Wie Cans Another Looper

/

According to Doug Ferguson, she's fired Greg Johnston, making it number four (not including B.J.). She's almost gone through as many drummers as Spinal Tap. Of course, the fictional band had their drummer blow up and disappear. Johnston will resurface.

Love the quote from the PR guy at, no joke, the "Ken Sunshine" agency:

"Greg Johnston's hard work and dedication made him a great partner for Michelle, as he would be for any other golfer," Wie's spokesperson Jesse Derris of the Ken Sunshine agency said in a statement released on Tuesday. "His departure comes as part of Michelle's maturation as a golfer, part of which is learning from many different bright golf minds. We wish Greg the best, and are sure he will have a long and successful career."

Wie On The Rules of Golf: "It's Not A Great Read"

/

You have to love her honesty. And while they'll never be confused with Grisham, she probably should brush up on them a bit.

The Independent's Andy Farrell reporting from Royal Lytham:

And this is the basis of the problem with Michelle, which is ours as much as hers. Wie has done has great things, getting into contention in the majors, almost winning last week at the Evian Masters, and through to final qualifying for the men's US Open.

But she is not the finished article, and at 16 why should she be? She is still learning her trade and is still not a full-time golfer. This is her summer holiday, and yet already her every score, every shot, every action, every word is scrutinised.

Last autumn she turned professional, earning millions in the process, but in many ways she remains a talented amateur, albeit one with great potential. While she remains in mainstream education, she will not be able to complete her golfing apprenticeship.

It's the little things. She cheerfully admitted to not being quite ready for her early tee-time on Thursday and promptly bogeyed the first three holes. It's also the not so little things, like not being aware of the rule about sweeping away a loose impediment on the backswing in a bunker.

A two-shot penalty resulted when she did just this on Friday. "It's not a great read," she said sweetly when asked if she would be examining the Rules of Golf more closely. But an important read, and the fact that a shocking number of players have a limited knowledge of the rules is no excuse for a professional.

"What is your favorite color?"

/

Thanks to reader Charlie for submitting this year's leader in the clubhouse for Rally Killer of the Year Award.

Q: Your father is not your caddie anymore. Do you miss having him on the bag?
MICHELLE WIE: Honestly, not really. (laughter)

Q: What don't you miss?
MICHELLE WIE: Umm, well he is in the room. No, but it was fun when he caddied for me, but he is getting old. He cannot carry that big bag around. He wouldn't make it around. (laughter)

Q: What is your favorite color?
MICHELLE WIE: I like all different kind of colors, purple, pink, blue, green. Pink I like, obviously because I am a girl. I really like all different kind of colors. It really depends on my mood. When I am really, like morbid, I really like black. But I like all different kinds of colors.

 

The Capitalist Market Mechanism

/

From John Strege's game story on the John Deere Classic (not posted online yet):

"As a matter of fact, some of the criticisms of Michelle's playing on the PGA Tour are very logically thought out," B.J. Wie said. "However, they do not fully understand the capitalistic market mechanism. Did you see the large galleries following Michelle yesterday despite her first round of 77?"

Dottie Pepper also makes some disturbing observations in this week's SI Golf Plus that indicate Wie's career is not being very well handled at this point.  

Defending Gove

/

Jeff Gove is bound to take some heat for his Michelle Wie comments following their first and second round pairing at the John Deere, where Wie became ill and played a half hole behind before finally withdrawing.

Mark Lamport-Stokes writes (in a story titled "Wie debate hots up after John Deere withdrawal"):

 "She didn't complain about anything," Gove told the Chicago Sun-Times. "She just said: 'I'm going to withdraw', which was good. She was holding us up again.

 "She has to learn to play faster and be more respectful of other players and things of that nature. If she has her name on her bag, she needs to be professional, and she's not there yet."

Gove's views are somewhat harsh given that Wie had been struggling with stomach pain, dizziness, nausea and breathing problems before she decided to quit the tournament after consulting a doctor.

