Michelle Wie last scored under par at the 2006 Evian Masters.

She has played more than twenty rounds of professional golf over par since then and I'm guessing that Michelle Wie is desperately searching for that magic elixir which can transform her game into its former stature.

Wie has been practicing with coach David Leadbetter for the Evian, an exclusive event in which she was offered another exemption as well as for the Women's British Open, occuring in early August at the Old Course in St. Andrews. If she does well at the Evian Masters and does not reinjure her wrist (or her pride), we might see her at the latter event.

Wie is sitting out this week as sixty-four of the top women golfers compete at the HSBC World Match Play Championship. Michelle was offered a sponsor's exemption but declined. Perhaps it's better that she declines exemptions before each tournament as opposed to withdrawing during the event!

Perhaps "the Big Wiesy" should listen to the advice of Ernie Els, a golfer who has both watched and helped her during her career. When questioned about Wie at a British Open interview Els advised Wie to, "start playing the game for the game, not for the money, not for the hype and for the endorsements."

It sounds easier than it looks as millions of sponsor dollars dangle shamelessly in front of her.

Gary Gilchrist, a former coach of Michelle's claimed, "The swing has gone." Leadbetter hotly retorted, "Gary used to work for me and I'm sure there's a little bit of jealousy there. It worked pretty well last year. Everybody's got their own opinion".

Gilchrist's comments remind me of an old Pink Floyd song, "Comfortably Numb":

The child is grown
The dream is gone
And I have become
Comfortably numb

I don't think Michelle's problems have anything to do with her swing. Every time I see her in action, her golf swing is free-flowing and beautiful to watch. Her problem is in her confidence.

Throwing in the towel is not the answer nor will it help her to become a better person throughout life.

Wie must stop making excuses for poor performance (using her wrist as a crutch) and must finish every round of golf that she starts. Regaining the knowledge that she has the ability to succeed is the first step in reestablishing herself on the top of the leaderboard.

To comment on this blog click here