Michelle Wie 24/7

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by Johneli

What do YOU attribute to the continued interest? It's certainly not like she's "close."

Wie and her golf game is still a compelling story that's far from THE END. When you see her in a Gulbis-like calendar, then you can say it's about her looks.

[jshiver15]

I just feel for the girl. She had so much pressure put on her before she was even mature enough to know it. And now, alienated by her parents, she turned into a huge flop. I really hope she can turn it around and break away from her parents. Anybody hear that her parents are house hunting so that they can live near her when she goes to Stanford? So much for breaking loose.

[rodney_c]

Originally Posted by jshiver15

I just feel for the girl. She had so much pressure put on her before she was even mature enough to know it. And now, alienated by her parents, she turned into a huge flop. I really hope she can turn it around and break away from her parents. Anybody hear that her parents are house hunting so that they can live near her when she goes to Stanford? So much for breaking loose.

Thanks for this breaking news.
Please keep up updated on events.

[jshiver15]

Originally Posted by rodney_c

Thanks for this breaking news.
Please keep up updated on events.

Well, I wasn't about to read 30 pages from this topic . . . . so thanks to you.

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by jshiver15

I just feel for the girl. She had so much pressure put on her before she was even mature enough to know it.

The pressure didn't really begin until Wie turned pro. Prior to that all she had to do was play. Now that she's a pro she has to play well.

[Bolt Fore]

Fw: FW: LPGA "Priceless" Click on this , then Mastercard !

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by Bolt Fore

Fw: FW: LPGA "Priceless" Click on this , then Mastercard !

Can you be a bit more specific on how to find what you're referring to?

[Johneli]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

Wie and her golf game is still a compelling story that's far from THE END. When you see her in a Gulbis-like calendar, then you can say it's about her looks.

I think Gulbis looks ridiculous in her quest to capture "sexiest" LPGA player. I've seen footage of her "striking poses" around her pool in an attempt to look alluring. IMO it's ludicrous. Imagine Tiger striking weight-lifter poses in a speedo around his pool. Gulbis is alright-looking in my opinion, but certainly no raving beauty. Christie Kerr, Suzann Pettersen, Paula Creamer and a few others come to mind as serious competition.

Now, to the point. We all tend to get sucked in by what I call the "tout." Wie was touted very early on to be the next huge LPGA star. Heck, even good enough to play with the boys......NOT!!! . IMO she was touted because she had game early on AND she has the statuesque looks to go along with it. I have to respectfully disagree that it's not (substantially) about her looks. Corporate sponsers are more likely to throw money at someone with game AND good looks. Only makes sense. Now she has no game...has basically imploded....and corporate sponsors are still salivating, hoping that she will regain some game so that they will have some credibility when they put her on the air again to sell product. It's always about talent AND looks. If you have the talent, you're all set, but if you have the talent and the looks, well, you're golden!!

[Bolt Fore]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

Can you be a bit more specific on how to find what you're referring to?

Click on LPGA priceless, then on Mastercard. Real funny.

[petermo]

Originally Posted by Johneli

IMO she was touted because she had game early on AND she has the statuesque looks to go along with it. I have to respectfully disagree that it's not (substantially) about her looks. .............. If you have the talent, you're all set, but if you have the talent and the looks, well, you're golden!!

The other thing Michelle has (had?) was possibly the most beautiful golf swing we've ever seen in a young girl. Those early shots of her swinging in Hawaii and hitting the ball a mile were enough to hook a whole bunch of knowledgable golfers incluiding Ernie and others. With the need to sign up talent before it's lost to another sponsor Nike jumped in .. time will tell if they made a good or bad investment.

However judging just from this thread they're certainly getting exposure and she does look pretty good in their clothes [b]and[b] even when she shoots in the 80's she gets as much TV time as Ochea! Warranted or not!

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by Bolt Fore

Click on LPGA priceless, then on Mastercard. Real funny.

I still can't find anything listed as "LPGA Priceless" on either the net or on Google.

[Wazmankg]

The fact that Wie is an attractive gal certainly doesn't hurt, but it was her game that got her all of the attention and sponsorships. Her record in professional events, especially majors, at such a young age is unprecedented. There was every reason to believe that she'd continue to develop and dominate the womens game. Her detractors like to tout the fact that she hasn't won, but there was a 3-year period where her average finish in LPGA events was unmatched. It wasn't all hype. We're not talking about Ty Tyron here. I believe her future success depends upon how much she wants it and her ability to break free from her parents. Given the fact that she probably has as much money as she'll ever need, both could be hurdles she can't or doesn't choose to overcome.

[Texas Wedge]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

I still can't find anything listed as "LPGA Priceless" on either the net or on Google.

try this link...
MasterCard LPGA - Michelle Wie from Planck's Constant

[petermo]

Originally Posted by Texas Wedge

try this link...
MasterCard LPGA - Michelle Wie from Planck's Constant

Judging by some of the other content of this blog it is very fair minded, liberal and tolerant of all religions too...............................

[rodney_c]

I said this 2 months ago, but the official word is out.
Wie will not play any mens events in 2008.

