Who's more mentally gifted - Wie or Sergio?

[supercow]

Here's a toughie. Who is more gifted (mentally), Michelle Wie or Sergio Garcia?
This includes both on and off the golf course. :) I honestly can't tell at the moment.

Binh.

[Rafcin]

I don't think Michelle's problem is her mental game, it's more in the mechanics. Sergio is a veteran on the tour (respectively), he's defintely behind in the mental aspect of the game...

[allin]

I took a guess, but really don't know. Michelle appears to be more book smart. Golf smart? I think that Michelle is more willing to learn. But Sergio may be the more natural instinctive player. Emotionally in 5 years no contest, Michelle.

[thehillgolfer]

what does mentally gifted mean?

[Rafcin]

what does mentally gifted mean?

being able to make correct decision uder pressure, being able to execute required shot under the pressure, being able to "close the deal" on the course. All of these guys(and gals) can hit a dime on a range and drain 10 10ft putts in a row on the putting green... Strong mental game allows them to do it on the course while in competition, while in contention...

Btw - if you look it up in a encyclopedia - you'll see Tiger's picture under "mentally gifted"

[Wood]

I'd take Sergio, broken English and all, in a, like um, grammar contest.

[Rafcin]

I'd take Sergio, broken English and all, in a, like um, grammar contest.

C'mon, we're talking only about mental aspect, not grammar or wet t-shirt competition

Focus Wood and stop making fun of my girlfriend ( who is by the way - again on the pace of falling 2 strokes short of victory at the Evian Master.... )

[cdriver]

Michelle Wie will eventually have it all. She already has a great golf physique and that will only get better as she matures. She already seems pretty mature for a 16 yr old, so I think she will, again, only mature and get better.

She will certainly mature in her understanding of what it takes to win in the professional ranks.

I keep having to tell myself she is only 16... I mean can you ever remember when another 16 yr old fostered such expectations? Even Tiger at 16 was only a promise of things to come. She is way ahead of the pack here.

[Wood]

C'mon, we're talking only about mental aspect, not grammar or wet t-shirt competition

Sorry Rafcin. Couldn't let that one go....

I'll try to remain more focused on the discussion at hand. I'd take Gulbis in the wet t-shirt contest. Damnit, I can't get my head straight. Where is the ritilin....... In terms of the mental side of golf, I'd still take Sergio. He, like many before him, have failed to match Tiger at the end of a tourney. I don't think this makes him an idiot, he just played bad, and putted bad, as is his modus operandi . He also had the misfortune of trying to do it from 1 stroke back. He is a proven winner, just not a winner in the majors, yet. I'm not saying Wie is not GOING to be a more mentally fit golfer over her career than he is over his, but his experience alone gives him the edge RIGHT NOW. It wasn't really long ago that a lot of the expectations that are being put on Wie were being balanced on Sergio too, as a phenom coming through the ranks. I don't think you get to be the #9 player IN THE WORLD, and having a 10-3-2 Ryder Cup record by not being mentally strong. This posts has all the potential in the world for being quoted/dissected/hammered in replies, but I'll be thinkin about that wet t-shirt contest anyway. Have a great weekend!

[SubPar]

Sergio is a big let down. He looked like he was ready to put up a challenge to Tiger, but since his entry into the fray he has belly-flopped. He has the physical skills but apprently not the mental skills. Paired with Tiger at The Open last Sunday, Sergio looked more like a rookie than a threat.

As for Wie, it is too early to tell. Sergio has had years to prove himself on the big stage, she is just getting started.

[Finn07]

I think its Wie all the way. Alot of people forget that this girl is only 16 years old. That is crazy, she has one of the sweetest swings I think ive ever seen, men or women. Sergio, IMO, was never put on the stage that she is currently put on. After seeing what I saw this weekend at The Open Championship, it was evident that Sergio is not ready at all to be on the big stage. This girl is ready. She may strive outside of what she is capable of doing in competing against the men, but that makes her so much mentally stronger when she competes on the LPGA. Im not a huge fan of womens golf, but for those who arent a fan of her's I just cant understand it.

