Nov
03
When it comes to cash, Michelle Wie is the bomb
If you rank golfers based on their cash-making skills, Michelle Wie is every bit the champion her supporters claim. Of course, Tim Finchem is doing pretty well himself.
A new Golf Digest article takes a look at what people in golf are making, and it’s a fairly eye-opening experience.
With endorsement deals making up the majority of her earnings, Wie was a big winner when it came to cash. Likely, however, that money-making ability has cost her fans among the purists of the game, especially following a miserable end to her 2006 campaign, where she often looked outclassed on the course.
So while the now-17 year old may not have released nuclear secrets to the world over the Internet or anything, one thing is certain - if Wie’s mercurial rise is to continue, and if Jennifer Mario is to sell any books, some wins best be forthcoming in 2007.
One of the other impressive numbers coming out of the story is Finchem’s salary, which comes in at more than $4 million a year. Compare that to LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Biven’s take of $525,000, and one thing about modern society becomes painfully clear - Bivens is overpaid by say, half a million or so.
Other interesting earners: Joe Louis Barrow Jr., the executive director of The First Tee makes more than $400,000; George Fellows, CEO of Calloway Golf makes less than a million, meaning he obviously missed the memo that says CEO’s are required to outright monetarily rape the companies they lead; and David Leadbetter is getting $50,000 a day to carve Wie’s swing into something that will consistently produce 75s.
Also, Mark Soltau has an interesting sidebar on what caddies are making and how. So check the story out, you’ll never listen to Jim Nantz ($4 million+) the same.
–WKW
| « Golfer Supremacy Rankings making like Tiger Woods and taking the show on the road for big bucks, while we're allowed | Tim Finchem shows his pain while Tiger Woods tries to maintain some Privacy » |
30 comments
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
WKW, Much has been written lately about Michelle Wie's success as a salesman for Nike and Omega, but I have yet to see her picture in an advertisement for either product. Where are her endorsements being published? It has been said that she is immensely popular in Korea and the rest of Asia and the Orient. It seems sort of strange since Korea especially has a slew of home-grown female golfers of their own, several of whom have won LPGA events more than once. One would think that there would be considerable resentment among the Korean ladies for an interloper like Bubbles and her entourage.
11/03/06 @ 08:02
Comment from: Ghet Rheel [Visitor] 
The operative word in PGA and LPGA is "professional". So, as always in such matters, money talks and bullsh*t walks.
11/03/06 @ 08:35
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
Ghet Rheel said:
"So, as always in such matters, money talks and bullsh*t walks."
So, Ghet, I expect then that you'll be walking away soon.
"So, as always in such matters, money talks and bullsh*t walks."
So, Ghet, I expect then that you'll be walking away soon.
11/03/06 @ 15:11
Comment from: Ghet Rheel [Visitor]
Eight and a half hours and the lame quote above is the best line you could come up with? Weak.
11/03/06 @ 16:15
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Judge Smails, This thread doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Ghet Rheel seems to have lost his fire. So I went to the link above titled "looked outclassed" which is about two months old and concerns Bubbles' outstanding performance at the Omega. Some of Ghet's posts there are priceless. Way beyond anything he has come up with lately. Maybe when Bubbles gets back in action (or is it inaction) at the Casio, Ghet will again become inspired.
11/03/06 @ 18:02
"One of the other impressive numbers coming out of the story is Finchem's salary, which comes in at more than $4 million a year. Compare that to LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Biven's take of $525,000, and one thing about modern society becomes painfully clear - Bivens is overpaid by say, half a million or so."
This is crap...Bivens is shaking the trees by the roots, just as Finchem did when he replaced Beman. She has the better product (more personality, more attractive to the opposite gender, improving skills), so she should move dangerously toward prosperity. It is Finchem who is overpaid, lobo.
This is crap...Bivens is shaking the trees by the roots, just as Finchem did when he replaced Beman. She has the better product (more personality, more attractive to the opposite gender, improving skills), so she should move dangerously toward prosperity. It is Finchem who is overpaid, lobo.
11/04/06 @ 10:59
Comment from: One-Putt [Visitor]
"Comment from: Ron Mon [Member]
This is crap."
Ron I think their bosses (the players) might disagree with you based on 2006 season results.
