Apparently there's some big golf tournament going on

Sports writers and golf bloggers are covering the U.S. Open and Oakmont Country Club with the same fervor of CNN covering Paris Hilton. No detail left unreported.

Of course the difference is sports writers and golf bloggers are supposed to write about golf. It's right there in their titles. The Cable News Network is supposed to cover the news. Even if they could somehow win an argument that Paris Hilton is news, that doesn't excuse them from failing to report on all the real news going on while they spend 24 hours on Shawskank Redemption (thanks, Jon Stewart).

But since this isn't the Shmaily Shmow, I'll get back to golf.

There is so much being said about this tournament and the golf course that I really don't feel I have much to add. Just like I do, you can get all the latest from the fine bloggers in my links list as well as the journalists on the commercial sites. I'll just watch and root on my favorites like the fan I am. And I'll be checking in with Brandon Tucker for live bloggerage from the event. Congrats to Worldgolf for getting media credentials for their bloggers at recent events!

Speaking of Worldgolf, they're conducting a survey and if you complete it, you're entered into a drawing to win a set of Ping clubs and bag.

Next post.

Gotta weigh in on Wie

Exactly what does it mean to be non-competitive? Well, the LPGA has put a number on it: 88.

If a non-member shoots an 88 or higher in an LPGA tournament, she is banned from LPGA events for the rest of the year. Golf writers have been typing until they're blue in the hands about Michelle Wie's withdrawal from last week's Ginn Tribute.

In case you've somehow managed to miss the coverage, the gist is that she withdrew from the event after playing 16 holes including five bogeys, a double, a triple and even a quintuple-bogey (!) leaving her just two bogeys short of reaching that dreaded 88. However, she claims she withdrew because her previously injured wrist was bothering her. (Like, I tweaked it, you know?)

Would they have allowed her to withdraw if the reason was avoiding the 88 rule? No? So if that was the reason, she had to lie. What? Dishonesty is frowned upon in golf? It shows a lack of respect for the game, its rules, and your fellow players? Like, whatever. I guess it's the truth, then.

There have been implications of a conspiracy involving LPGA officials and agents that warned Wie to drop out despite the rules on giving and receiving advice except from a caddie. Speaking of advice, there was a questionable situation in that same round in which she might have received those dreaded two strokes in the form of a penalty because her father gave her advice on that triple-bogey hole (they didn't assess the penalty because she didn't ask for the advice - though I agree with Beth Ann Baldry that perhaps the "didn't ask" clause isn't meant to include parents or coaches).

Yet another rule she gets away with not breaking - this time because she's a non-member and it doesn't apply - is that she played the golf course the week before the tournament, something members are barred from doing.

Learning how to avoid these types of mistakes (and learning that they are mistakes) can be done by players as they work their way up the ranks, playing in events in which they can compete and getting accustomed to the rules, etiquette and decorum expected of a professional golfer. This isn't to say that Wie can't be competitive in LPGA events. Of course she can, but her camp of marketers has launched her into a spotlight where every misstep is highlighted and must be defended.

The controversy surrounding her, plus her lack of experience leading to many of the blunders (like needing advice from a parent in the first place), plus her entire camp's superstar attitude as if golf should be a laissez-faire system (but only for her) just eats away at my brain like the buzz of a casino when I get back to my hotel room. I think it leaves a bad taste in the mouths of anyone who cares about the rules of golf.

So what do we have here...

• Possible dishonest withdrawal
  
• Receiving advice
• Pre-playing the course

All this in one tournament - no, one ROUND - on an LPGA Tour event. Funny thing is, sponsors are going to be chomping at the bit to give her more and more exemptions to LPGA and PGA Tour events because of all this. Just look at all the attention it generates.

So what about PGA Tour Events?

After conducting exhaustive research a quick google, I was unable to find any specific score associated with non-competitiveness on the PGA Tour. I guess that rule is a little more subjective over there. And Michelle Wie, Inc. excels at exploiting subjective rules.

