Michelle Wie is undoubtedly the most popular female golfer in Hawaii. She has been given her third sponsor’s exemption into the Sony Open and has created an atmosphere which resembles more of a circus than a traditional golf tournament.
PGA Tour Vice President Ric Clarson isn’t complaining. “We’re in the entertainment business, it’s more than just a golf tournament, so when a player like Michelle plays in the Sony Open, it creates national and international attention.”
So what’s next Ric? Maybe we should rename the Sony Open to the “Michelle Wie Open”?
The Hawaiian phenom’s first stab at playing with the big boys came at the 2004 Sony Open when Wie was only fourteen. She missed the cut by only one stroke playing opposite some of the best PGA Tour players in the world. She wound up placing 47th out of 96 golfers.
It was only natural that she would be given another exemption into the following year’s tournament. That came to pass.
At the 2005 Sony Open Michelle posted a 74 on Friday and finished 9-over par. A triple-bogey at the sixth hole started her downslide. A bit of cockiness on her part also caused her problems because she believed that the ease of almost making the cut the year before meant that the 2005 event would be easier.
“I think I tried too hard,” Wie said. “After missing the cut by one last year, I think I took for granted that I was going to play better. Last year, everything went too easily.”
Len Mattiace, Paul Casey and Fred Funk were also cut that year. Michelle actually fared better than fourteen other PGA Tour players and tied for 128th place. Not bad for a 15-year-old teenager.
This year Wie tries again to make the cut, this time as a professional. Guys like Ernie Els are in full support of her ambitions to play on the PGA Tour and feels that she brings a new generation of viewers with her.
Sony is so excited by the prospect of her playing in their tournament that they have extended their contract of this event through 2010. Since Wie has played here through sponsor’s exemptions attendance has shot through the roof and media from around the world has been chomping at the bit to cover the event.
Sony is one of her $5 million sponsors, the other is Nike so expect to see Wie in full Nike regalia (sporting a walkman?).
But what makes Michelle Wie a media darling? Sure she’s cute and plays really good golf but there are lots of ladies on the LPGA Tour that are equally as spunky and have terrific games to boot. Let’s take a look at what makes Wie a wonder.
Did you know that Michelle Wie hit her drives 100 yards off the tee at the tender age of 4? Or that by the time Wie was 12 she could hit a drive over 300 yards? The tour players were stunned and Tom Lehman was the person who first gave her the nickname “the Big Wiesy” noting the similarity between her swing and the graceful yet powerful swing of “the Big Easy”, Ernie Els.
Wie made her first qualifying attempt in Hawaii when she was ten but shot an 84. I usually do a dance on the 18th green when I score an 84. That same year Michelle also qualified for the U.S. Women’s Publinks Championship. At fourteen Michelle made the cut in seven out of seven LPGA Tour events with two top-ten finishes to boot!
LPGA exemptions have been pouring in. Obviously it is in the LPGA’s best interests to lure the teenager to the women’s front. But Michelle doesn’t want to go that route although temptations are brewing.
LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens recently stated that she’s “fairly certain” Wie will be allowed to play in this year’s Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first major of the year. Her agent Ross Berlin stated that “I’ve been told they’re going to work to get her in” in response to the reworking of the language of a twenty-year-old contract which requires golfers at the Nabisco to be LPGA tour members.
But don’t look for Michelle to join the LPGA tour any time soon. She probably won’t join until she turns eighteen but will survive on her Sony/Nike windfall and sponsors exemptions like the Sony Open. Wie is allowed to play in six LPGA tournaments not counting the U.S. Women’s Open or the Women’s British Open but is making sure there are no conflicts with her studies.
Other than that, Michelle is just like any other teenager. According to a 60 Minutes interview taken way back when Wie was only fourteen (2 years ago!) she’s just like any normal teenager, listening to the latest music, going to the mall with her friends and complaining about her height saying that she’s “freakishly tall”.
But this is what everyone finds fascinating about Michelle Wie. She is becoming “America’s Sweetheart.”
Will Wie make the cut this week? Her fans are cheering her on all around the world and the media will certainly create a mass frenzy over her but is Michelle’s game ready to go to the next level? As Michelle stated, “fortunately I didn’t really get my game from my dad, because my dad chokes a lot”.
Don’t you choke this week Wiesy. You’re a professional now!
Photo Credit: © AP.
Great article Stacy. I don’t know that she’ll choke, but I don’t see her making the cut… again.
I’d like to see her go through both Q-Schools and silence the debate by becoming a legitimate member of both tours.
But, it is also worth noting that the PGA is as much about charity as it is competition and her contribution to the gate at any tournament she plays can’t be ignored.
I agree that her contribution to the game of golf through gate receipts is important to both charity and the future of the sport. Imagine the boost the sport gets when a young superstar can make profits and donations skyrocket.
As far as the “choke factor” is concerned, Michelle knows that she has problems under pressure and I hope she is taking steps to cure them. Once she does that, look out for the new female Tiger Woods.
Are you kidding me? Michelle Wie playing against the men is wrong. Entertainment? How about honoring the guys that worked their butts off to get on the Tour instead of giving an exemption to a 16-year old “phenom” who has yet to even win on the LPGA Tour, much less the PGA Tour.
I guess what Ric is really saying is that he’s willing to sacrifice the purity of the game in order to make a buck. Lame, lame, lame.
Frankly, if these guys that worked so hard to get into the PGA Tour can’t beat a 16-year-old girl, do they really belong where they are?
I wish Michelle Wie the best, and I really hope that she has a good career. BUT, how many times does she have to go through this before she realizes that she should take it one step at a time. First win on the LPGA tour, Second dominate on the LPGA tour, Then try to challenge the men… At least Annika went through that progression
Honestly, I think she’s still over rated, Morgan Pressel or Paula Creamer are far more talented, and Paul has proven it, but you don’t see the media drooling over her every move.
And I have to agree that the exeptions should go to local pro’s or great amature, not Wei, she hasn’t done anything to earn them, she hasn’t won a thing and las time I checked greatness is measured by wins, not attempts.
Will she make a cut at a PGA even some day?
Sure, even a blind squirrel some times finds a nut.
Could be a moot point.
SONY round 1: She’s three over in four holes.
Nice writeup Stacy.
I think what Aaron was getting at was that a spot in the tournament was given to this 16-yr-old phenom rather than a male who has worked his butt off to try and play in a PGA tournament.
I am all for Michelle Wie testing her skills in the mens arena… however many are right, she has yet to win an LPGA event, let alone make the cut in a male tournament. It comes down to $$$.
She can draw a crowd, much like Tiger Woods, so Sony, in this instance, will give her a sponsors exemption in a heart beat because it means deeper pockets for the corporation, plain and simple.