[Don_Mahaffey]

Sponsors rule...now more than ever.
This is a joke as there are many more deserving of an exemption than Wie.

Yes, pro sports are all about entertaining, but time after time it has been proven that the best entertainment is competition at the highest level…not a sideshow, which is what this is all about.

[John_Conley]

This is a joke as there are many more deserving of an exemption than Wie.

Don, golfers playing on a Sponsor's Exemption don't exactly have a track record of a lot of success.  I wouldn't give her one, but it isn't like she took a spot from someone you'd tune in to see during 1st or 2nd round coverage.

[Mike Mosely]

why?  Because her parents never learn.

[John_Conley]

why?  Because her parents never learn.

Either that or she's no longer dating Robin (or was it Brook) Lopez and likes the 153:1 ratio.  She's legal now.

[Don_Mahaffey]

This is a joke as there are many more deserving of an exemption than Wie.

Don, golfers playing on a Sponsor's Exemption don't exactly have a track record of a lot of success.  I wouldn't give her one, but it isn't like she took a spot from someone you'd tune in to see during 1st or 2nd round coverage.

John,
While the masses may not tune in, I can think of a half dozen players more deserving...but then if Bill Veeck was still around she would be batting 4th for the ChiSox on the last day of the season.

[Richard Choi]

Or she decided PGA Tour doesn't run Banana Republic tournaments like LPGA does and she won't have to worry about DQ'ing again...

[Mike Hendren]

There's always Big Break XVI

[MargaretC]

There is a difference between supporting your child's efforts and making decisions for the child.

You can facilitate your child's practicing a musical instrument, but career choice decisions along those lines are usually the child's. The child can choose to audition for the NY Phil., but the child may need the parents prodding to get there. Or, the child may choose to be happy playing for the Colorado Springs Pops.

The news media has reported on MW's parents advising her not to play the men's events, but MW insisting on doing so. It has reported on Leadbetter (and her parents too, if I recall correctly) advising her not to play hurt last year, but MW was adamant about playing, and has since admitted it was a mistake.

Garland:

Who knows what the dynamics of the relationships are?  I'm just beginning to experience life with a teenager and am leaning quickly that the only constant is "change."  The other significant factor is a teenager's ego.  For years, Michelle was considered a rising star.  It has got to be most difficult for her to deal with her less than amazing pro track record.  The why behind the choices or who has been the primary driver in making the choices, will remain an unknown until she writes a book.  That said, at this point, I have no doubt that she wants to prove the naysayers wrong.  I'm also sure that she doesn't want to have to go to Q school to qualify -- that's a downer.  For good reasons or not, Michelle Wie continues to be a draw at events where she has played.  Especially after what happened in Ilinois, I have no problem imagining that Michelle made the decision to take this invitation.

A family friend met her when she played in an event in PA.  They said that she was a very sweet kid.  I feel sorry for her and hope she's able to put the conclusion of last weekend out of her mind as play as well as she was playing before she was DQ'd.

[Garland Bayley]

Phil's parents recognized early on that they had a headstrong kid on their hands, and sought professional advise on rearing such a child. I suspect the Wies didn't take such a route. Note that headstrong does not mean not sweet. I am sure Phil was a sweet kid too.

[Pete_Pittock]

Rainbow Man (RIP) would have a sign reading  6-6b instead of John 3:16

Actually I agree with this. She has a ton of publicity and is playing well.
The sponsor is looking out for his tournament. I''d rather watch it rather than Firestone and Kenny Perry if she doesn't bomb.

[Dan Herrmann]

Norman was the tragic hero.

Wie is just tragic.

[Phil_the_Author]

John,

You CORRECTLY observed, "Phillip, I know you are looney, but this is a new level.  How many tournaments does a low level assistant professional get to play?  Why would she do that?"

I was speaking quite tongue-in-cheek. Still, she does have many real options including going back to scholl as she said was her goal for the immediate future, yet she seems to be doing anything but that.

What I can't understand, and it certainly may have something to do with the extent of my looniness, is why so many people feel she actually deserves the privilege of playing competitively against the men of the PGA Tour? She has done nothing to show that it's even in the realm of reality and her showings in her past attempts to do so were near-unanimously viewed as both major mistakes and quite harmful to her development as a player.

Frankly, with tongue firmly out of cheek, what would be so degrading about her becoming an assistant professional and having a career as a teaching pro? There are a lot of talented players who could have done well on their tours who have chosen such a path.

Take away the huge endorsement deal and early PR blitz and the idea of working up and through a "normal route" onto the tour would be both expected and applauded.

I differ from those who suggest  that her biggest problem lies with her parents grandiose ideas and poor career guidance. Her biggest mistake was not becoming a lady Tiger Woods for, after all, isn't that how she was advertised and presented from the very beginning?

[RJ_Daley]

The hype:


The glitz and glamour:


The reality, stuck deep in the weeds...

[Dennis_Harwood]

Definition of Insanity = Continuing to make the same mistake over and over again!

(not sure if that is clinically correct, but it sure seems to apply)

[John_Conley]

What I can't understand, and it certainly may have something to do with the extent of my looniness, is why so many people feel she actually deserves the privilege of playing competitively against the men of the PGA Tour? She has done nothing to show that it's even in the realm of reality and her showings in her past attempts to do so were near-unanimously viewed as both major mistakes and quite harmful to her development as a player.

Frankly, with tongue firmly out of cheek, what would be so degrading about her becoming an assistant professional and having a career as a teaching pro? There are a lot of talented players who could have done well on their tours who have chosen such a path.

P.Y.: c'mon.  Who feels she "deserves the privilege..."?  The Reno is a bottom-run Tour event opposite a bigger event and nobody outside Reno cares.  Invite Michelle and voila, at least they're getting mentioned.  Has anyone said she deserves this based on her play?  That novelty wore off two years ago. 

Tongue firmly out of cheek, do you think she's more likely to teach lessons or become a runway fashion model?  Who wouldn't want to hang clothes on a pretty 5'11" icon?  I can think of 100 professions that are more likely than becoming an instructor.  Maybe not a driver's ed instructor, but probably anything else.  Doesn't matter.  She'll play golf for a long time.

[George Pazin]

Norman was the tragic hero.

Wie is just tragic.

C'mon, Dan, she is 18, give her a chance before you label her tragic!

I don't agree with her decision, as I think it was playing with the men that largely messed with her previously perfect rhythm, but it's her life and I'm not going to second guess every decision. I'm sure virtually everyone has made decisions that in hindsight appear less than sound.

[Joe Bausch]

This from David Duval:

"You're in or you're not in. It's pretty simple," Duval said. "Whether I agree if she should be playing - I think she would be better off on the Futures Tour competing against women - is neither here nor there. (Tournament director) Michael Stearns thinks she can bring people in, and that's his job. If some guy needs a spot in the field, chances are he's not going to sell any tickets. She might add 2,000."

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