I'm currently reading John Feinstein's book Tales from Q School, from which I learned that in that tournament (the qualifying tournament for the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour), players will be deemed non-competitive if they don't "come close to breaking 80" in four rounds. The PGA doesn't just ban these players for a year, they maintain a list of non-competitive players and make them prove that they can compete, essentially qualifying to qualify. The idea is that it's not fair for players to be distracted by non-competitive players in a tournament that can make or break their careers. Q-School is grueling and a rite of passage that most players on the PGA Tour have had to endure, many of them several times. To go through all that just to be distracted from a PGA Tour event by a non-competitive player (or even sideshow) when they know they'll have to go back to Q-School if they don't produce... well, that certainly can't be fair.

Remember Casey Martin, the golfer with the degenerative disease in his leg that took the PGA Tour all the way to the Supreme Court for the right to play in a cart and won? All the attention from that case made him into something of a sideshow as well, but he had the respect for the game not to exploit the system with his star power. Martin went back to Q-School year after year and played on the developmental tours in between, trying to work his way up to the PGA Tour. He did not use his stardom to apply for exemptions and try to make some cuts and maybe win enough money to stay. According to Tales from Q School, Martin "thought it pointless to take a spot in the field from someone else when he was likely to miss the cut." I guess that's because he knows how hard it is for those guys to earn their way there. No matter where you stand on the cart/no cart issue, you have to respect him for that.

Some people may blame the sponsors for giving Wie exemptions in the first place. I'm sure she doesn't even have to apply for them, they're just thrown in her lap. But that doesn't mean she has to accept them. Some poor schmuck is going to have to go back to Q-School because some non-competitive player took up a coveted spot in the field in one too many tournaments. Of course, there is no way for a female player to earn her way to the PGA Tour. Not officially, at least. But maybe the next time she plays on an exemption and doesn't "come close to breaking 80"(the standard for Q-School), maybe she should get a letter of non-competitiveness and be kept on file. Would they let her attempt Q-School? Even if she qualified to qualify? I doubt she'd dare if they did.




Oh, and... pssst.... Ms. Bivens... over here. How about a golf blogger's exemption? I've been known to break 88 and who knows, I could string together a couple of miracle rounds and possibly make a cut. Okay, probably not, but think of the publicity we could generate!

Next post.

Commentary on The Masters and a proposed new PGA Tour slogan

These Guys are Good Pretty Good Better than You.

Whether it's all part of the hoax or not, Tiger Woods looked almost human at The Masters.

In fact, Augusta National Golf Club made a bunch of professional golfers look silly this year. The combination of the weather, the rock hard course conditions, insanely slick greens and magnitude of the event made for unprecedented high scores at The Masters this year. The more it gets to you, the more it'll get to you.

The shot that doesn't fly as far as you'd expect and spins back into the water starts you thinking.

Now that you're thinking, you miss a putt by less than an inch and it ends up 10 feet away from the hole which makes you nervous.

Now that you're nervous, your next tee shot finds the trees and forces you to lay up (if you can get out) and now you're scared.

Now that you're scared, you remember where you are and you try too hard instead of just playing your game.

Now that you've abandoned your game, you'll be lucky to shoot even par.

Don't try to tell me these guys made bad swings, poor decisions and squeaky putts because their skill sets weren't strong enough. They should be able to adapt to difficult course conditions, formulate sound strategies, club up and calm down. They got rattled on that first demanding day and their mental games failed them.

The strangest thing about it all for me is that every golf writer or blogger I've read is complaining that it was no fun to watch! Au contraire!

Now it's not that I enjoy watching people suffer (not that anyone who gets invited to play at Augusta - in The Masters, no less - should be considered to be suffering at any time) but watching them struggle a bit allowed me to relate a little better to the players.

Of course, if in some parallel universe I actually got to play that course in those conditions from a special set of tees at a reasonable distance even without the added pressure of the event, I'd be lucky to break 100. But the point is, their struggles were recognizable. I am very familiar with punching out from the trees and hitting from drop areas and three putting. I could practically feel myself there doing it.

