"Wie" Are Hoping to Qualify
Hello. Hope everyone had a happy Mother's Day. We went to Sick Kids hospital Friday. Everything went fine. In fact, we got to cut out some of their medication. That's the best present any of us can hope for.
Michelle Wie is in the headlines today, because she's trying to qualify for the Men's US Open. She plays 18 holes today in her native Hawaii. If she's one of the 3 lowest (she was 2nd alternate, which I'm guessing is about 5th, last year), she would move onto sectional qualifying.
And according to thegolfchannel.com, Wie has accepted an invitation to play in the European Masters in September, a European Tour men's event.
I'm a big Michelle Wie fan. When I was her age, I shot under par scores twice at my home course, obviously easier than TV courses. No external pressure. No expectations. To do what she's already done at such a young age in a huge media fishbowl is incredible.
Still, some are saying she's behind schedule. Where's the first LPGA win? Where were the other junior and amateur titles to go with her US Women's Public Links Championship at age 13? Why hasn't she made a cut at a PGA Tour event?
In fact, Mercer Baggs of thegolfchannel.com writes Wie SHOULD make the US Open via the qualifying route this year. Against top male amateurs and male pros, some of who are on the PGA Tour, but are not exempt.
Have we lost touch with reality here?
I'm really hoping Michelle Wie makes it. But if she was Mike Wie, would anyone give her a chance? Would anyone know "he" was in the field? Or care?
If Mr. Baggs had written that column 5 years ago about anyone junior age, male or female, with any degree of professional or amateur experience, he would've been laughed at. He never would've written it.
To suggest anyone is a lock to make it through any type of qualifying process is absurd. Anything can happen in a round of golf. Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen have had big final round collapses lately. If either of them were in a one day qualifier, I would expect them to get through, but it wouldn't shock me if they didn't. Look at how many current and former PGA Tour players wilt under Q-school pressure each year.
Don't get me wrong. I think Michelle Wie has an excellent chance to advance. I hope she does. But if she doesn't, will she deserve the criticism she'd receive from many circles? Will anyone else who made it through to the quarter finals of last year's US Men's Public Links Championship (as Wie did) get similar abuse?
I don't mind the path Wie has taken to this point. She's arguably the hottest, most talked about golfer right now, and certainly today. But let's give her a chance, and temper our criticisms. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day.
Still, wouldn't it be exciting? Just thinking about it is enough for me. If it happens it will be gravy.
Regards,
Steve
Michelle Wie is in the headlines today, because she's trying to qualify for the Men's US Open. She plays 18 holes today in her native Hawaii. If she's one of the 3 lowest (she was 2nd alternate, which I'm guessing is about 5th, last year), she would move onto sectional qualifying.
And according to thegolfchannel.com, Wie has accepted an invitation to play in the European Masters in September, a European Tour men's event.
I'm a big Michelle Wie fan. When I was her age, I shot under par scores twice at my home course, obviously easier than TV courses. No external pressure. No expectations. To do what she's already done at such a young age in a huge media fishbowl is incredible.
Still, some are saying she's behind schedule. Where's the first LPGA win? Where were the other junior and amateur titles to go with her US Women's Public Links Championship at age 13? Why hasn't she made a cut at a PGA Tour event?
In fact, Mercer Baggs of thegolfchannel.com writes Wie SHOULD make the US Open via the qualifying route this year. Against top male amateurs and male pros, some of who are on the PGA Tour, but are not exempt.
Have we lost touch with reality here?
I'm really hoping Michelle Wie makes it. But if she was Mike Wie, would anyone give her a chance? Would anyone know "he" was in the field? Or care?
If Mr. Baggs had written that column 5 years ago about anyone junior age, male or female, with any degree of professional or amateur experience, he would've been laughed at. He never would've written it.
To suggest anyone is a lock to make it through any type of qualifying process is absurd. Anything can happen in a round of golf. Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen have had big final round collapses lately. If either of them were in a one day qualifier, I would expect them to get through, but it wouldn't shock me if they didn't. Look at how many current and former PGA Tour players wilt under Q-school pressure each year.
Don't get me wrong. I think Michelle Wie has an excellent chance to advance. I hope she does. But if she doesn't, will she deserve the criticism she'd receive from many circles? Will anyone else who made it through to the quarter finals of last year's US Men's Public Links Championship (as Wie did) get similar abuse?
I don't mind the path Wie has taken to this point. She's arguably the hottest, most talked about golfer right now, and certainly today. But let's give her a chance, and temper our criticisms. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day.
Still, wouldn't it be exciting? Just thinking about it is enough for me. If it happens it will be gravy.
Regards,
Steve
posted by Irrelevant at 1:51 PM
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