise some serious questions as to her well-being. Surely you would acknowledge that sentiment for Michelle's quest seems to be shifting to a more skeptical approach. There was nothing positive about last week, yet dozens of her fans still struggle to find superlatives to describe her play, despite her endless talent she still finds ways to lose on the LPGA tour, a tour which according to many she should already be dominating, she has shown an alarming trend to fold when the pressure is on and still looks completely lost during crunch time yet her fans continue to make excuses. Just the other day one of her most ardent supporters threatened to rip my head off and piss down my neck, because I mocked his use of weather service data too prove how oppresive the conditions she had to play in were. I call this type of blind optimism and blind worhship unraveling and disturbing behavior. You're goals for Michelle seem more modest and more realistic, especially since you never mention her actually winning anything, you should help the other Wie fans work on their goal setting and also their interpersonal skills.

Permalink 2006-07-18 @ 12:40

Comment from: Paul W [Visitor]

Ford, I only menioned charitable revenues as proof that Wie's participation in the John Deere was still attracting interest. Do you have something against charitable revenue?

Nowhere in your rambling response do I see any attempt to answer my question.

Permalink 2006-07-18 @ 13:16

Comment from: Mike s [Visitor]

If you took a random sample of spectators at Thurs and Fri's John Deere Classic and boiled it down to 10, it would shape up like this

3 there just to see Ms Wie play
3 that would be there anyway, but were glad that Ms Wie was playing
2 that would be there and didn't care that Ms Wie was playing
1 that didn't like the fact that Ms Wie was taking a spot away from a journeyman golfer/has been
1 that didn't like the fact that Ms Wie was playing or any women was playing.

I for myself would not have watched near as much if Ms Wie had not been there.
Sunday I watched the LPGA

Permalink 2006-07-20 @ 11:12

Comment from: Ford [Visitor]

Mike, I think you're "random sampling" of fans is sadly probably not that far off. I wonder, however what those fans were saying on Friday.

3 what a shame she was about to make her charge with a 26 on the back nine
7 will someone please put an end to this sideshow, she's a fine golfer who is simply physically and mentally overmatched

I would hope that all 10 would say that they hoped she would feel better and that perhaps Michelle and her camp would reconsider her schedule and the current career path that she is on.

Permalink 2006-07-20 @ 13:03

Comment from: fc [Visitor]

I heard on a news few years ago where a father let his child pilot a small plane across America so he may break a world record of being a youngest person to fly across America. Unfortunately the plane crashed and so was the child and their dream.

BJ Wie reminds me of that irresponsible father. Hopefully the Michelle outcome would be different.

Watching her collapse like that made me sick of her parents. Simply disgusting.

Permalink 2006-07-20 @ 14:58

Comment from: Jenney M. [Visitor]

Hey Stacy, you should see the North Korean golf dads. :-P

BTW Stacy, B.J. Wie is an American. And if you were referring to his ethnic heritage, it's not South Korean, it's just Korean.

Permalink 2006-07-28 @ 03:30

Comment from: Hal [Visitor]

Wow, forget the Korean thing. She's embarrassing all of Hawaii. Her father is desparately pimping her since she's going downhill. So yeah, they'll laugh all the way to the bank ala Jennifer Capriati. I just can't take anymore interviews of: "my putting is getting better and better". The question is how Nike is saving face. Oh yeah by bringing one of their own to be her agent. Spin City. That's a fictional sitcom btw. Yeah we're jealous that this unworthy marketing phenom is making more money than we will ever make in our lifetime. But at least we can let her know that she's a charlatan. If she's human, she might have a conscience. I doubt it though as they made a big deal out of her having a "place" at Bighorn which didn't help her game. What next, buy up real estate at Augusta? You're not a man! How about respecting the game of golf and start winning consistently on the women's side and stop making excuses like: "I didn't bring my 'A' game"; "It's not may day", "I got out of the wrong side of the bed" or even better "I'm getting better and better".

Honolulu, Hawaii

Permalink 2006-10-24 @ 00:17

William K. Wolfrum

a WorldGolf.com Blog

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.