Michelle Wie, 2nd at LPGA Major this past weekend

[Young Drachma]

Despite all the hoopla about letting an amateur into this tourney for the first time in 51 years. I'd say, she delievered..even doing better than Paula Creamer, who will be her main rival over the year.

A 15-year old..finishes behind the best woman golfer in the world right now. And meanwhile, Michelle shut most of them up - at least for a while.



Story

HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. – Annika Sorenstam is making the Grand Slam look like a slam dunk.

Never threatened from the start, sloppy at the end when it no longer mattered, Sorenstam took another step toward a sweep of the four majors Sunday by closing with a 1-over 73 for a three-shot victory over Michelle Wie in the LPGA Championship.

Sorenstam became the first LPGA Tour player in 19 years to get halfway home to a Grand Slam, and no one has any reason to believe she won't win the next two.

First came an eight-shot victory at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March. This one was just as dominant, with Sorenstam building an eight-shot lead at the turn and leaving everyone else in a hopeless pursuit.

"You are witnessing one of the greatest runs of any athlete in any sport at any time," LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw said.

Sorenstam finished at 11-under 277 and earned $270,000, pushing her career total to more than $17 million. Since playing in the Colonial on the PGA Tour two years ago, she has won 19 of her 38 events on the LPGA Tour.

"I'm just overwhelmed," she said. "To stand here and hold the trophy is all that matters."

Her only competition came from a 15-year-old who just finished the 10th grade and is learning how to drive.

Wie gave another big crowd at Bulle Rock a glimpse of the future with a 3-under 69 to finish in second place, the highest finish by an amateur in a major since 20-year-old Jenny Chuasiriporn lost in a playoff to Se Ri Pak in the 1998 U.S. Women's Open.

Ultimately, that's what the final round was all about – who was going to finish second.

Sorenstam was greeted with the applause for champions when she walked onto the first tee with a five-shot lead. It was up to six shots by the second hole, and the tournament was effectively over at the par-3 third.

The green is perched up in the trees, some 150 yards away from the gallery, and all they could see was Sorenstam keeping her head down even after she stroked her 20-foot putt, not looking up until it was in the hole.

It was a fitting environment for Sorenstam, because no one is close to her in the game.

The next stop is the U.S. Women's Open in two weeks at Cherry Hills outside Denver, the biggest major of the year and one that has eluded Sorenstam since she won in 1995 and 1996 at the onset of her career.

At this point, it looks like a mere formality.

"I'd love to see her do it," Nancy Lopez said. "I'd like to see some players make her work for it."

Pat Bradley was the last woman to win the first two majors of the year in 1986, and she tied for fifth in the U.S. Women's Open that year at NCR Country Club in Dayton, Ohio. Bradley then won the last major of the year.

Mickey Wright also won the first two majors in 1961.

Michelle Wie, 15, silenced many critics with another strong finish at a major.

Arnold Palmer first cooked up the notion of a professional Grand Slam on his way to the 1960 British Open. Since then, the only other men to get halfway to the slam were Jack Nicklaus in 1972 and Tiger Woods in 2002.

"There's nothing we can do to stop her," Angela Stanford said. "She's playing her own game. It's not like we can play defense or offense. We just have to go out and play our best."

Sorenstam wasn't perfect. She again made a mess of the par 5s, playing them in 3-over par for the week. And her record streak of 14 consecutive rounds under par ended with Sunday's pedestrian round. She finished it by hitting her tee shot into the gallery, pitching back to the fairway and two-putting for bogey.

No matter.

She won for the sixth time in eight starts this year, and she joined Patty Berg as the only LPGA players to win the same major three consecutive years. Berg won the Titleholders from 1937-39.

Paula Creamer, the 18-year-old who just graduated high school, closed with a 67 to pick up valuable Solheim Cup points. She tied for third at 6-under 282 with Laura Davies (71), who again showed her entertainment value by rattling off birdies and giving them back with a double bogey.