Having played with Jeff for three years at Pepperdine and knowing that he is one of the kindest, most patient souls on the planet (he put up with me after all), I suspect there is more here beyond what we saw on television (which should have been stopped sooner by Wie's parents).

I'm guessing Wie still has a few things to learn about the various subtle but important elements of etiquette that Tour players take pretty (too?) seriously. Either way, I find it hard to believe Gove would have made his comments without there having been some unacceptable incidents. 

Oops, Wrong Attachment

/

Looks like the PGA Tour's Joan Alexander attached the wrong Henry Hughes statement on Michelle Wie's John Deere WD due to heat stroke:

Comment from the PGA TOUR on Michelle Wie making the cut at the John Deere Classic:

“The PGA TOUR congratulates Michelle Wie on her historic accomplishment in making the cut at the John Deere Classic, the first female in more than 60 years to do so on the TOUR. Her quality of play over the first two rounds is a testament to her high level of performance and individual achievement. The PGA TOUR wishes her well in her play this weekend.”

Henry Hughes
Senior Vice President and Chief of Operations PGA TOUR

Appleby and Others: No More Wie

/

A respected golf writer and I were discussing how funny it is to hear big, grown up, free-market preaching men who moan and groan about Michelle Wie taking up a spot in the U.S. Open qualifying. Even when she tries to earn her way in and beats a lot of men doing it, they still think the event should be for men only. And they sound ridiculous making their case.

Like Stuart Appleby. As Marla Ridenour reports in the Beacon Journal reports:

"Right now, she should be maturing and playing and winning and getting the rhythm of playing the ladies' tour," Appleby said Saturday. "Playing out on the men's tour, to me, is a pointless exercise, including the Open.

"I don't feel she should be qualifying and should even be allowed. No women should be allowed to qualify in any men's event. Invites I can barely accept, but certainly qualifying... I think it's the men's U.S. Open, and that's the way it should always be." Appleby wondered if Wie's advisers were pushing her in the wrong direction. Some have speculated that Wie's handlers are more interested in worldwide fame than success in the sport.

"I'm not sure if Michelle wants to play with the men or she's being advised through some decision-makers who are having a bigger play in her career than she is," Appleby said. "I think she really has the ability to be a record-breaker on the ladies' tour. I don't believe playing on the men's tour is going to make her a better player.

"If she's going to play the men's tour at all, she should do it when Annika (Sorenstam) did, when she was at her best. That may be 10 or 15 years from now. That's when she should come out and push her game."

Thankfully, there are still some big boys out on the Tour who can handle the competition: 

Countryman Adam Scott didn't share Appleby's opinion.

"Anyone who can qualify for the U.S. Open deserves to play in it," he said. "I think it will be unbelievable if she qualifies." Appleby was the only player asked to comment at the Memorial who did not believe Wie should be allowed to try for an Open spot.

"I always felt if anybody had golf clubs and was able to qualify and eligible to play in a golf tournament, they certainly can tee it up," Memorial founder Jack Nicklaus said. "I don't care if that's a man, woman or child. If Michelle Wie has the ability to qualify for the U.S. Open, fantastic. I think it's wonderful for the game of golf. It brings a whole new element that you've never heard before. I have no issue with it whatsoever. Matter of fact, I support it." Many backed Nicklaus' view. 

The Gimmick Turned Sound Business Decision

/
Lawrence Donegan on Michelle Wie's European Masters exemption:
"Michelle has demonstrated her outstanding golfing skills to a global audience as both an amateur and now as a professional, and we look forward to welcoming her," said George O'Grady, the chief executive of the European tour - a remarkable volte-face by a man who had previously been sceptical about offering women invitations to play in men's events.

Eight months ago O'Grady dismissed the practice as a "gimmick". But in golf nothing speaks as loudly as sponsorship money. The European Masters is sponsored by Omega and Wie this year signed a sponsorship deal with the watchmakers.