Michelle Wie: American or Korean?

[Drphil1013]

As I was watching the Women's US Open, I noticed a little surprise on the leaderboard. ABC includes the players' nationality by putting a little flag next to their name. I glanced over the leaderboard and saw Michelle's flag. The star spangled banner. Now, I understand that she was born in the United States; confirming her citizenship in the US. However, I think she should be considered a Korean; since her parents are both Korean. What are your views?

[iacas]

As I was watching the Women's US Open, I noticed a little surprise on the leaderboard. ABC includes the players' nationality by putting a little flag next to their name. I glanced over the leaderboard and saw Michelle's flag. The star spangled banner. Now, I understand that she was born in the United States; confirming her citizenship in the US. However, I think she should be considered a Korean; since her parents are both Korean. What are your views?

She's as American as anyone else. Everyone in the U.S. is an immigrant if you go back far enough, and "far enough" usually isn't very far - two or three generations.

I don't even think she can speak Korean...

[jeffgladchun]

I'm with Erik. My parents are german, irish, czechoslovakian, italian, etc etc etc. What does that make me? American.

[Rafcin]

...I don't even think she can speak Korean...

she actually speaks korean AND japanese... both however as second (third?) languages. She's fluent in japanese - TGC had a glimps of a interview she was giving for japanese TV, not sure how good her korean is

[thehillgolfer]

shes definitely american

[SheriffBooth]

She's as American as apple pie and Chevrolet. The easy way to tell is to count the number of times she says "like" or "you know" during interviews.

[BigAl5150]

Now, I understand that she was born in the United States; confirming her citizenship in the US. However, I think she should be considered a Korean; since her parents are both Korean. What are your views?

As Erik pointed out, if you go back far enough, we are all immigrants. It does not make any difference what nationality her parents are, she is an American. On a small side note, I spent a couple days in New York on vacation and toured Ellis Island. Walking around and seeing the millions of immigrants that walked through there to come here to gain a better life and freedom is really awe inspiring.

[PaulaFan]

I agree with everyone else on this. If she was born in the USA then she is as American as they come. And I believe very soon she will be an American who has won on the LPGA tour.

[NCGolfer]

American - for all of the reasons stated before...especially when she opens her mouth and sounds like, you know, like a typical, you know, American teenager. You know?

[georgep]

To paraphrase Bill Murray, my forefathers were kicked out of every respectable country in Europe. We're all mutts. But we're American mutts!

Wie actually made a point of learning Japanese in High School b/c somebody realized (correctly, I'd guess) that she could attract a lot of attention (ie. money) in golf-crazy Japan.

[thehillgolfer]

maybe the better question is male or female?????

[DDBowdoin]

she's definately american, although I am a firm believer you can be born abroad and still be considered an american golfer, I was born in Venezuela but moved to the us when I was 4 months old because my mother was american, I consider an american and if I ever made it to that stage the us flag would be next to my name

[Maverick]

whatever her passport says.

[Ben]

Korean-American. And a damned cute one at that!

[NM Golf]

She's an American. Listen to her talk she speaks fluent american teenager. Like totally, I mean like really, shes like american totally. She sounds like my 14 year old daughter!

[shredfit]

Yup, American all the way.

[illmadden]

American...just like Tiger.

[crazy_horst]

As I was watching the Women's US Open, I noticed a little surprise on the leaderboard. ABC includes the players' nationality by putting a little flag next to their name. I glanced over the leaderboard and saw Michelle's flag. The star spangled banner. Now, I understand that she was born in the United States; confirming her citizenship in the US. However, I think she should be considered a Korean; since her parents are both Korean. What are your views?

You answered your own question:

"Now, I understand that she was born in the United States; confirming her citizenship in the US."