Wie Misses Cut, Finishes Dead Last

The GolfChannel ^ | September 08, 2006 | Sports Network -

[george76]

Michelle Wie on Friday missed the cut in last place at the European Masters -- 22 shots behind co-leaders Bradley Dredge, Andrew McLardy and Marcel Siem.

"I am still in shock. I just couldn't get any of my shots to go," Wie said after a round of 8-over 79.

"I don't know why it was. I don't even know what sport I was playing today."

Having now missed the cut in nine of the 10 men's events she has played worldwide, Wie will give it another shot next week at the 84 Lumber Classic on the PGA TOUR.

Friday, Wie was dead last out of 152 players.

[highimpact]

She has little foundation of successes at 16. Missing these cuts must be very tough on her.

She won $650K in prize money this year, a in addition to $ for endorsements. If that's not a foundation for success at the age of 16, it's a very good start. The fact that she missed cuts on the men's pro tour can't hurt that bad. Most 16 year olds who play sports of any kind are able deal with defeat just fine. Losing will just make her a better and more gracious winner.

[phantomworker]

I got high score a couple weeks ago myself. :)

[JRios1968]

I hit a 78 the other day...


...then I went to the 2nd hole!

[Muzzle_em]

Just like Anna Kornikova, she has proven that she doesn't have to win ANYTHING to make money, just look good on television.

[Muzzle_em]

She needs to stick to LPGA...period.

[Mr. Mojo]

She finished dead last again today (that's two dead lasts in a row), a hearty 13 strokes behind the cutline. This act is getting old. ....especially since she and her supporters keep talking like she belongs playing with the big boys.

[george76]

Yes, I agree.

She is making alot of money for herself, her family, the various sponsors...but

she needs to follow the Annaka example.

IMHO.

[freedumb2003]

Is she old enough to call "hot" yet?

[george76]

No.

Unless the boy is 17.

She is jail bail for most of us.

[skeeter]

She may have talent, but she is getting bad advice.

... from her dad. He should have his head examined.

[Mr. Mojo]

She is making alot of money for herself

Obviously she's already made some pretty decent money by signing big contracts with her sponsors, but how exactly does she make money finishing in last place at these men's PGA events? Does she actually get appearance fees? I thought she just gets sponsors' exemptions?

One thing's for sure -- Wie's sponsors aren't too happy about her getting thoroughly embarrassed every single time she tees off in a PGA event. Both she and her sponsors would be better served if she stuck with the women's tour. ....and maybe even won a tournament there (for once).

[george76]

I read that she has sponsor deals with folks like Nike who pay her millions per year just for the privilege of using her name.

The tournament sponsors likely pay her a small ( if any ) appearance fee. When she misses the cut, then she gets nothing from the tournament. Maybe Nike and others pay her expenses plus salary to go to the events.

If the entrance numbers go up because lots of people ( many non golfers ) want to see the event, then the tournament sponsor may be happy with the larger gate and the larger media exposure for their products.

We agree that she should have earned her way thru the amateur events and then thru the LPGA first.

[george76]

He may be happy all the way to the bank.

[Mr. Mojo]

If the entrance numbers go up because lots of people ( many non golfers ) want to see the event, then the tournament sponsor may be happy with the larger gate and the larger media exposure for their products.

Of course, and the tv numbers go up as well. But my point was that if Wie keeps performing the way she has been (at the men's events) those viewer numbers (both TV and live) will be in freefall, and the sponsors would've been better off had she just stayed on the LPGA tour. They got greedy, thinking she could hang respectably with the men. ....and now they're going to pay for it.

[NittanyLion]

Wie's getting crushed again today. She's currently in 2nd to last place, with a +8 today.

[george76]

She needs to go to Stanford, earn her degree, get an education, win many tournaments on the woman's tour , and then think about the men's tour.

We all know that she makes tons of money for herself, her parents, the local sponsors...with these stunts but...

IMO

[NittanyLion]

Agreed. I can't imagine sponsors are going to continue to extend exemptions to her for much longer. The novelty is over, and now she's just a poor player (for the PGA Tour).