Natalie Gulbis rallied after a rugged start for a 73 and finished another shot back with Lorena Ochoa (72).

Wie, the first amateur at the McDonald's LPGA Championship in its 51-year history, provided quite a show on the back nine with back-to-back birdies and an array of shots beyond her years. Along with a big drive that helped her reach the par-5 15th in two for a birdie, she saved par with a nifty pitch that trickled onto the green at the 14th.

This was her second top 5 in a major, having finished four at the Kraft Nabisco last year. But just like everyone else, she had no chance to catch Sorenstam. Wie's only hope was that Sorenstam didn't sign her card.

"One can only hope," she said with a laugh.

Some players were riled that qualifications were changed to allow Wie into the field, but her amateur status was worth an extra $36,000 to Creamer and Davies because Wie cannot accept prize money.

Sorenstam now has nine majors – same as Woods, who goes for the second leg of his Grand Slam next week in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. It was her 62nd career victory on the LPGA Tour, two more than Karrie Webb and Juli Inkster combined. The LPGA record is 88 by Kathy Whitworth, which comes into view each week.

But all that matters to Sorenstam now is the Grand Slam. She is halfway there, and miles ahead of everyone else.

[rkmsuf]

"You are witnessing one of the greatest runs of any athlete in any sport at any time," LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw said.

Uh, take it easy Ty.

[Ryan S]

The LPGA is a joke. An amateur has no business being in the "Ladies Professional Golfers Association Championship"

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Ryan S

The LPGA is a joke. An amateur has no business being in the "Ladies Professional Golfers Association Championship"

Uh, what? The PGA tour has amateurs at majors, too.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Uh, what? The PGA tour has amateurs at majors, too.

I'll await further education, but I thought amateurs were allowed to play at USGA events, but not PGA events.

[Ryan S]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Uh, what? The PGA tour has amateurs at majors, too.

Not at the PGA Championship. The PGA Championship (and LPGA championship) only allows members of the PGA (Professional Golfers association, not the PGA Tour) to play in their event.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Uh, what? The PGA tour has amateurs at majors, too.

Not the PGA Championship - the men's analog to this event. Is is (in name and previous to this, practice) a tournament specifically for professional golfers.

[Young Drachma]

Ok..my bad QS.

The McDonalds tournament allowed amateurs, because the sponsor basically wanted a slot there for Michelle. But even when she turns pro, apparently they're still going to allow them.

Say what you want about the decision, the sponsor won this one and got it right. If it increases interest in the tour and in the event, then, it makes sense. The PGA Tour has Tiger and doesn't need to resort to such things like the LPGA does.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

I'll await further education, but I thought amateurs were allowed to play at USGA events, but not PGA events.

Amateurs do play in PGA events, and at all majors but the PGA. Many of the tour events have some way to qualify other than being an exempt tour member, and sponsors exemptions are given to anyone who will result in more attention from the press - including notable local amateurs.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Samdari

Amateurs do play in PGA events, and at all majors but the PGA.

Thanks.

[Ryan S]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

If it increases interest in the tour and in the event, then, it makes sense.

Adding Annika Sorenstam to the Women's Amateur Championship would increase interest in the event......

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Ryan S

Adding Annika Sorenstam to the Women's Amateur Championship would increase interest in the event......

Not the same. There is precedent to amateurs in pro events through golf history. Not pros in amateur events.

[rkmsuf]

Signs it's a slow news day:

Arguing the merits of amatuer Michelle Wie participating in an LPGA event.

[digamma]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

Uh, take it easy Ty.

I think this is absolutely true. What Sorenstam is doing right now is incredible. She's won six of eight starts (including the two majors), and finished second and 12th in the other two tournaments. Pretty damn good.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by digamma

I think this is absolutely true. What Sorenstam is doing right now is incredible. She's won six of eight starts (including the two majors), and finished second and 12th in the other two tournaments. Pretty damn good.

