She was -2 with nine holes to play. I thought she had a legitimate chance to make it happen. I was pulling for her. But then she choked like a… well, seeing that she’s a 16-year-old girl, it’s probably best to leave the imagery out of it. So, let’s say she faltered down the stretch. I think that’s fair. And appropriate.
So, despite disagreeing with Adrian Wojnarowski’s contention yesterday that her father is wronging her by allowing her to even try to play in the US Open, I would wholeheartedly agree, and have in the past, that Michelle Wie needs to learn how to win against her own competition first. Learning how to play great golf, and learning how to close out a tournament, or even a round, aren’t the same things. It’s not the first time Michelle Wie has come up slightly short in a clutch situation. And that will come with time. Hey, it happened for Dirk Nowitzki.
Had she qualified, though, the task awaiting her at the U.S. Open would’ve been monumental. The USGA likes the set up their U.S. Open courses to be not challenging, not difficulting, and not demanding… but completely fucking unfair. I was thinking about that today. Asking a 16-year-old to play Winged Foot, set up to U.S. Open specifications… at the very least, it would be humbling.
Anyway, it doesn’t matter. She didn’t make it. And, obviously, I’m not ssuggesting she should stop playing these men’s events. There’s something to be learned there, too, and I don’t blame her for wanting to do it. But she’s got to learn how to win, and how to finish things off. I’d like to see that happen at some point.
VTHokie
She’s only 16? That picture is borderline pornographic.
June 6, 2006 at 9:35 am
Bouj
Good point, MJD. She should learn to WIN first. And that has been a big problem for her. Sure, she’s been in contention in women’s majors, but the wheels ALWAYS come flying off.
I’m not saying she’ll never win, or never even qualify, for a men’s event, but it’s got to be in her head a little bit at this point. That’s why she should learn to walk before she runs. Winning some winnable tournaments would do wonders for her confidence.
June 6, 2006 at 11:27 am
VTHokie
Who Cares? She’s a HOT 16 yr old!!!
June 6, 2006 at 5:45 pm
Giddy
VTHokie, that’s really inappropriate. And I agree completely!
June 6, 2006 at 6:05 pm
mike
Do you think Dirk would have been better off learning how to win in Germany for a few years before trying to compete with the best basketball players in the world?
June 6, 2006 at 8:11 pm
insomniac
By the way in Peter King’s MMQB section, he gave Wie-mania a big yawn. This was immediately after spending a few paragraphs on his daughter’s wedding and a couple more on a tasty sandwich he ate.
Maybe he was just sleepy from having to read his own stuff.
June 6, 2006 at 9:03 pm
the mighty mjd
Mike – I’m pretty sure that Dirk did indeed play basketball in Germany. The point is, she has to learn to win against player of her own skill level, and she’s just not at that PGA level yet. Dirk, as a young player, certainly had the physical skill to compete with the NBA. Michelle Wie with the best male golfers in the world? No. Close, but no… not right now.
June 6, 2006 at 10:49 pm