COMMENTARY
Wie growing into a player LPGA needs
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PITTSFORD—A couple of impressions after watching Michelle Wie in person for the first time:
One, how big she is. It’s no secret that Wie is tall—6-foot, at least. But she has filled out during her teenage years. When you see those long arms and legs accelerating through the golf swing, driving the ball 275 yards down the fairway, you’re reminded what all the fuss was about in the first place.
The second thing? That Wie is only 19. But it seems she’s been around as long as Tiger Woods. Wie qualified for an LPGA event when she was 12. A year later, she became the youngest to make a cut. She played in the men’s Sony Open when she was 14. By the time she was 18, Wie was earning $19 million a year.
It’s hard to see her as a rookie. Wie is too young to buy alcohol or rent a car, but people act like she’s a has-been. Wie is in her first year on tour, and it feels like a comeback.
Wie is no longer being invited to play with the men. She hasn’t won an LPGA event. She failed to qualify for the women’s U. S. Open for the first time in six years. But if it were any other rookie, fans would marvel at her raw talent.
Wie showed flashes during the Wegmans LPGA at Locust Hill Country Club. She shot 69 on Sunday to finish at 7-under-par 281, tied for 10th. If not for a 75 on Saturday—which included a 40 on the front—Wie could have done more than grabbing her fourth top 10 in 10 events this season.
“A good comeback today,” Wie said just before the heavy rains came. “I was working on a couple of things and felt a lot better today. I was playing aggressively. I thought I did my revenge on the front nine. It’s only a bad round if you don’t learn from it.”
Wie, who attends Stanford, learned her lesson. On Sunday, she played the front nine in 4-under 31, a full nine strokes better than the day before. After birdies on 10 and 11, she was 6 under for the day and surging toward the leaders. Then she had a bogey, double bogey and bogey on her next three holes.
She wasn’t playing safe. There were some tough pin placements Sunday. On the par-4 13th, the pin was far back to the right. She went for it and bounced it off the back. Her chip went a foot too far and rolled down a steeply sloped green. She three-putted from 30 feet.
“There weren’t enough holes to play safe,” Wie said. “Unfortunately, I got a bad bounce there. Bad shot, bad bounce. I felt really good. A couple of hiccups here and there, but I won’t do that from now on. No more mistakes.”
Wie has made her share of mistakes along the way. She was accused of faking injuries, of failing to show proper respect to the game, of taking away tournament spots from more worthy golfers.
But remember, she was good enough to tie for second in the LPGA Championship at 15. Wie had a rough time the last couple of years, partly because of a wrist injury. It’s silly to compare her with Woods. By age 20, Woods had won six national amateur titles. Wie hasn’t won a thing since she was 13.
She’s having a solid rookie season. Entering the Wegmans, Wie was 18th on the money list. When she learns to avoid those meltdowns, Wie can be a dominant player on the women’s tour.
The crowds didn’t show her much love. There was polite applause when Wie hit a long drive, but no emotional displays from the fans. No one shouted her name. Maybe they’re waiting for Wie to justify the hype of years past.
The LPGA needs it, that’s for sure. The women’s tour is struggling for sponsors. The LPGA and Wegmans don’t have a contract for next season. It’s not surprising to hear that money is the big issue in a troubled economy.
The LPGA needs recognizable U. S. stars to drive ratings. Wie is an attraction. She’ll be bigger when she wins.
America loves a comeback, right?
jsullivan@buffnews.com
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