Anyway getting back to the topic my vote is hands down for Wie. Sergio has a long way to go in my book.

[iacas]

In terms of the mental side of golf, I'd still take Sergio. He, like many before him, have failed to match Tiger at the end of a tourney. I don't think this makes him an idiot, he just played bad, and putted bad, as is his

Sergio can putt fine... until he gets near the lead.

That's not a putting flaw. That's a mental flaw.

I don't think you get to be the #9 player IN THE WORLD, and having a 10-3-2 Ryder Cup record by not being mentally strong.

Apparently you can. Sergio proves it.

Match play is a different mentality. Three-putting isn't such a big deal - you just go on to the next hole, worst case, but holing bombs for birdies will win you holes. It's a whole different mentality. He gets tentative with his putting when the pressure is on in stroke play events, and "tentative" is a mental state.

[Xt1ncT]

Sergio can putt fine... until he gets near the lead.

I have to disagree.

I think his putting stroke is weak and doesn't stand up to pressure. If it was a mental thing he'd also start to miss fairways and greens etc when getting towards the top of the leaderboard, but he doesn't, he just misses lots of birdie putts. To me that suggests his stroke is weak and that part of his game crumbles, whereas his swing is good, and does stand up to the pressure. For a 16 year old Wie is phenominal, and once she matures that little bit she'll start winning almost everything on her tour - let's hope she stays there for a while and proves the doubters wrong and then starts to try and play on the PGA Tour again.

[Rafcin]

I think his putting stroke is weak and doesn't stand up to pressure.If it was a mental thing he'd also start to miss fairways and greens etc when getting towards the top of the leaderboard, but he doesn't, he just misses lots of birdie putts. To me that suggests his stroke is weak and that part of his game crumbles, whereas his swing is good, and does stand up to the pressure.

imho the full swing is much (by about 300%!) easier to control when you're mind is goin' for a walk. Most of it is mechanical. In putting it reverses, nerves and pressure have much bigger impact on misses - I know that from my own failures

[iacas]

If it was a mental thing he'd also start to miss fairways and greens etc when getting towards the top of the leaderboard, but he doesn't, he just misses lots of birdie putts. To me that suggests his stroke is weak and that part of his game crumbles, whereas his swing is good, and does stand up to the pressure.

As Rafi said, the two are completely different. Not many people get the "yips" on their full swings (Greg Norman seems to have done it plenty of times, though), but many have putting.

Tom Watson just lost a senior's major because he couldn't putt... So yeah, again as Rafi said, they're very different things.

[ttee9]

... I don't think we're talking about a "gifted" thing here ..

I think we're talking about 2 different people in 2 different places at 2 different stages of their lives ...

Serge has made over $26 million at the age of 26, he's also treated like royalty in Europe and Mick Jagger in Spain -- that said, he's also 26 going on 16 ..... what event was he at last year when he ran after his Mercedes and left the news crew standing.?

Michelle Wie.? she's 16 going on 26 .. she has a little better focus because of people in and around her and will do well as she matures.

I think it's going to take Sergio few more years to get over the "rock star status" and remember he plays golf for a living ... I do love the way he plays - when he's focused.

[Thrash13]

I think Michelle Wie is a little more mentally giften than Sergio. Wie keeps her composure a lot better while in contention, and that's really the difference in golf when it comes to mental stability.

You can just see a different Sergio when he gets in contention as compared to when he is just in the middle of the pack making a charge. It's almost like watching The Twilight Zone.

Michelle Wie hasn't closed the deal yet, but often times the people she is contending with plays a little better. Wie has posted some solid scores in recent final rounds, only to have her playing competitor post a score a little better.

So there you have it. Sergio is a lunatic when in contention. :/

[ttee9]

You can just see a different Sergio when he gets in contention as compared to when he is just in the middle of the pack making a charge. It's almost like watching The Twilight Zone.

... You missed the whole point Cody ...

But the next time you visit Europe or Spain you'll get it ...