In her first tournament, since her wrist injury, Michelle Wie played in the Ginn Tribute, an LPGA tournament. With a score of 14 over par, she quit after 16 holes. She announced to an LPGA Official, "We're not going to play anymore." After shaking hands with her playing partners, she rode off the course with her caddie and her parents.
Unless she was injured or sick, I don't understand why she had to leave after 16 holes. She should have had the grace to finish playing 18 holes and not disrupt her playing partners. I'm sure many of us has felt like leaving in the middle of the round because our game is off, but we don't. Although if she was playing that poorly, it might have helped her playing partners for her to leave.
Nonetheless, the most telling is that her parents were hovering around her during the tournament. I've always questioned Michelle's decisions to play in men's tournaments and wondered who was making those decisions. She has always said it was her, and not her parents or manager. You just have to wonder.
I hope this young lady can survive whatever is going on (mentally, emotionally, and physically) and become a champion on the LPGA Tour. It would be shame to have her end up like Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan because of the pressures of her early financial success and notoriety.
Most of us think Hawaii is paradise, but for Michelle, Stanford may be a refuge from all of the pressure!
2 comments:
She's still 17 . . she needs the guidance of her parents. Also "you never know until you try," so i don't think anyone should ever knock Michelle for trying to compete with the men. Golf is one of those rare sports where men and women can really compete against each other, so instead of maintaining those gender lines, why not try and get rid of them?
Thanks for your comment, gary lee.
I agree golf is one those rare sports where men and women can compete against one another. But, golf does that by having different sets of tees to hit from depending one's ability and the handicap system.
Both of which aren't used when Michelle plays against the men. If they were used, I wouldn't be as much against her attempting to compete against the men.
I agree that she needs the guidance of her parents, but she doesn't seem to be getting it. At 17, why put her in the position of failing so tremendously, especially with all of the golf world watching?
Why not give her a chance to build her confidence and gain experience by playing on certain LPGA events? As she starts to win LPGA tournaments and learns how to win, then play against the men.
When Annika did so at the Colonial, it made more sense. Number 1 ranked women's golfer wants to see where she ranks against the men.
But, take a 17 year old who hasn't won yet on the LPGA and try to make the cut against the men? It makes money for a lot of folks, but what is it doing to her psychologically and emotionally?
We'll only know as she gets older and see her career unfold. Nonetheless, I wish her the best!
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