Now that Michelle Wie has withdrawn from the final event of the 2009 LPGA season due to a worsening ankle injury, it is a good time for evaluation. The problem most people face in doing so, however, is dealing with their own pre-conceived notions of how they think she should have performed. Wie is perhaps the poster child for unrealistic expectations. The blame can be spread around to many sources but let's not concern ourselves with all of that nonsense.

For an honest look at where Michelle Wie is - and where she is going – I would imagine that the past several years never even happened. At most you should allow that she had a solid amateur background which included a few successful forays into LPGA events. Okay, got your mind right? Good. Let’s look at the facts.

In 2009 Wie started her rookie year on the LPGA Tour as a long-hitting graduate of Q-school. In the first tournament out of the gate in February in font of home crowds, she managed to finish in second place despite a lackluster final round. Wie's next run of good play came in a 10th-15th-3rd stretch in May where another tournament got away in the final round at Sybase. The end of June saw another 10th place finish at Wegmans, immediately followed in July with another 3rd place at the Jaime Farr Owens Corning resulting from a strong 64 in the final round. Wie's best finish in a major championship was an 11th coming in the British Women’s Open in August. This was followed by an unprecedented yet deserved role as Captain’s selection to play in the Solheim Cup at age 19. And play she did, going 3-0-1 against Europe's best.

This performance was followed by a 4th place in the Safeway courtesy of a final round 66. October brought another runner-up finish at the Navistar in Alabama, then WHAM, it happened. Michelle Wie not only won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico in November, she did it playing with and against the best players in the game. Her emotional reaction to both the bunker shot and the tap-in birdie at the 72nd hole was absolutely priceless.

So what does all this mean? I believe Wie needed a year or so just to learn how to control herself enough to win. Her talent is undeniable but long bombs and pretty swings don't mean squat on Sundays. Getting the ball in the hole under pressure is where it's at. Sometimes it's the par save to keep momentum going. Sometimes it's a desperately needed birdie to get things started or put pressure on the opponent. Based on the arc of Michelle Wie's first year as an LPGA touring professional that culminated in a 14th place finish on the earnings list, I'd say she's on the right track now. It is still way too soon to expect any sort of domination but better things undoubtedly await.

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