Right, pretty darn good.

Not

"one of the greatest runs of any athlete in any sport at any time."

[digamma]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

Right, pretty darn good.

Not

"one of the greatest runs of any athlete in any sport at any time."

Certainly one of the greatest runs in golf at any time, no?

What if you limited it to individual sports?

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by digamma

Certainly one of the greatest runs in golf at any time, no?

What if you limited it to individual sports?

Sure but it needs this kind of qualification.

Ty's quote just seemed a little over the top and over exhuberant.

[Logan]

I don't follow women's golf, so can anyone tell me what happened to Se Ri Pak? I remember her winning a ton a few years back, but haven't heard much since.

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by Samdari

Amateurs do play in PGA events, and at all majors but the PGA. Many of the tour events have some way to qualify other than being an exempt tour member, and sponsors exemptions are given to anyone who will result in more attention from the press - including notable local amateurs.

I don't think technically that is true.

Eligibility for 2005: The PGA of America have approved the following list of players eligible to compete in the 87th Senior PGA Championship:

• All former PGA Champions
• Winners of the last five U.S. Open Championships (2001-2005)
• Winners of the last five Masters (2001-2005)
• Winners of the last five British Open Championships (2001-2005)
• The 2005 Senior PGA Champion
• The 15 low scorers and ties in the 2004 PGA Championship
• The 25 low scorers in the 2005 PGA Club Professional Championship
• The 70 leaders in official money standings from the 2004 International through the 2005 Buick Open
• Members of the 2004 United States Ryder Cup Team
• Winners of tournaments co-sponsored or approved by the PGA Tour from the 2004 PGA Championship to the 2005 PGA Championship (does not include Pro-Am and Team competitions)

In addition, The PGA reserves the right to invite additional players not included in the categories listed above. The total field will be a maximum of 156 players.

If an amateur qualifies through one of the above exemptions, the are on the invitation list. I also believe that some foreign players who do not hold PGA cards qualify through the above mechanisms for the PGA Championship. The name is a bit misleading -- it's not different than you don't have to be American to play in the U.S. Open, our "national championship."


Not the PGA also has the right to invite additional players not included, and those can be amateurs. The controversey with the LPGA this year is that they expanded the field to allow for sponsors exemptions and some of those were used on amateurs.


It's capitalism. The LPGA is going to invite the players that will sell tickets, and Michelle Wie fits in that category. Bully for her that she happens to be really good and kick the ass of pretty much everyone exceptAnnika at 15. Damn impressive.

[Young Drachma]

She missed the cut this past weekend and has missed 4 cuts in 8 events this year.

Sent Pak-ing

Se Ri Pak's string ofcuts made in majors came to an end in the same event in which she won her first tournament as a rookie in 1998.

Pak had rounds of 75 and 78 and missed the cut for the first time in 29 majors.

"That happens," she said. "You play well, and suddenly you don't play so well. The last seven years for me have been an unbelievable success."

The South Korean has won 22 LPGA events, including four majors -- two LPGA Championships (1998, 2002).

But now, Pak is searching for a balance between her golf and her personal life.

"I've been a little bit unhappy about everything, my game. I'm not really enjoying it at all, and I'm not doing anything with my life," she said. "I know what I needed, a much better balance.

"I'm always putting a lot of pressure on myself."

Pak has struggled this season, missing the cut in four of eight events. She's posted just four under-par scores in 22 rounds and just one round in the 60s. Hard times for a player who has enough points to qualify for the Hall of Fame but must meet the 10-year playing requirement.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

I don't think technically that is true.
If an amateur qualifies through one of the above exemptions, the are on the invitation list. I also believe that some foreign players who do not hold PGA cards qualify through the above mechanisms for the PGA Championship. The name is a bit misleading -- it's not different than you don't have to be American to play in the U.S. Open, our "national championship."


