The unOfficial Michelle Wie News Blog

HONOLULU — A 79 was not the springboard she was looking for to launch her first full season as a pro. But how much of a setback has Michelle Wie suffered in her quest to play against PGA Tour players?
“You never know,” said Camilo Villegas, who was paired with Wie and Chris Couch for the first two rounds. “I’m sure she’s down about it. She’s only 16 and she’s going to keep learning. She’s got a lot of pressure on her, but she handled herself well out there.”

Wie has said one of her goals is to crossover someday and play on the PGA Tour. But at her hometown (and now sponsor) Sony Open, she’s headed backward, missing the cut by one stroke in 2004, seven shots last year and opening with a 9-over-par round Thursday. (Related item: Sony Open scores)

“Some guys don’t like it. But if she can make it out here, I’d love to see it,” Couch said. “Look at what it’s done for this tournament. If you’re going to give anyone an exemption, it might as well be her.”

Other top tournaments agree. Sunday night, Team Wie will hold a press conference where she’s expected to accept another invitation to play the Casio World Open, a Japan Tour event in which Wie missed the cut by a stroke last November. This week, the Kraft Nabisco Championship tweaked its exemption criteria so Wie, Morgan Pressel and Brittany Lang could join the field for the LPGA Tour’s first major in March.

The clamor will continue. For now, though, it’s back to the LPGA Tour for Wie, who’s expected to play eight events off six allowed exemptions plus the Weetabix Women’s British Open and U.S. Women’s Open.

Wie, 16 and a high school junior, will follow a similar path as she did as an amateur, meaning classes and a patchwork schedule that she believes affected her sharpness at the Sony Open.

“I didn’t really feel any pressure,” she said. “The hard part for me was I haven’t played in a tournament since November. And just going into this event, I know it’s kind of a big event and just not being able to kind of put myself out there in a real tournament. The last time was in November. I know all of the guys out there, it’s their first tournament. It’s kind of hard for me just to go out there and not having played.”

She will play one of two consecutive LPGA events next month in Hawaii, either the SBS Open (Feb. 16-18), where she finished second by two shots last year, or the inaugural Fields Open (Feb. 23-25).

Beyond that, she’s probably headed to the Safeway International (tied for 12th last year) in Superstition Mountain, Ariz., and the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the LPGA’s first major in Rancho Mirage, Calif., where she tied for 14th.

“She’s got all of our respect,” said Jeff Sluman, who opened with a 67. “We understand how difficult it is out here. She’s going to win a lot of tournaments in her lifetime. Everybody should just let it happen and let her progress. The answer will come five years down the road, not these seven tournaments (vs. men pros).”

Indeed, several players circled around Wie like protective older brothers.

“I don’t think it adds any more pressure on the tournament director or creates any resentment,” said Rory Sabbatini, who set the early first-round pace with a 5-under 65. “Hey, I’ve had tournaments where I’ve shot 89 in the first rounds, and I was top 80 in the world rankings. That’s just part of competitive golf and she’ll get over it.”

Source – USA Today

Anybody catch Mark Rolfing’s Golf Hawaii last night on the Golf Channel? He had Michelle Wie as a guest, and asked her “which would give you more satisfaction, making the cut in a PGA tournament, or winning on the LGPA?”

Way to put her on the spot, Mark!

Let’s see: choose to make the PGA cut and tick off the entire LGPA membership: “What, we’re not good enough now?”

Or

Opt for the LPGA win and hear the jeers: “So much for your goal of playing on the PGA Tour someday!”

But Michelle wasn’t falling for it. With her usual finesse, she replied, “I would choose both. Winning an LPGA tournament would be awesome because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. And making the cut on the PGA would be a whole different feeling, to be able to do something no one else has ever done.”

Well, actually, plenty of people make the cut, at every single PGA tournament in fact. And as far as women go, Babe Didriksen Zaharias did it, but that was 60 years ago, so maybe it doesn’t count anymore.

Mark Rolfing did get one thing right. He declared, “Michelle WILL win a tournament this year.” I’m with you, Mark. And we’ll all have fun watching when it happens.

Source – TravelGolf.com

The LPGA Tour made an exception yesterday for 17-year-old Morgan Pressel, accepting her as a member instead of making her wait until she turns 18 three months after the season begins.

The decision means that Pressel, a senior at St. Andrews School in Boca Raton, Fla., can play wherever she is eligible and have her earnings count on the money list and toward the LPGA Tour’s new playoff system that splits the year in two parts.

“This is good news,” said her grandfather, Herb Krickstein. “We’re very happy about it.”

