I think we can all agree that the praising of Michelle Wie was premature, as most young obsessions tend to be. The golfing world was introduced to a girl, not a women, and hoped that Wie would do to the LPGA what Tiger Woods did to the PGA Tour. Wie has done just about everything Tiger did, including joining Team Swoosh and deciding on Stanford. Oh, and she can't win a big tournament, which is why Steve Politi of the Newark Star-Ledger believes Wie shares a lot of similarities with Phil Mickelson, not Mr. Woods.
Michelle Wie sure has a lot more Phil Mickelson in her game than Tiger.Politi makes some excellent points comparing Wie's inability to win a tournament to that of Mickelson and his struggles in the major championships, prior to 2004. Phil has always been the player you loved to root for, because his game always seemed a little more human. He'd miss the short putts he needed to make just as easily as he'd snap-hook a 6-iron around a tree to three feet for birdie.
That was the feeling Sunday afternoon watching her at the Sybase Classic. Wie attracted the largest gallery, just like Phil does when he comes to the area. She had the longest drives and made some of the most spectacular shots, just like Phil does any time he tees it up.
She also had a couple of unthinkable miss-hits and questionable decisions -- as you-know-who so often does -- to turn what could have been a breakthrough performance into another near miss.
Wie's game seems to be on that level. One minute she is smoking a 300-yard drive down the middle of the fairway and the next she is making the sloppiest 6 you've ever seen.
Also similar to Mickelson is the media's (raises hand) inability to let things go for Wie even when she plays well. The 19-year-old tied for third this week at the Sybase Classic, but third isn't good enough when you're strapped with the talent that Michelle has shown.
Will she one day become the dominant golfer that we have seen from Tiger over the last decade? She could. It isn't out of the question, and I think the older she gets the more comfortable she will be with handling the moment. As of now, Wie will have to carry the Mickelson tag on the LPGA.
It could be worse. Mickelson is the second best golfer in the world. Being compared to him as an insult only shows the potential people see in you. When Wie breaks through for her first win on the LPGA, I have a feeling the rain might not stop. That will be a bonus for all golf fans.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-18-2009 @ 7:37PM
bikinginor said...
This article is rediculous. Wie is only 19 and a rookie on the LPGA. Although she has played on tour in the past, she has never had membership and been an official tour player. So she has played less than half of a season and she is already viewed as unable to win or win big events? She easily made it through Q-school, which was the best move she could have made, and is currently 7th on the LPGA money list. I wouldn't call that failure and I wouldn't call this a fair article. Fanhouse reporters are idiots!!!!! Too bad AOL decided to make this the whole golf site! It sucks, the articles suck, the reporters suck!!!!!
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5-19-2009 @ 12:08PM
johnmsena said...
I think she will do better the more she plays,in time she will a great player , but not yet,cause she's still young. Just wait she'll get there then lookout.
5-18-2009 @ 8:54PM
Larry said...
Could not agree more. Article sucks, writer sucks and AOL really sucks. Last post cause I am moving to a site with some class.
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5-18-2009 @ 9:23PM
whaaa said...
One more thing the writer neglected to mention is that Wie is currently a full time student at Stanford.
Let's stop comparing every new player that comes along to Tiger and/or Phil..they are two greats in the game..highly likely anyone can repeat the feats these guys have accomplished.
Take a look at that back swing though in that pic..just text book!
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5-19-2009 @ 1:03AM
isaaccornelius32 said...
MS.WEE GOD I AND AM VERY PROUD OF YOU.DONT LET 50% OF BAD GOLFERS BRING YOU DOWN, WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO LOOSE WITH RESPECT. FOR THE GREAT UNITED STATES OF THE AMERICAN GOLF GAME.STAY SERIOUSLY FOCUSED,KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE BABE GIRL.I AM A "CELEBRITY"AND NO THAT WITH "GOD"YOU CAN BE THE FIRST WOMEN PLAYING WITH THE MEN.MR.TIGER WOODS BROKE THREW THE GAME SO CAN YOU.MR.OBAMA SED "ITS TIME FOR CHANGE".I MR.CORNELIUS ACAPELLA AM CHOOSING SIDES,GOOD PEOPLE OF AMERICA,I AM OF THE BALLENCE.AS MY GRANDMA ALWAYS SED,PUT GOD FIRST,KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND,AND ARE WONDERFULL CONTRY OF AMERIC WILL TAKE CAIR OF YOU.AND SHE WAS RIGHT,I CAME BACK FROM ANOTHER GOOD CONTRY THAT I RESPECT VERY HIGHLY,TOKYO JAPAN, TO HELP ARE GOOD CONTRY THAT I RESPECT AND LOVE>THE UNTED STATES OF AMERICA.NOTE TO ALL GREAT AMERICAN PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA "GOD"LOVES US "ALLLLL" AND IN GOD "WE" TRUST.YOOO GOD,GRANDMAAAAAAAA,OBAMA,AND HARD TAX PAYING MAN/AND WOMAN, EVERY PERSON ALIVE IN AMERICA,WEEEEEEEEE DID ITTYPE IN WWW.AMAZON.COM TYPE IN>CORNELIUS ACAPELLA (I CHOSE TO STAY "SINGLE"FOR ALL MUSIC FANS OF AMERICA,"NO"GUNES,"NO"VIOLENCE.AND "YES"I WROTE A SONG ABOUT IT"
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5-19-2009 @ 7:01AM
demzrdopes said...
Where does aol find these dopey writers? Phil has 36 professional wins, with 3 majors. Michelle Wie has zero (0) wins, zero (0) majors. Get some perspective Bacon, Michelle Wie isn't even Billy Mayfair..
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5-19-2009 @ 9:25AM
lenfurlough said...
Wie should either be a student or play golf. Also she should stop her quest to play on the PGA.... when and if hse wins on the LPGA then maybe,maybe attempt to play with the boys
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5-19-2009 @ 9:32AM
rlrprosper said...
Phil Mickelson is a wnner. He won Amatuer championships, college, championships, 36 PGA tournaments, and 3 majors. To say Michelle Wie, who has won nothing, is the same as Phil is assanine. For Phil to be mentioned in a negative way for always putting himself in the position to win is stupid and naive.
While Tiger certainly may be the best of all time, Phil has beaten him in many tournaments they both competed in. No one else is close to Phil. They say Furyk is tough, yet he has won one third of the times Phil has.
Give Phil the credit he has earned, that as a winner. Give Michelle Wie the credit she has earned, nothing.
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5-19-2009 @ 10:26AM
bigflyer said...
It is really difficult to classify a 19 year old girl who has received $10 million from Nike as a victim.
However, the media made unfulfillable expectations of this kid as a 13 year old. The LPGA players dislike her because she made more in the Nike deal without winning anything: more than most of them have made in their playing careers.
Her parents were "Little League" types who did not hire a pro caddy or swing coach until she had made a fool of herself with unthinking pullouts from Annika's tourney, the mens tour fiasco, and several DQ's because of ignorance of the rules of golf.
Her childhood was ruined becasue she could hit a driver with 300 yard plus shots.
There will always be fan interest and the Q school qualifiying is an important first step 6 years into her career, but people should leave her alone and see what she can do.
The LPGA has lost 4 tournaments this year due to the economy, so the other ladies should realize Wie is a drawing card and helps sponsor interest in future tournaments and atttendance.
As far as comparisons to Mr I-know-I will_miss this-four-footer, leave Wie alone....that is a stupid comparison.
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