Not the PGA also has the right to invite additional players not included, and those can be amateurs. The controversey with the LPGA this year is that they expanded the field to allow for sponsors exemptions and some of those were used on amateurs.


It's capitalism. The LPGA is going to invite the players that will sell tickets, and Michelle Wie fits in that category. Bully for her that she happens to be really good and kick the ass of pretty much everyone exceptAnnika at 15. Damn impressive.

Sure, an amateur could qualify through one of the above criteria, but looking at them, it quickly becomes obvious that the only way an amateur could qualify would be winning a PGA tournament within the last year, or a major within the last 5.

The last time an amateur won a major was 1933. Only twice in the last 50 years has an amateur won a PGA Tour event, the last time in 1985. Neither player played in the subsequent PGA Championship. I cannot find confirmation that no amateur has ever played, but I am pretty sure its true, and I can verify that none has played in the past 50 years.

I stand by my original statement that amateurs do not play in the PGA Championship.

EDIT: As for them specially inviting an amateur. Neither Nicklaus nor Woods (who had more hype coming onto tour than anyone ever) were invited. Its simply not going to happen.

[k0ruptr]

seriously , who is going to say michelle wie hasnt proved anything now? shes 15 and she just finished 2nd in one of the toughest events this year. she beat EVERYONE but annika. and shes 15. she had the most consistent tourney of anyone in it as well. (all rounds under par) even annika couldnt do that. michelle wie is ready right now to go out and finish in the top 10 in money EVERY single year on the lpga tour. probably top 5 even. I honestly think finished 2nd in a major championship event, is better then blowing away some other 10th graders in a meaningless no pressure event. shes gonna keep doing what shes doing, and doing it well.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Logan

I don't follow women's golf, so can anyone tell me what happened to Se Ri Pak? I remember her winning a ton a few years back, but haven't heard much since.

'Roids hangover.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by k0ruptr

seriously , who is going to say michelle wie hasnt proved anything now? shes 15 and she just finished 2nd in one of the toughest events this year. she beat EVERYONE but annika. and shes 15. she had the most consistent tourney of anyone in it as well. (all rounds under par) even annika couldnt do that. michelle wie is ready right now to go out and finish in the top 10 in money EVERY single year on the lpga tour. probably top 5 even. I honestly think finished 2nd in a major championship event, is better then blowing away some other 10th graders in a meaningless no pressure event. shes gonna keep doing what shes doing, and doing it well.

I certainly won't. I think this is a tremendous accomplishment for any part time player. As for blowing away some other 10th graders in meaningless no pressure events consider that some of those 10th graders had previously accomplished more than Wie without the hype, and the US Amateur is hardly a "no pressure event." It is the pinnacle of accomplishment for her class of golfers.

Se Ri Pak is the female equivalent of David Duval?

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by k0ruptr

seriously , who is going to say michelle wie hasnt proved anything now? shes 15 and she just finished 2nd in one of the toughest events this year. she beat EVERYONE but annika. and shes 15. she had the most consistent tourney of anyone in it as well. (all rounds under par) even annika couldnt do that. michelle wie is ready right now to go out and finish in the top 10 in money EVERY single year on the lpga tour. probably top 5 even. I honestly think finished 2nd in a major championship event, is better then blowing away some other 10th graders in a meaningless no pressure event. shes gonna keep doing what shes doing, and doing it well.

Word.

[moriarty]

Originally Posted by Samdari

I certainly won't. I think this is a tremendous accomplishment for any part time player. As for blowing away some other 10th graders in meaningless no pressure events consider that some of those 10th graders had previously accomplished more than Wie without the hype, and the US Amateur is hardly a "no pressure event." It is the pinnacle of accomplishment for her class of golfers.

I'm pretty sure that no 10th grader has won the US Women's Amateur. In fact, the youngest woman to have ever won is 16 years old ... which would be Michelle age I believe if she wins in August.

