Will Michelle Wie be the next Anna Kournikova?

TravelGolf.com ^ | Saturday April 30, 2005 | Jennifer Mario

[theFIRMbss]

Will Michelle Wie be the next Anna Kournikova?

My fellow bloggers Doug Carey and Jay Flemma have been talking a lot lately about Michelle Wie and her sponsor exemptions. Should she get them? Should she accept them? Is it nothing more than a publicity stunt? Yada yada yada.

Well maybe it is nothing more than a publicity stunt. But guys, don’t you get it? Women’s golf needs publicity. Really badly.

Annika’s up there breaking every record, winning 59 tournaments and no one’s batting an eyelash.

But put a 15 year old on the PGA tour and suddenly everyone sits up and takes notice.

So maybe Michelle does risk becoming the next Anna Kournikova—a media darling who's all sizzle and no steak. That’s apparently a risk she’s willing to take. If it doesn’t bother her, why let it bother you? For one thing, the book hasn’t been written on her yet. How did coach Pat Summitt turn the University of Tennessee's Lady Vols into the best women's college basketball team of all time? By having them practice against guys. Michelle isn't exactly wasting the best years of her life here, fellas.

As far as the argument goes that another, better female should get the bid first? Well, Michelle is still opening that door. One thing at a time.

Meanwhile, let the girl play. She’s darn fun to watch.

[Stag_Man]

What's with the Haiku's?

[sharktrager]

There should be a rule. Anyone making fun of the appearance of a minor has to post a pic of themselves at the same age.

Scared Bunny Blog
Not for the timid,
and not political

[theFIRMbss]

>There should be a rule. Anyone making fun of the appearance of a minor . . .

I have a hard time
deciding how to react
in the case of Wie.

Like you say, she's young.
But for about two years now
she and her parents

have chosen to force
themselves on the adult scene.
I've said in this thread

in a way it seems
like child abuse. However,
Wie is doing it

and corporations
are making huge profits by
exploiting her "quest."

So, yeah, tweaking kids
is something I wouldn't do
normally. But here,

in the context of
Wie versus Kournikova,
I waive my manners.

I don't have a pic
of me, but below is an
artist's rendering:

[Starter]

Is that Bruce Campbell on the right?

[hflynn]

Followup on Wie. According to ESPN there are strong indications Michelle Wie will turn pro after the SAMSUNG LPGA later on in the LPGA season. The extremely strong incentive is a reported 10 - 12 million dollar contract being offered by NIKE for her to turn pro and fore go remaining amateur while she attends college.
If she accepts the NIKE offer, IMHO she would be crazy not to, she forfeits a guaranteed entry into the Amateur Publinks Masters qualifier draw which she earned this year by virtue of her quarter finals finish this year.

Hootie says thank you God because there ain't any avenue other than the publinks that would get Michelle into the tournament in his lifetime.

[MotleyGirl70]

Wie looks like a bug.

Care to share a picture of what you look like?

[MotleyGirl70]

Bump

[MotleyGirl70]

There should be a rule. Anyone making fun of the appearance of a minor has to post a pic of themselves at the same age.

Better yet, anyone "of age" shouldn't post stupid links and bunny pictures to blogs on an open forum.

[TexasTransplant]

>>> I don't have a pic
of me, but below is an
artist's rendering<<<

Actually that is MY TRADEMARK POSE! (Someone cropped the drawing, just to the right is an Ice chest full of cold beer...)

[numberonepal]

I'd walk a mile, for a camel

I'll raise you a mile on broken glass with bare knees.

[numberonepal]

Hootie says thank you God because there ain't any avenue other than the publinks that would get Michelle into the tournament in his lifetime.

Doesn't winning a PGA event qualify for a spot at Augusta? I'm not saying she could win with the boys, but there's always the John Deere Tourney.

[hflynn]

Doesn't winning a PGA event qualify for a spot at Augusta? I'm not saying she could win with the boys, but there's always the John Deere Tourney.