Golf - CBSSports.com

By the way, the next part is the bit by bit announcements of events. She is going to be playing women's events on various tours.

Expect a few on the Korean and Japanese Women's Tours.

I have no idea what the composition of events are yet, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by rodney_c

I said this 2 months ago, but the official word is out.
Wie will not play any mens events in 2008.

Golf - CBSSports.com

By the way, the next part is the bit by bit announcements of events. She is going to be playing women's events on various tours.
I am really excited to hear about the events that she is going to choose.

Expect a few on the Korean and Japanese Women's Tours.

Hello old friend and welcome back. I expect the reason we should "expect" Wie to play on "various tours" is because she currently has no status on the LPGA tour other than a limited number of sponsor exemptions. After a disasterous 2007, both on and off the course, no men's events and playing on lesser tours is a step in the right direction for Wie. Hopefully 2008 will be a better year for her.

Skipping the Spring semester at Stanford and an 8 year college plan sounds like a lot college wannabes I remember.

[rodney_c]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

I expect the reason we should "expect" Wie to play on "various tours" is because she currently has no status on the LPGA tour other than a limited number of sponsor exemptions.

No, actually she had planned to play on weaker women's tours in 2007, that decision was made in 2006, but didn't work out due to the injury.
Even without injury she would only have played 2-3 mens events in 2007, as well as a number of events on weaker women's tours.

So playing weaker women's tours is not a new idea.

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by rodney_c

So playing weaker women's tours is not a new idea.

Of course it's not. Many have said for some time now that's where she should've been playing instead of embarrassing herself in men's events.

[Leaguegolf]

Part of a Wie story from the Associated Press........

Michelle Wie might start her 2008 season in Hawaii, but not at the Sony Open.
Wie, who has played the PGA Tour event every year since 2004, did not receive one of the four unrestricted sponsor exemptions, tournament director Ray Stosik said Thursday.

Swing coach David Leadbetter said the 18-year-old from Honolulu likely would ask for exemptions at one or both of the LPGA Tour events in Hawaii that kick off the women's golf season in February. He also said competition against the men would probably be on hold until she gets her health and her game back together.

"She's not ready to play in that yet,'' Leadbetter said of the Sony Open, where Wie first rose to fame by shooting 68 at age 14 and missing the cut by one shot. "Her health is getting better, her game is getting better, the confidence is growing. The plan hasn't been made totally for this year yet, but she's looking to play one or two Hawaiian events against the women. The whole goal is to get back on track after the debacle last year.''

The Sony Open still will have a couple of teenagers from Hawaii in the tournament that starts Jan. 10. One exemption went to Tadd Fujikawa, who last year became the youngest player in 50 years to make a cut on the PGA Tour. The Sony Open also saves an unrestricted exemption for the low amateur in local qualifying. That went to 17-year-old Alex Ching, Wie's former classmate at Punahou School. Wie and Ching were teammates in the Pro-Junior Skills Challenge last year at the Sony Open, which they won in a playoff. Not many could have guessed then that Ching would be the one who returned.


The report from our Golfrewound Wie fan said Wie had decided not to play any PGA Tour events in 2008. This report says Wie wasn't offered a sponsor's exemption to the Sony, where all the Wie mania began. I'm reminded of a spoiled teen who claims, "Big deal. I didn't want to go to that stupid party anyway" when she discovers she didn't get an invitation.

Not getting a Sony sponsor's exemption could be a step in the right direction for Wie. It looks like one, or both, of the LPGA's early season Hawaiian events are going to be huge for her.

[rodney_c]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

The report from our Golfrewound Wie fan said Wie had decided not to play any PGA Tour events in 2008. This report says Wie wasn't offered a sponsor's exemption to the Sony, where all the Wie mania began. I'm reminded of a spoiled teen who claims, "Big deal. I didn't want to go to that stupid party anyway" when she discovers she didn't get an invitation.

By golly, you sure twist things.
Or maybe I should just blame you quoting your idol Ron Sirak, who likes to twist things. The facts remain, as I said at the start of November, and as Leadbetter said about a week ago, Michelle Wie will not play any pga events for the time being, nor any other male events, even though there are plenty in Asia who would give her exemptions if she requested them.
It is not about getting offered exemptions in the case of the Sony, since she did not look for an exemption and had no interest in getting an exemption, and would have refused an exemption, had it been offered.

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

Not getting a Sony sponsor's exemption could be a step in the right direction for Wie.

Actually it makes no difference, since she wouldn't have accepted it, had it been offered.

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

It looks like one, or both, of the LPGA's early season Hawaiian events are going to be huge for her.

Actually they are just going to be a guage to test her game. She will still be attending Stanford at that stage, although I know that wasn't made clear in Ron Sirak or other writers reports. They seem to be under the impression that she has finished up at Stanford for the year and won't be going back after Christmas.
In reality, she will be going back until mid March, and it is the 3rd quarter which runs until June that she will skip.

The Hawaii lpga events are in the middle of her 2nd quarter at Stanford. They are more of a guage to test her game, but the serious stuff starts from mid March onwards, when she will be playing a big number of tournaments.