Michelle Wie turns pro

[CanadianChris 0]

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=2167196

 

The article says Wie will be the highest-paid female golfer. I wouldn't be surprised to see her become the highest-paid female athlete, period, in a very short time.

 

The thing to watch is going to be whether she can fulfill all the hype that's been on her for the last three years or so. She's been criticized a lot for jumping up and playing LPGA events, men's amateur events, and even PGA tour events, and not developing a sense of what it takes to win in events at her own level, as Tiger Woods did. Granted, the women's game is quite different from the men's game, but Wie is going to find herself in the middle of a lot of great young talent who already know how to win (most notably Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel) who would love nothing more than to know Wie off her huge media-created pedestal.

 

This should be very interesting to watch for the next year or two, even if you're not that into women's golf.

[Mik 0]

I dunno about highest paid female athlete. Sharapova makes a mint.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=2167196

 

The article says Wie will be the highest-paid female golfer.  I wouldn't be surprised to see her become the highest-paid female athlete, period, in a very short time.

 

The thing to watch is going to be whether she can fulfill all the hype that's been on her for the last three years or so.  She's been criticized a lot for jumping up and playing LPGA events, men's amateur events, and even PGA tour events, and not developing a sense of what it takes to win in events at her own level, as Tiger Woods did.  Granted, the women's game is quite different from the men's game, but Wie is going to find herself in the middle of a lot of great young talent who already know how to win (most notably Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel) who would love nothing more than to know Wie off her huge media-created pedestal.

 

This should be very interesting to watch for the next year or two, even if you're not that into women's golf.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

It should be indeed. This, along with a long overdue Solheim Cup win might develop some more interest in women's golf. (Anyone else remember the brief boom in Canada when Lorie Kane won a tourney in 2000?)

 

The point about her potential success/failures is something only time will tell.

 

I mean, she's clearly contended in LPGA events, but she really needs to make a quality name for herself on the women's side before she should be playing on the men's circuit. I think it would reflect poorly upon women's golf if she missed too many cuts on the PGA side.

 

Having said that, it's a matter of time before she wins a few on women's side, and we could see a big four or five on the horizon, like we do with the men, which is what makes it such a great time to be a golf fan.

[Guest I miss Test.]

Forget even LPGA events, she should be playing amateur stuff with people her own age... the only thing she's won was the Publinks a couple years ago. Forget trying to play on every tour, and conquer each step. Let's try competing in the women's amateur instead of finding the cheapest way to qualify for the Masters at 16 just because her people see $$$$.

 

It's a shame how she's being handled... because her talent is unbelievable, something we'll likely never see again from a young woman.