Michelle Wie's Letter

Actually, that letter would likely get Michelle an "B" in most high school English classes. (Heaven knows, I have known a lot of college seniors who could not write as well.)

I think a Toyota is a "better" car than a Bentley in every way that matters. And I am a bit concerned about what that letter implies about Michelle's values. It focuses on herself and her development, rather than on the central issue of how her playing affects the livelihood of other people. But, that is typical of a 15 year old--typical of most people, in fact. Not every golfer can be an Arnold Palmer or a Nick Price. And the Golden Age of Golf in which the sport's greatest players had taught themselves using old clubs, and had worked as caddies before they were even teen-agers, is long gone. The school of hard-knocks and the self-taught swing is no more. The greatest golfers according to Ole Tom were Lee Trevino, Calvin Peete, Ben Hogan, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Moe Norman, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead. The cosseted whiz-kids like Eldrick Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Michelle Wie (however good she may become) don't even make my list. (Sorry, Jack. You are a good man and a fine golfer, but you didn't lead the hard life that the great golfers did.)

I completely agree.^^^

I think she has a valid point. If it's offered to you - take it. If playing Junior event cost her the same as LPGA - play LPGA, no doubt. You can learn more from losing than from winning... if your mindset is right. Everybody has to agree, that if you play with 3 better player in a foursome you're most likely to elevate your game a bit.
If you recall the thread about Wie in PGA events - I was against her getting an exemption. If she qualifies or is a valid competitor (finish 4th in a major qualifies IMHO) - I don't see a problem.
Of course - when she plays LPGA I guess to watch her. Just for that it's worth it

If I were offered a spot in a tournament, deserved or not, I'd take it in a flash and worry about the politics later. All the people I consider Great Ones would do the same.

I agree with Rafcin. You have to move forward and advance in every way possible. If I had the opportunity to play PGA or play AJGA when I was that age, I would choose PGA. If you choose the "safe" route and play AJGA, you will live the rest of your life thinking "what if?" Don't live in regret and years later wonder what would have happened if you chose Path A over Path B. You will never know the answer unless you go for it.

Generally I think that paying dues has the potential to make one better in a chosen field. Occasionally, an individual who has leapfrogged that growing process will become a star player in their field, but generally it is those who have honed their craft on the grindstone of experience that become more solid performers. It's like building a house on an inadequate foundation. It may look great initially but become shaky under stress. Only time will tell if Michelle will become a star with staying power or just a cute momentary diversion who never fulfills her full potential.

I am not a fan of "American Idol", but my wife and daughters are fascinated by it so I wind up being expose to it on a regular basis. Without exception, I consider even the best of the performers mediocre. They may have strong voices, but their inability to sing in tune consistently is inexcusable. They have not done the work required to refine their instruments yet they are foisted on the audience with the implication that they are among the best talents in the country. I would say that even the best performances I have heard were not up to the level of a hundred unknown local artists in this area who are pounding out underpaid gigs trying to make it in the business. You can listen to them all night and never hear a note off key.

On the one hand, Michelle's reasoning has merit - the expenses of travelling to an amateur or small pro tournament are the same as travelling to a LPGA event with no prospect for much, if any, payback. And playing with superior players certainly can help improve one's game. But paying those early dues and building the confidence of being the best at one level can build the mental durability required when one moves up to the next level and has to struggle to compete at that level and it does not come right away.

just to clarify - since she wants to keep her amateur status she's not making ANY money playing in ANY tournament....

Clarification noted.

I began playing golf from the red tees. As time progressed I realized that the only way I was going to hit farther and get any better was to challenge myself against better competitors. I then moved back to the senior tees and now find myself at the men's tees where the players can hit longer and are, for the most part, males.

Michelle Wie should play in the most competitive events she can find. There is no need to play in junior events...she already can hit a drive about 300 yards and plays with the like of Els and Woods. She is now a new class of female competitor...the young gun who is athletic and has no fear.

What does it prove if Wie gets defeated in an amateur event? She surely won't be taken seriously if she continues at an amateur level and loses.

Stacy,
I agree that one grows by challenging oneself. Think of me as playing devil's advocate on this subject. Let me stress right off the bat that my concerns have absolutely nothing to do with sex. I feel the same way about young men in the same situation. Michelle may become a great pro, or she may not. Only time will tell. There are thousands of young men, and women, who can and do drive the ball 300+ yards down the middle and shoot subpar golf on a regular basis. Hundreds of them attempt to go pro but relatively few become really successful.

At the pro level there is more to the game than 300 yard drives and occasional subpar rounds. Just about any successful pro will tell you that at their level the game becomes 80-90% mental. That grind of playing and being successful on the amateur circuit and the lesser tours gives a young person the opportunity to develop the confidence and right mental toughness to make it in the big leagues. Consider this: does anyone here know of ANY 15-18 year old that DOES know fear? Almost without exception, they are sure that they know everything and have an inflated, often, unjustified confidence in their abilities. How many get a driver's license and within a month are sure they are better drivers than any adult? My concern about situations like Michelle's is that young people who don't attain pretty quick success in that environment can lose confidence and suffer subtle mental effects that may take years to overcome. If she starts having some success, great, but if she doesn't we won't know if it is because she really wasn't quite as good as everyone thought or if she is just not mentally ready due to her lack of experience.

We will just have to see how things develop.
Regards,
Raymond

If she can qualify, I'm all for her playing.

Oh and by the way, here are the LPGA stats for driving.

1 Annika Sorenstam 273.7
2 Brittany Lincicome 269.2
3 Sophie Gustafson 269.0
4 Isabelle Beisiegel 265.0
5 Maria Hjorth 263.4
6 Reilley Rankin 263.3
7 Jean Bartholomew 263.1
8 Catherine Cartwright 262.6
9 Heather Bowie 262.4
10 Pat Hurst 261.8

So with the extra 30 yards off the tees, she should hit flip wedges into every par four. Why is she not dominating the LPGA? I'm tired of hearing that 300 yard stuff. I hit one 300 once too.

What a showing last weekend. I think she managed to shut up all the critics. She dominated the LPGA in this major event. Oh yeah, didn't beat Anika, but Anika doesn't belong to the same category as every other LPGA player imho.
Way to go Michelle !

Mentally, she seems a prety tough cookie. And the challenge will only serve to strengthen that. I have one problem with many of the men who veiw this as a job and not sport. To hell with guys who are trying to make a living out of playing golf. This is the reason why they keep bringing in sub-par score. We want to see competition. She seems up for it. So kudos to her for accepting the challenge. There is just too much money in sport and it is only bringing down standards.

How many times do you see an amateur placing second against the highest level of pro competition in any sport? And to be 15 years old, and to make it all look so easy? I feel embarrassed for the LPGA and the golfers I have watched and rooted for over the years. "Their course is rapidly fading" as Bob Dillon sang. As is mine; time to cross to the Grey Havens, if they'll have us.

That is the average on all non-par threes even when they are driving with 3 and 5 woods.. Check out the PGA stats,, Tiger averages 306, but we all know he hits 340 regularly, he has had 12 drives on tour this year over 360 and his longest drive this season is 408... I have no doubt several of the women hit over 300 when every they want if the course is open enough to take the chance.

I really think it is all down to mentality. Many see the hazards, trees, water and traps. Very few see their shot where they really would like to see it. It makes a big difference.