On the PGA Tour in 2005 seventy seven players earned a million dollars or more, so far this season ninety three players have surpassed the one million dollar mark. This is a seventeen percent plus increase in one year and the season is not over.
Ron the LPGA Tour for 2005 shows six players who earned a million dollars or more in official money. This season the LPGA so far has nine players earning more than a million dollars, an increase of 33 plus percent.
Ron it is rapidly getting to the point that in order to hold a PGA exempt card a player will have to earn over $1,000,000 in the previous season.
Players on both tours must feel their Chief Executives are worth every penny they earn. They showed them the money.
This is crap."
Ron I think their bosses (the players) might disagree with you based on 2006 season results.
On the PGA Tour in 2005 seventy seven players earned a million dollars or more, so far this season ninety three players have surpassed the one million dollar mark. This is a seventeen percent plus increase in one year and the season is not over.
Ron the LPGA Tour for 2005 shows six players who earned a million dollars or more in official money. This season the LPGA so far has nine players earning more than a million dollars, an increase of 33 plus percent.
Ron it is rapidly getting to the point that in order to hold a PGA exempt card a player will have to earn over $1,000,000 in the previous season.
Players on both tours must feel their Chief Executives are worth every penny they earn. They showed them the money.
11/04/06 @ 13:17
Comment from: Stanley [Visitor]
For someone who reads these boards every once and a while, it is sad that the same posters comment again and again, even when Wie isn't playing much.
Did anyone else notice that Alex is already counting down the time to Michelle's next appearance at the Casio.
It is one thing for a fan to be so obsessed, for an anti-Wie person to live their lives in such a meaningless way is sad, and deserves much pity from normal people.
By the way, sorry to single out Alex in that, there are also other cronies just like him. Get a life guys, get a hobby and preferably one that doesn't involved making fun of a kid and enjoying any mistakes she might make.
Did anyone else notice that Alex is already counting down the time to Michelle's next appearance at the Casio.
It is one thing for a fan to be so obsessed, for an anti-Wie person to live their lives in such a meaningless way is sad, and deserves much pity from normal people.
By the way, sorry to single out Alex in that, there are also other cronies just like him. Get a life guys, get a hobby and preferably one that doesn't involved making fun of a kid and enjoying any mistakes she might make.
11/05/06 @ 16:24
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
Alex,
I think that poor Ghet may just be spend psychologically and emotionally. He needs to take the winter off so he can recharge his batteries.
I think that poor Ghet may just be spend psychologically and emotionally. He needs to take the winter off so he can recharge his batteries.
11/05/06 @ 23:38
Comment from: Boola Boss [Visitor]
Her 2006 season has NOT ended yet, Bill! So you cant say her 2006 season had a miserable end......She will be playing against Colin Montgomery and Japanese men in the Casio tournament on Thanksgiving weekend......last year she missed the cut there by only one shot........
11/06/06 @ 02:24
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Stanley, I do indeed have a hobby. It is a most satisfying hobby. It involves rattling the cages of guys like you and Ghet Rheel, fawning sycophants for spoiled brats like Bubbles. To a brown noser like you, Bubbles is a kid who might make mistakes. In fact, she is a PROFESSIONAL, and has been one for a long time. The fact that she does act or play like a pro doesn't make her any less of one.
11/06/06 @ 13:51
Comment from: Ghet Rheel [Visitor]
Stanley - Astute obsevation:
"It is one thing for a fan to be so obsessed, for an anti-Wie person to live their lives in such a meaningless way is sad, and deserves much pity from normal people.
...Get a life guys, get a hobby and preferably one that doesn't involved making fun of a kid and enjoying any mistakes she might make."
"It is one thing for a fan to be so obsessed, for an anti-Wie person to live their lives in such a meaningless way is sad, and deserves much pity from normal people.
...Get a life guys, get a hobby and preferably one that doesn't involved making fun of a kid and enjoying any mistakes she might make."
11/06/06 @ 18:27
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Judge Smails, Some more irony from Ghet SurRheel. He has the gonads to chide people for being OBSESSED WITH BUBBLES! This from a character who knows absolutely everything about the earringed one and her family. I agree, though, that Ghet is about out of gas. He doesn't talk anymore about pending lawsuits against Wie critics, or his favorite, "Astroturf."