Unlike Zach Johnson whose dream of playing in The Masters was realistic, most of us will have to settle for watching others do it. Perhaps a realistic dream for mere mortals is to watch them do it in a recognizable fashion.

For me, this tournament was not only not boring, it took entertainment to a new level for golf. Even if my skills could improve enough so I could play more like the pros, this may have been the closest I'll ever get to playing Augusta.

Next post.

The "other Goose" puts up a dramatic win and Jennifer Mario has nothing to say?

I can't believe it. Jennifer Mario, probably the biggest Goosen fan in the golf blogosphere, has nothing to say about Retief's win at the Qatar Masters? For crying out loud, he birdied 17 and eagled the final hole to do it - it doesn't get much more dramatic than that. AND he hadn't won in over a year. I know you've been absent from blogging for awhile, Jennifer, but come on! Where are you??? Is your book Michelle Wie: The Making of a Champion keeping you so busy that worldgolf, travelgolf and all your readers are just dust in your taillights? If a Goosen win doesn't call you out, what will?

(Photo of Jennifer Mario by Tonya Locke from the back cover of Jennifer's book Michelle Wie: The Making of a Champion. Photo of Retief Goosen with his trophy at the Qatar Masters - what the hell is that thang?)

I mean really... my Goose (THE Goose) gets more press than Retief. And everyone else is busy talking about Tiger. It's the least you could do.

The old lady diva gets the ink.

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Steroid testing in golf

Some women are naturally stronger or more athletic than others. Some really work on their bodies to increase their strength and skills. Some are more logically than emotionally oriented. These women already have an edge against their peers and will be among the first to be accused of "juicing."

I know from experience that such an accusation, however tongue-in-cheek it is disguised, can rile a girl. A word to the innocent - don't react angrily; it'll just fuel their malice or raillery with innuendos of 'roid rage to further push your buttons.

My new column on Worldgolf.com discusses the topic of steroid testing in golf.

For more opinions on this subject, check out these posts on The Sand Trap, Golf Punk and The Golf Blogger. If I've left out your favorite reference or you have your own opinions, let me know!

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Golf horoscopes, why I'm like Tiger Woods, and why to bet on Natalie Gulbis

It is Friday night, right? I expected to be doing something else tonight but my other half is down with some kind of nasty cold. Rather than dosing up on Airborne and Emergen-C like I'm known to do in such situations, I opted instead to go the route of the martini. Truth be told, I intended to do the martini thing last night but I never got around to it, so I am glad for the opportunity. And though I've cautioned in the past against drinking and flogging, here I am - sitting with my Goose, my martini (also a goose of the gray variety even though they spell it wrong) and Tom Waits, typing away. I have to say that these blue cheese olives I bought at BevMo suck. Shoulda stuck to my own hand-stuffed freshies. Ah well, live and learn.

I suppose I should find the point. Not the one on my head (I actually have a pointy skull and if I ever shaved my head I'd probably look like a real Conehead - my parents swear they didn't drop me) but an actual golf-related type of point. Ah yes, golf horoscopes.

While sitting here surfing around, I found a site called Pargazer which is my new favorite site. This ain't my first square dance, though, so I won't stick it in my links list just yet. (Ever really connect with someone at a bar and declare them your new bestest friend and swear you'll call?)

ANYWAY - Why do I like this site so much? It actually likens me to Tiger Woods simply because I was born within a few days of him. It's mostly a site that sells stuff, but the gimmick is golf humor and horoscopes. I think we all like to believe in the reading of the stars when it's favorable. Which is why so many horoscopes focus on the positive aspects of a person's sign. This one uses the same general horoscopic - did I just invent that word? - theories and applies them to a person's golf game. It's pretty fun, actually.

I'm a goat, through and through. Hey, maybe that point on my head is actually a horn trying to stick through. No, that would make me a unicorn. Nevermind. Almost everything I've read about Capricorns pretty accurately describes me. Even the bad stuff. I'm a major astronomy geek which makes some people see irony in that I'm also terribly fascinated by astrology. Not Capricorns, though. They know that while we may be commonly known as pragmatists we can also be quite creative and apply that flair to our logic. When you really think about the cohesive nature of the universe, why wouldn't the position of the stars at the exact moment of our births have something to do with our personalities and indeed, everything about us? I could go on and on and delve into quantum physics and really rationalize this.