Pressel likely won’t play more than a half-dozen times before she graduates because of demands at school, although Krickstein said she might start the season in Hawai’i at the SBS Open because “that’s not a bad place to be.”

Honolulu’s Michelle Wie, 16, finished tied for second at last year’s SBS Open at Turtle Bay. Wie is not expected to join the LPGA Tour until she turns 18.

Former commissioner Ty Votaw rejected Pressel’s petition in June that she be allowed to join the LPGA Tour, if she qualifies, before turning 18. Pressel easily earned her card at LPGA Tour qualifying school two weeks ago. She asked the LPGA to reconsider the day after that.

“Morgan is an exceptionally talented young player who will be a terrific addition to the 2006 LPGA Tour,” commissioner Carolyn Bivens said.

Pressel is the second teen to receive an exemption from the LPGA’s age limit. Votaw allowed Aree Song to join at age 17 two years ago, although she had already graduated high school.

Source – Honolulu Advertiser

Commissioner Carolyn Bivens has done her part to get the ball rolling by granting Morgan Pressel full LPGA Tour membership at the beginning of the golf year. Now 2 of the big 3 rookies (Pressel & Ai Miyazato) have secured entry into the Kraft Nabisco, the 1st Major tournament on the 2006 LPGA schedule. However, the biggest professional rookie has an entry problem. Michelle Wie does not have full LPGA Tour membership – she hasn’t even applied – and the Kraft Nabisco does not extend sponsor’s exemptions to non-LPGA member pros.

Michelle Wie has crossover appeal which the LPGA hasn’t had in over 60 years – since the days of Babe Didrickson. And that increased interest equates to more for everyone, a financial bonanza, if you will. Higher tv ratings means more ad revenue which means higher purses. More people want to see this whiz kid in person and ticket sales will go up, concessions will go up and, again, purses will increase. All of the LPGA Tour members already know that they stand a chance to ride this swelling tide. If they have any sense at all, they’re saying prayers every night for Michelle Wie’s continued good health.

Ms. Bivens is undoubtedly on the phone to the Kraft people right now, inquiring as to the status of the tournament rules update. You know, the update that will allow at least one exemption to a non-LPGA member pro. Especially that one special pro that may exponentially drive up the interest in womens golf.

Source – TravelGolf.com

She used to face-off against pros as an amateur.

Competing in eight of LPGA tour competitions, she took second place three times, including one second-place finish in the LPGA championship.

In December, she turned pro and signed a sponsorship contracts worth 10 million dollars from Sony and Nike.

With the whole world watching, she was taught a bitter lesson when she made a minor mistake and got disqualified in Samsung World Championship of LPGA tour; her debut as a pro.

Entering the glitter of the public spotlight this season, Michelle Wie was picked by Fox Sports as the fifth most influential woman in sports.

It was an eventful year for her, and Michelle wanted to remember only good things.

밠any things happened, and I뭭e learned much. But I don뭪 like to talk about sad things,� she said.

All the while, she was proud to have become the youngest player to make the final eight in the prestigious US amateur Public Links Championship in July.

밠atch play competition is way more fun than other games,� she said. For her age, she is curiously fond of competitions filled with tension.

An 11th grader in Hawaii뭩 Punahu School, Michelle goes to classes from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and practices golf from 3:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m..

She also builds her stamina by lifting weights four times a week at a health club.

Her father, Wie Byeong-uk, a professor at University of Hawaii, is hopeful. 밣utting is all experience; Michelle will only get better,� he said.

Early this month, Michelle finished a photo shoot for Nike뭩 next season calendar and met with Nike뭩 design team.

밫he designers brought a ton of clothes. I뭢 supposed to plan what I will be wearing in 2007. Changing into all those outfits was no picnic.�

In her busy schedule and routines, she finds time to entertain her addiction: Korean soap operas.

밠y favorite is 멦his cursed love�. Rain looks so cool in it. I never miss 멗 like Sunday�, another of my favorite shows.�

The teenager who뭩 into fashion and TV stars has set two goals for next year뭩 season: winning LPGA tour and making the cut in a PGA tour event.

“I really want to win in LPGA tour. All the second places I’ve won left something to be desired. I also want another shot at making the cut in a PGA tour event.”

Next year, Wie will compete in eight LPGA tour events. She will start the season fresh on January 10 in Honolulu, Hawaii, with her third appearance in the PGA’s Sony Open.

Michelle’s dad explained that her entry schedule will become certain around mid January.

“I want to visit Korea if chance permits. I’ll play as best as I can for my fans in Korea. So keep an eye out for me,” Michelle said.

Michelle Wie will re-enter the world of pro golf at the start of New Year, and her voice sounds as crisp as it can be.

Source – Donga.com