11/07/06 @ 07:42
Comment from: Ghet Rheel [Visitor]
Three top-fives in four LPGA Majors at the age of 16! The grinches want to spin THAT into a failure - (lotsa luck). MW will have her full-on "A" game at about age 24 (24 is the average age that golfing legends start winning big). The grinches have lost all credibility. They've become an isolated chorus of whining bitches (weak contemptible men).
11/07/06 @ 16:24
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Ghet SurRheel, Same old same old. You're in a slump. Admit it. One-Putt has also hit the skids. One prognostication of yours that does have some promise as entertainment is that Bubbles will set the golfing world on fire at age TWENTY-FOUR! You must have consulted your dreambook for that one. According to previous predictions by Wie Warriors, in seven years Bubbles will be burning the midnight oil studying for her PhD in economics in order to be able to self-manage her vast financial empire.
11/08/06 @ 08:14
Comment from: Livestrong [Visitor]
Wake me up in seven years when Michelle actually accomplishes something...From a girl who was primed to takeover the LPGA tour at age 13 and beat the men soon after to an also ran who will not fully blossom until age 24--My how the mighty have fallen.
11/08/06 @ 12:43
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
It is mildly amusing, the way these Wiemen revise forecasts more than weathermen. Okay, so now they have given themselves a seven year window in which to wax passionate about Bubbles' great potential and prospects. And now I suppose we'll be hearing: she's only seventeen, she's only eighteen, she's only nineteen . . . she's only twenty-three!
The only thing I want to know is if we'll all still be alive when Bubbles finally comes into her own.
The only thing I want to know is if we'll all still be alive when Bubbles finally comes into her own.
11/08/06 @ 13:42
Comment from: Ghet Rheel [Visitor]
Are the grinches actually confused by a few overzealous golf writers hype? Maybe. How sad.
The average age that golf legends like Palmer, Snead, Nicklaus, Sorenstam, Hogan, Inkster, Woods, Nelson, etc. began dominating is 24. Do the grinches think Wie is superior to this group? Why else would they expect MW to dominate sooner than age 24?
If age 24 is soon enough for the above golf-greats to bring their "A" game, then it is soon enough for Wie.
Grinches want to pass final judgment on MW's career at age 17 - How silly.
The average age that golf legends like Palmer, Snead, Nicklaus, Sorenstam, Hogan, Inkster, Woods, Nelson, etc. began dominating is 24. Do the grinches think Wie is superior to this group? Why else would they expect MW to dominate sooner than age 24?
If age 24 is soon enough for the above golf-greats to bring their "A" game, then it is soon enough for Wie.
Grinches want to pass final judgment on MW's career at age 17 - How silly.
11/08/06 @ 19:09
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Bubbles has been assigned a magic number by Ghet SurRheel. That number ,dear readers, is TWENTY-FOUR, also can be written "24". A few months back, Ol' Ghet had set the number at 22, but after consulting his crystal ball and his tarot cards, TWENTY-FOUR is now the age where Bubbles will boom out. Ghet, you slay me. Keep 'em coming, this is hilarious!
11/08/06 @ 19:27
Comment from: Ghet Rheel [Visitor]
Man, you grinches are easy. 22 is the average age the above golf-legends won their first pro event. 24 is the average age the same group began dominating on tour (Player of the Year Award or equivalent). Do you guys know ANYTHING about the history of the game of golf? Obviously not.
11/08/06 @ 22:51
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
Alex,
I think we need to bear in mind that Ghet is a liberal, so vacillation is the order of the day. Hey, I'm sure he favored John Kerry, who voted for the war before he voted against it.
I think we need to bear in mind that Ghet is a liberal, so vacillation is the order of the day. Hey, I'm sure he favored John Kerry, who voted for the war before he voted against it.
11/09/06 @ 04:57
Comment from: Ghet Rheel [Visitor]
Again, you grinches are easy. 22 is the average age the above golf-legends won their first pro event. 24 is the average age the same group began dominating on tour (Player of the Year Award or equivalent). Do you guys know ANYTHING about the history of the game of golf? Obviously not.
