Archive for January, 2006

Michelle Shoots 68 to Miss Cut at Sony Open

Saturday, January 14th, 2006

Michelle Wie showed what she was made of in the 2nd round of the Sony Open, shooting a blistering 68 after her first round 79.  Michelle missed the cut by 4 strokes, albeit leaving the golf course on the 2nd day with the 12th best score. Had she had a similar round on day one, things would be a lot different – she would be vying for the lead. For now we have to wonder “what if”.  But given that she had 2 months since her last tournament, the Sony Open didn’t go so bad after all.  Anyone can get off to a bad start, but Michelle’s ability to come back on round two and shoot 7 birdies shows what she is made of. She will make a cut on  the men’s tour and she will win many LPGA tournaments in her career.  When she does, these tournaments will be a distant memory.  She is just getting warmed up. Despite what critics say, we have not heard the last or even the beginning of Michelle Wie.

PGA Selling Out With Michelle Wie?

Friday, January 13th, 2006
Here is an interesting commentary on the willingness of the PGA to invite 16 year old girls to play in events like the Sony Open.  Is it all about the money?  Certainly, however Michelle plays in a men’s tournament such as the Sony Open or any other she is going to have a huge gallery following.  But are they milking the thing just a bit?  It’s one thing if Michelle was winning tournaments all over the place (like Tiger did in his early days), but she’s not.  And after yesterday’s 79 in the first round, one has to wonder if the PGA is going to start wising up and take a hard look at how badly they might be chasing the almightly dollar.  Here is the link, you decide.

Michelle Wie Stumbles in First Round of Sony Open Shooting 79

Friday, January 13th, 2006

Michelle Wie, going against men for the 7th time, stumbled with a 79 in her first round of the Sony open.  In tough wind conditions, Michelle’s driving was not too bad - but her putting made the rest of us look not so bad.  On 15, she plugged in a right greenside bunker after hitting a perfect drive and found more sand after her escape ballooned over the back of the green.

Wie then overran her fourth shot to the front fringe and two putts from there left her with a double-bogey six.

At the picturesque par-three 17th, Wie found the back right bunker off the tee on her way to a double-bogey five.

Another bogey followed at the par-four first before she picked up her first shot of the day at the par-four third, holing a 16-foot birdie putt.

Wie attributed the bad round not so much to nerves, but to not having played a tournament in 2 months. Michelle will have to shoot a 61 tomorrow to have a chance at making the cut.  Tune in tomorrow!