But oh yeah - this is a golf blog. And I'm like Tiger Woods. Just lookie here:

But wait a minute...

Isn't it interesting that there's no mention of noted female Capricorn golfers? Nancy Lopez and Natalie Gulbis are both Capricorns. Shame on you, Pargazer! Now you're not getting on my links list for sure (as if they'll feel the pain). I'm not going to spend any time researching this right now but it seems to me that horoscopes are typically more of a chick thing and the folks at Pargazer are morons for not knowing their audience.

There may be critics who say Natalie hasn't won, she won't win, she doesn't "have it," she's too "flaky." If anyone doubts what Natalie Gulbis will accomplish, hear me now: if she wants to win at golf, she will. She may be too busy right now applying her dogged Capricorn-ness to enlisting sponsors, endorsements and fans at the moment, but when she really focuses on golf, watch out! Calendars Looks fade; skills develop. She's a goat, alright!

Okay, so I'm way older, shinier and drunker, but can't you see the Capricorn in us both?

Next post.

Say it ain't so, Phil!

While looking over some more Birdie Girl bloggerage, I saw a disappointing report about Phil Mickelson on Score Golf.

Phil will "most likely" use Callaway's FT-i square driver at the Masters this year. Seems he's convinced the thing will help him hit it straighter. I don't know if that's the magic bullet or not but if he's got it in his head that it will do the trick, that might be all it takes. He's got his body in better shape. As for whether he's got his mind right, that he's using one of those weird square things makes me think he doesn't.

I was wondering if any Tour players were going to try one.


As for the technology, he's almost got me convinced with this quote:

The FT-i isn’t an evolutionary driver, it’s a revolutionary driver,” Mickelson said. “Because the MOI is so high, because the ball goes so straight it doesn’t want to curve. That’s why I’m leaning towards that driver for Augusta. I’m not really trying to maneuver it or curve it; I’m just trying to hit high bombs.

If that's the case, why is he only "leaning towards" it? Maybe he's waiting for the jury of his peers to weigh in on it to see if he's going to get laughed off Augusta National if he shows up with it in his bag.

Hmm... two posts in a row about ugly drivers. Dude, I hope they don't prove out and force me to eat my words, buy one and play blindfolded! Maybe the look will grow on me???

Next post.

Tadd Fujikawa - where's your shiny Rolex?

You're a sixteen year-old amateur. You're playing in the Sony Open against the big boys. You eagle the final hole on Friday to make the cut by three strokes. The world knows your name and image and you have multi-million dollar endorsement deals with Nike...... screeeeeeeeeeeeech.

Sorry about that last part. That's the girl behind you in the funky hat. She has the weekend off. The cameras and attention will be on you really soon. Really. As soon as they're done back there. Maybe tomorrow when she's gone.

Paula Creamer isogood and calendar

There is a golf photoblog called "onedayoneshot" and that's exactly what it is. Every day the owner and artist, Patrick Micheletti posts a new golf photograph and each image is truly amazing. For a long time I had it on my links list under "other golf sites" and consequently forgot to check it regularly. I moved it to my "favorite golf blogs" category so that I might better remember to get my daily fix. Either way it's no loss because I can always scroll back through the days if I've missed any.

A couple days ago, Patrick posted this beauty of Paula Creamer. You really have to look at the photos on his site, though. It is set up to display them in all their stunning glory .

I'm no fashionista but I know what I like and what I don't. Paula will occasionally make a misstep in my opinion but this is not one of them. I do like pink in the right combinations and I especially like it with brown. In fact, I wore my own brown and pink set of duds just yesterday. Sure, she still completely over-accessorizes but she's a young little chippie so somehow it works for her. This is a fine getup. And let's not overlook her concentration! I'd like to think I wouldn't be looking at the ball yet, either.

But the real approbation goes to Patrick for his photos, not Paula for her outfits. I am simply in awe of his work.