The next level competition down is the US Women's public links competition ... which Michelle has won already FWIW.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by moriarty

I'm pretty sure that no 10th grader has won the US Women's Amateur. In fact, the youngest woman to have ever won is 16 years old ... which would be Michelle age I believe if she wins in August.

The next level competition down is the US Women's public links competition ... which Michelle has won already FWIW.

Typical graduation age is 18.

Two years younger would be 16 and 10th grade.

Ahh, as to her winning the event, its not going to happen. Michelle has 'retired' from amateur comptetions, thinking them beneath her, despite bombing at the US amateur the few times she has played it.

[moriarty]

Originally Posted by Samdari

Typical graduation age is 18.

Two years younger would be 16 and 10th grade.

Ahh, as to her winning the event, its not going to happen. Michelle has 'retired' from amateur comptetions, thinking them beneath her, despite bombing at the US amateur the few times she has played it.

Ahh, it's been a while. But you're still crazy if you think 10th grade women (or men for that matter) have accomplished more than Wie has at this age.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by moriarty

Ahh, it's been a while. But you're still crazy if you think 10th grade women (or men for that matter) have accomplished more than Wie has at this age.

LOL, well substitute "amateur" for "10th grader" (which wasn't my term, it was Koruptr's)then. There are several amateurs who are more accomplished than Wie. Again, I have nothing against her (I even buy the hype and watch when she plays). I just find it laughable that she no longer wants to compete in amateur events, when she hardly dominated that level, in fact, her record was quite spotty.

[k0ruptr]

well she seems to be doing just fine competing on the lpga so far. you don't need to win to be successful in golf.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Samdari

LOL, well substitute "amateur" for "10th grader" (which wasn't my term, it was Koruptr's)then. There are several amateurs who are more accomplished than Wie. Again, I have nothing against her (I even buy the hype and watch when she plays). I just find it laughable that she no longer wants to compete in amateur events, when she hardly dominated that level, in fact, her record was quite spotty.

I think it's established that pro events are a higher level of golf than amateur ones. There are plenty of amateurs who sucked it up or had "spotty" records in amateurs, only to do fantastic as professionals.

So I don't think it matters, is what people are trying to say. What some people are failing to realize, is what Michelle Wie is doing has not been done in golf before. By anyone. At this age or stage in their career.

But some people are just trying to find ways to write her off.

[Galaril]

I think Michelle's Dad has beebn pushing her to do the the pro stuff. From what I know about korean culture and what has been reported in the media the father sounds like he is psuhing her to burn out. I remember when Pak Se Ri was coming up about 7-8 years ago her father was also accused of spartan training methods like putting in a cemetary at 1:00 am until dawn.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

I think it's established that pro events are a higher level of golf than amateur ones. There are plenty of amateurs who sucked it up or had "spotty" records in amateurs, only to do fantastic as professionals.

So I don't think it matters, is what people are trying to say. What some people are failing to realize, is what Michelle Wie is doing has not been done in golf before. By anyone. At this age or stage in their career.

But some people are just trying to find ways to write her off.

Sure, but she can only play 7 pro (LPGA) events a year. She needs to play WAY more often than that to develop to her full potential. She should be playing a lot more amateur events, which would provide her with plenty of competition, given her current level of skill. All I am saying is that she should not consider amateur competition beneath her unitl she consistently has success there. If its not beneath the BEST amateurs (which she has never been) its not beneath her.

Others have been successful at an early age, you just don't hear about anyone but Wie. The year after she won the publinx at 13, a 14 year old won it. A 12 year old once went through sectional qualifying to make the US Open (perhaps a more impressive feat than anything Wie has done). You also don't hear much about Wie's notable flops. When she missed the cut at whatever men's tour event she played in 2004, she was everywhere. At the same event in 2005 she was terrible, and the press ignored it. When she lost early in the 2004 US Amateur, or missed the cut on the minor men's tour, nary a word.