11/10/06 @ 01:03
Comment from: Stanley [Visitor]
Alex you said "To a brown noser like you, Bubbles is a kid who might make mistakes. In fact, she is a PROFESSIONAL, and has been one for a long time. The fact that she does act or play like a pro doesn't make her any less of one."
That is really funny Alex. You say she has been a pro a long time. Then again a year is probably indeed appears to be a long time for someone like yourself who is obviously a teenager. When you get more mature and a little older, you will realise that a year is not actually really that long after all.
As regards, not playing like a professional, where are you getting that from? She earned over 700,000 in 8 lpga events, that is a fairly good definition of playing like a poro.
In acting like a pro, she has certainly acted like a pro. She has acted very dignified and didn't throw any temper tantrums even when in last position. How many of the guys have thrown clubs around when not playing well?
And she made a penalty, but it was nowhere near as big a mistake as Annika made when she was penalised for messing with a divot, that should have been obvious that she couldn't do that to such a great professional.
That is really funny Alex. You say she has been a pro a long time. Then again a year is probably indeed appears to be a long time for someone like yourself who is obviously a teenager. When you get more mature and a little older, you will realise that a year is not actually really that long after all.
As regards, not playing like a professional, where are you getting that from? She earned over 700,000 in 8 lpga events, that is a fairly good definition of playing like a poro.
In acting like a pro, she has certainly acted like a pro. She has acted very dignified and didn't throw any temper tantrums even when in last position. How many of the guys have thrown clubs around when not playing well?
And she made a penalty, but it was nowhere near as big a mistake as Annika made when she was penalised for messing with a divot, that should have been obvious that she couldn't do that to such a great professional.
11/10/06 @ 11:21
Comment from: Stanley [Visitor]
By the way poro should be pro, just a little typo, there tend to be grammer police on those golf boards.
By the way, how many of the anti-wie people are ticking off there calanders waiting for the Casio tournament?
By the way, how many of the anti-wie people are ticking off there calanders waiting for the Casio tournament?
11/10/06 @ 11:24
Comment from: Ghet Rheel [Visitor]
Stanley
We're somehow expected to forget the fact that MW earned $700,000 in eight LPGA events, had 3 top-five's in Majors, and did these things while 16 years of age. They're delusional at best.
We're somehow expected to forget the fact that MW earned $700,000 in eight LPGA events, had 3 top-five's in Majors, and did these things while 16 years of age. They're delusional at best.
11/10/06 @ 15:58
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
Stanley said:
"By the way poro should be pro, just a little typo, there tend to be grammer police on those golf boards."
Stanley,
You forgot about the spelling police. The word "grammar" doesn't contain an "e." Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.
"By the way poro should be pro, just a little typo, there tend to be grammer police on those golf boards."
Stanley,
You forgot about the spelling police. The word "grammar" doesn't contain an "e." Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.
11/11/06 @ 13:53
Comment from: Stanley [Visitor]
Ghet Rheel,
Your title of Ghet Rheel is very apt for saying to the bashers to get real on the Michelle Wie related issues.
If they want to attack her pga record that is one thing, although she has done quite well there too, but for them to attack her lpga record is delusional as you have described it.
Your title of Ghet Rheel is very apt for saying to the bashers to get real on the Michelle Wie related issues.
If they want to attack her pga record that is one thing, although she has done quite well there too, but for them to attack her lpga record is delusional as you have described it.
11/11/06 @ 18:32
Comment from: Jon [Visitor]
Lol. Alex and Judge Smells back to their old tricks again: "Will discuss anything but golf."
Experts at everything but golf.
That this is a golf blogging site is but a little nuisance to the die hard bloggers
extraordinnaire. ----Ducking----
11/11/06 @ 21:47
Comment from: Ghet Rheel [Visitor]
Jon
I think it is dawning on even the dumbest Grinches that MW (and any other young pro golfer) has until age 24 before any knowledgeable golf fan can intelligently pass judgment on their game. I guess they're left with nothing to do but proofread other people's posts. Get a life, Grinches.
I think it is dawning on even the dumbest Grinches that MW (and any other young pro golfer) has until age 24 before any knowledgeable golf fan can intelligently pass judgment on their game. I guess they're left with nothing to do but proofread other people's posts. Get a life, Grinches.
11/12/06 @ 03:46
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