In the same Paula post, he provided a link to a site with Paula Creamer's calendar. Personally, I like Patrick's photos better. Maybe she should hire him for her 2008 offering. Now don't go thinking her calendar is one of those salacious or semi-naked PR machinations. Paula's got more class than that. Or at least more modesty.

Next post.

Oh Lord, Won't you Buy Me a Mercedes Benz

Okay, so I have nowhere near the amount of soul to pull off that song.

And I'll probably never get a real Mercedes-Benz as a gift.

But I like to think that the PGA Tour and its players are honoring my birthday by kicking off their season today on Maui with the Mercedez-Benz Champonship at the Plantation Course of the Kapalua Resort.

I just wish they would have brought me with them. Maybe a couple days early, you know? Perhaps play a *friendly* round with Adam Scott or something? Warm him up a bit? Just thinking out loud here. Or at least thinking through my fingertips. Oh don't be like that - you know what I mean.

Next post.

Unofficial Ryder Cup news

Seeing that for the American team, there's nowhere to go but up, Paul Azinger gladly accepts his appointment as Captain for the 2008 Ryder Cup.


His history with Europe's captain, Nick Faldo, should make for an interesting Ryder Cup, not to mention two years of material for golf writers around the world.

Next post.

The Pink Panther goes too far

I don't have anything against the color pink. In fact, I'm quite fond of it.

I also don't have any problem with Paula Creamer declaring her devotion to the color pink. Gimmicks are good for marketing.

However, all things in moderation.

Maybe her collision with the Pepto Bismol truck on Sunday at the Samsung World Championship was in recognition of Breast Cancer awareness month. Even if it was, come on, Paula! Would an accent color hurt so much? Even a pink golf ball? I'm glad you weren't in the final group because I couldn't have handled having to look at you long enough to watch the coverage.


I usually like the fashion choices she makes, which, coming from me is probably insulting since my own fashion choices often end up looking like garanimals.

I remember an unfortunate incident of my own from when I was about 12 years old. My favorite color at the time was purple. Somewhere, there are actually photographs of me on a ski slope wearing purple ski pants, a purple parka over a purple turtleneck and purple sweater, with purple gloves, a purple hat, purple earmuffs and purple sunglasses. I looked like a human grape. I wonder if when Paula is older she will want these photos of her to disappear as much as I hope those photos of me never see daylight. The difference is I was twelve and just out having fun with my family. Paula Creamer, while still quite young, is a professional golfer on a world stage.

So, Paula, chalk one up to the mistakes column and learn from it. That saying about there not being such a thing as bad publicity is for those who can't get the good kind.

Next post.

It's finally time for the Ryder Cup!

Finally, the golf event with the most build up is upon us!

In my opinion, this event is worthy of all the recognition it receives. Yes, even more than the Masters. It's about the best golfers in the world competing for honor, not money. Not that there's anything wrong with money, but golf is a game of honor, with rules largely enforced by its own players. I can't think of another sporting event that compares. Sure, you have the olympics (where the athletes used to be amateurs) but those sports are either judged or ruled over by officials at every play.

Now that I'm a golfer, I'm a golf fan. Now that I'm a golf fan, I have chosen my favorite golf event. It is the Ryder Cup. Others have their advantages and I like them for different reasons, but I hereby make my choice official.

There is SO much television coverage with this one! Still, the only day that conflicts with my Angel's attempt to rally against the A's in their pursuit of the playoffs is Saturday. I'm sure my TiVo(s) and I will figure something out!

Hey, Team U.S.A. I think the European team is trying to tell you something with this photo. It'll be like taking candy from a baby! Go get that trophy!
(photo: Getty images from www.rydercup.com)

Next post.

Do Wie really need another post on Michelle?

Or another not-so-clever use of Wie in a sentence?

Awhile back, I put in my two cents on how Michelle Wie should gauge her success (or failure). Other than that, I have avoided commenting on all the hype and hoopla surrounding her.