I am not trying to write her off at all - her publinx win, top 15 finish at last year's US Open, finishing second last week, and even playing reasonably well at the men's event in 2004 are all incredible accomplishments. I just think whoever is deciding her playing schedule is doing her golf game a disservice, as well as really insulting the amateur players who would give her more game than she ever imagined.

[k0ruptr]

she just qualified for the us amateur pub linx becoming the first female to qualify for an adult male U.S. Golf Association championship. good job at 15.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by k0ruptr

she just qualified for the us amateur pub linx becoming the first female to qualify for an adult male U.S. Golf Association championship. good job at 15.

It would be interesting to see what the Masters would do were she to win (however unlikely that may be).

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Samdari

It would be interesting to see what the Masters would do were she to win (however unlikely that may be).

Hootie from Augusta National already said if she qualifies, that she can play. They want her there, because the course is suited for her and it'd be a HUGE media spectacle.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Samdari

Sure, but she can only play 7 pro (LPGA) events a year. She needs to play WAY more often than that to develop to her full potential. She should be playing a lot more amateur events, which would provide her with plenty of competition, given her current level of skill. All I am saying is that she should not consider amateur competition beneath her unitl she consistently has success there. If its not beneath the BEST amateurs (which she has never been) its not beneath her.

Others have been successful at an early age, you just don't hear about anyone but Wie. The year after she won the publinx at 13, a 14 year old won it. A 12 year old once went through sectional qualifying to make the US Open (perhaps a more impressive feat than anything Wie has done). You also don't hear much about Wie's notable flops. When she missed the cut at whatever men's tour event she played in 2004, she was everywhere. At the same event in 2005 she was terrible, and the press ignored it. When she lost early in the 2004 US Amateur, or missed the cut on the minor men's tour, nary a word.

I am not trying to write her off at all - her publinx win, top 15 finish at last year's US Open, finishing second last week, and even playing reasonably well at the men's event in 2004 are all incredible accomplishments. I just think whoever is deciding her playing schedule is doing her golf game a disservice, as well as really insulting the amateur players who would give her more game than she ever imagined.

Of course you hear about her flops. I mean, I'm always looking. Tiger didn't make the cut at any men's tournaments when he was 15, either. So if the best golfer in the world didn't, I'll give her a pass.

The fact is, she's still doing this stuff consistently. If she was a flash in the pan, she would've already succumb to the pressure by now. She's obviously playing for the love of the game. Because if BJ ( her dad) and co. wanted to,they could obviously take her pro right now and she'd get plenty exemptions enough to get an LPGA tour card. Sure you could say then she'd have to deliver all the time. But, Tiger doesn't play that many tournaments in a year either.

She's probably going to be the same. I don't see how playing against men isn't "helping" her. They're obviously better than she is overall. Annika played against men just once, as a way to take what she learned to the LPGA and has dominated since playing at Colonial.

Michelle is obviously playing well, overall, and would easily have qualified for the tour, if she wanted to bother. I don't see how anyone can deny that she's not doing stuff that no one else has, consistently, week in and week out - and how by doing that, she's not proving her worth.

If you think she'll flame out at 20, then I can see that. But Tiger was immensely successful as an Amateur and the question everyone had was "can it translate to a pro game when he decides to leave college." It did, but not overnight.

Why go that route and play in a lot of - for all intents and purposes - useless tournaments against a bunch of players who won't ever make it to the big time, when you're getting exemptions and offers to play against the best now.

Study them, learn from them, watch them and then...get better herself. It's the best learning lab in golf and she's being given unprecedented access to participate. I think her dad realizes he couldn't PAY for that kind of coaching, but if she wanted to stop, surely he'd let her.

I think she's motivating herself, because she's the one that consistently delivers when it counts. Is she perfect? Hell no.

The 12-year old you're talking about is Morgan Pressel. She's 17 now. She finished behind Michelle at the Kraft Nabisco this year. She's committed to Duke University, but says that she think she can win the US Women's Open.

Should be interesting to see.