No. Winning the John Deere Tourney wouldn't get you into the Masters even if it weren't played several months after the Masters.

Qualifications for Invitation are as follows:

1. Masters Tournament Champions (Lifetime)
2. US Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
3. British Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
4. PGA Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
5. Winners of The Players Championship (3 years)
6. Current US Amateur Champion (6-A) (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year) and the runner-up (6-B) to the current US Amateur Champion
7. Current British Amateur Champion (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year)
8. Current US Amateur Public Links Champion
9. Current US Mid-Amateur Champion
10. The first 16 players, including ties, in the 2004 Masters Tournament
11. The first 8 players, including ties, in the 2004 US Open Championship
12. The first 4 players, including ties, in the 2004 British Open Championship
13. The first 4 players, including ties, in the 2004 PGA Championship
14. The 40 leaders on the Final Official PGA Tour Money List for 2004
15. The 10 leaders on the Official PGA Tour Money List
published during the week prior to the 2005 Masters Tournament
16. The 50 leaders on the Final Official World Golf Ranking for 2004
17. The 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the 2005 Masters

In addition, the Masters Committee, at its discretion, also invites international players not otherwise qualified.

[theFIRMbss]

>The only reason why Anna K. is considered to be more pretty is because she takes her clothes off for the camera
>>WHERE???? WHEN???? HOW DID I MISS THIS?!?!?!?!?!

Don't miss Myskina's
(another Russian beauty)
try going topless.

I can't post 'em here,
but the beautiful pictures
are up at News Vault!

[theFIRMbss]

Creamer takes seven-shot lead at Evian Masters

EVIAN, France (AP) — Paula Creamer shot a 6-under 66 Friday, taking a seven-stroke lead over Karine Icher and Laura Davies after the third round of the Evian Masters.

The 18-year-old Creamer was eight strokes ahead of Annika Sorenstam, who carded a 72, and 11 in front of Michelle Wie. The 15-year-old amateur shot a 68 after rounds of 75 and 70.

Icher managed a 68 and Davies had a 70, but both lost ground to Creamer, who is poised to claim her second title in her rookie season.

"Tomorrow it will be like everybody's starting out at zero," Creamer said. "I'll aim to get the lead as big as possible as quickly as possible."

Creamer, known for wearing something pink every time she plays, won the Sybase Classic two months ago and is fourth on the LPGA money list with $739,650.

"But when I won the Sybase I was a shot back going into Sunday," Creamer said. "Here I've got seven shots. I feel good with that."

Sorenstam knows she has a tough final-round task.

"I've got to play a real good round, a 64 or maybe even better, to give myself a chance tomorrow," she said. "Paula played great today, and I didn't make anything."

Wie finally converted some of the birdie chances she has had this week. She birdied the second hole, had a triple-bogey 7 at No. 4, then made six birdies in eight holes from the sixth before parring the five closing holes.

"It went good, very bad, very good, then sort of OK, " Wie said. "Like having all four seasons in one day."

Wie's triple-bogey came when she hit a flyer through the green out of the left rough. She chipped on and then three-putted.

"Painful," she said. "I gave myself a lot of great chances," Wie said. "Tomorrow I'll make everything, I promise you."

Wie fired her new Irish caddie Brian Smallwood after the first round and her father, B.J., is now on her bag.

"I usually see him in the crowd. It's nice to see him get all excited when I play well," Wie said.

Lorie Kane of Canada also shot a 66, leaving her nine behind the leader. Karrie Webb (71) and overnight co-leader Christina Kim (75) were also nine back.

[TAquinas]

It doesn't rhyme.

[TAquinas]

Sharapova is very pretty.

[TAquinas]

Forgot: and so are you. :)

[TAquinas]

"If its not putt-putt, I'm not playing."

What's putt-putt. Is it like push-push?

Hey, do you all remember that song of the late seventies: push, push in the ....

[cyborg]

Not only pretty but Sharapova is gorgeous and wholesome.

[MikefromOhio]

The world dissolves while you worry about a Russian slut.

And your comments makes ANY sense BECAUSE?