My blogger friend Tony over at the Hooked on Golf blog is calling for a boycott on all "Wie articles" until she wins something. How does he do it? With an article on Wie, of course. For this post, he asked me for a quote. Since he's so special, I broke my own unspoken boycott to comment for him. I figure I should go ahead and post my own words here as well and leave it at that. At least for now.

If you've ever read my blog, you know that this is actually a short quote for me. Of course I have more to say on the issue, I just can't be bothered. Here is the quote I gave Tony:

Michelle’s failures in the PGA tour events aren’t so much about her being female as they are about her lacking experience. However, her performance to date definitely indicates that her presence there in the first place has everything to do with that “novelty” aspect which is gender related. It’s becoming embarassing. Maybe they should start a “teen phenom” tour and have all the best boys and girls compete against one another. Then she could gain the experience she needs without having to accept all the sponsors’ exemptions and the boys would have a shot as well since they’re not getting those now. She does need to play more than the LPGA is currently allowing before she can get her card, I just don’t think it should be with proven players on the PGA when many mini-tour players could kick her ass. I think her ambitions are terrific and she should stick to them, but she needs a better path and better representation in order to get there instead of being a cash cow.

Next post.

British Open Ups and Downs

Up until almost two years ago when I started playing golf myself, watching golf on TV for me was like watching paint dry. Now that I am a golfer and I understand the challenge I'm watching, I still find myself falling asleep with the Tivo remote in my hand. Now it's more like watching someone paint: sometimes it's a masterpiece and sometimes it's a white wall. The Open Championship had a bit of both for me.

Getting up

Watching Tiger Woods play a nearly flawless round (or four) is pretty amazing. He made some exciting shots even though his game was really safe. The final round had plenty of drama and intensity, especially if you were rooting for Chris DiMarco like I was. Having Ernie Els in the mix was fun and made things interesting, too. And watching Tiger's emotional floodgates breaking down on the last hole was delicious. You could almost see his composure seeping out as he walked to the green and finished the hole. Then, when it finally broke, it was a dramatic demonstration of how impressive his focus really is. He wore that competitive golf robot persona for the entire tournament and wow, was it heavy. His emotional display brought tears to several people's eyes and almost had me as well. Good for him. Nice win.

A little privacy, please? I guess the price you pay for being the best golfer in the world and earning all the money that goes with it is having your intimate moments in public. But could that camera guy get any closer? Photo from Golfweb.com.

Getting down

Having said that, 18 under at a major? Seven players were double digits below par. What a dull course! I know it's probably like golf blasphemy to criticize such a historic golf course, but come on! Boring. And ugly. Have these guys ever heard of watering a course? The announcers kept talking about the lack of rain there. There's this thing called irrigation. Blech.

Looking at the course from the air is actually quite nice. From the ground it's another story.
Photo from Golf Digest.

Tiger was smart to just play it safe and keep the ball in the fairway. Sure, he's more of a machine than other players and can make more of those longer approach shots, but it was a pretty easy course for most of those guys anyway. And if more of them played that safe strategy, the Royal would have been an even duller dullsville.

Moving on

I often sit around and ponder... how can I be more like Michael Bamberger? But who doesn't, am I right? I said earlier it was a "nice win" for Tiger. Or was it?

In the Conditions section on the entry form for the Open, it states that caddies must wear the Open Championship bib during all practice rounds and the championship. It also states that players are responsible for the conduct of their caddies as well as their adherence to the conditions. Steve Williams removed his bib on the 18th hole before play was concluded. On the 18th hole! Of course Tiger and Steve had gaggles of cameras on them for the whole tournament, but the most visible spot and seen by more people than anything is the 18th green and the winner. People who don't watch or care to watch golf will see it in the newspapers and on TV without trying. And Steve wasn't in the correct attire.

Without Steve's bib, how are we to know which winning Sunday this is for Tiger?
Photo from Golfweb.com.

So, should that have been a two stroke penalty? Or a DQ? The Conditions also state that the championship committee can amend and interpret the conditions, so I guess it's up to them. Taking the win away from Tiger for such a technicality would be scandalous, for sure. But when it comes to golf, rules are usually rules.

Next post.

Tricky Masters coverage - set your DVR right!

Awhile back, I put up a post called "TiVo tips for golf fans." Among other things, it explains how to set up a Wishlist in order to make sure it automatically records all the golf you want. My "PGA" keyword wishlist gets a whole lot of golf, even things I don't want. But the one glaring thing it misses is the Masters!

I mentioned in that post that I have a separate keyword wishlist for the Masters, but I just checked my to-do list and it wasn't on there. Turns out I didn't have it set to auto record, so I needed to view upcoming episodes and tell it to record. Now, I'm not really big on watching sports on TV and I don't follow the Masters like some obsessed mediaguru, so I didn't even know on what channel to look for it. Good thing my wishlist tracked it down.

In case you don't know (and I don't know if it's even true in all areas), it's on USA the first two days and CBS over the weekend. So if you're already at work and didn't set your TiVo right, just come on over to my place tonight and we'll all have a party watching it. Then get out and set your own DVR for the rest of it! You've been warned! :)

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My two cents on Michele Wie - don't forget my change

Whose yardstick will Michele Wie use to measure her success?

Will she be a failure if she doesn’t win X number of tournaments in her first year as a pro? In her first 5 years? 10 years?

Will she be a failure if she doesn’t outperform Paula Creamer in her first year? First 5?

Will she be a failure if she doesn’t out-gross Tiger Woods’ total earnings to date in her first year? First 5?

Come on!

Photo © UPI

I’ve held off commenting on the Wie situation because there’s enough of that squabbling going around and I usually try to keep this blog more about my own story/experience/development as a golfer. However, I think I’ve got a way to do both: by offering Michele my own yardstick. (Not that she wants it- doesn't every golfer dream of having her talent?)

To me, she’s already a success. I’d love to see her have more success and achieve her goals. I’d love to see her do well in the LPGA and the PGA and I bet she will. But if her pro career ended today, she wouldn’t be a failure to me. I’d be disappointed, because I want to watch her progress.

A discourse on success and happiness

Me? I’d be happy just eking out a modest living playing golf so that I didn’t have to do anything else unless I wanted. At least I think I would. I suppose that might take some of the “fun” out of it. Ideally…

*Cue the dream-scene music* I could just play whenever and wherever I wanted without worrying about a pesky day job. But I’d be good enough so that I could compete with the best in the world, male or female. Sometimes I might even make a top ten. Heck, sometimes I might even win! And I understand that in golf, the better you are, the better you want to be. At the top level of golf, all you can do to be better is win more often or win by a greater margin.

*Needle across the record of the dream-scene music* I could get really philosophical and dissect the meaning of “better” and how losses develop character and character and behavior are more defining parts of a champion than a low score - but I won’t. And I don’t want to give you the wrong idea so I should tell you that I love competing and winning and I’m not one of those people who think they shouldn’t keep score in little league.

*Re-cue the dream-scene music* I don’t even need the gazillions in endorsement dollars to complete this dream scenario, but if I have to be 15 again, (not to mention be 15 and grow up in front of the judgmental world), I’ll take those gazillions for my pain and suffering.

You see, there’s a difference between being the absolute best, being a champion, and being successful. And people can be happy without being any of those in anyone else’s eyes. Oh yes they can, and they certainly should. Of course that becomes a lot harder when you’re in the public eye. If I had to guess, I’d say Michele Wie will be happy by being the best she can possibly be. And maybe to her that can mean being the best in the world at some point. Starting a pro career at 15, she certainly has time. But if that is her goal, it’s because she wants it, not because some sportscaster thinks she should. And it’s especially not because some blogger thinks she should. She’s got to set her own goals and her own timetables to achieve them. I really hope she’s not listening to all the hype –positive or negative. Actors talk about not listening to critics, but actors don’t have to worry about the impact that can have on their games the next day. How a single extra stroke caused by that loss of focus could make or break a round.

Like any golfer, pro or not, Michele’s just got to play her own game.

I changed my mind... you can keep the change.

Should be filed under the "more power to her" category, if I had one.

Next post.