Wie's Round, Father's Actions Elicit Sympathy, Concern from Playing Partners

by Mulligan Stu on Jun 1, 2007 10:21 AM EDT

Here's a sign of just how bad it was for Michelle Wie at the Ginn Tribute on Thursday: Her playing partners felt sorry for her.

In a sobering look at her first round at espn.com, Eric Adelson explains a situation on the 13th hole in which Wie's father, B.J., may have crossed a line:

She pushed her drive into the trees on the par-3 15th, then searched for her ball. Her mother, father, caddie and a family friend helped look for it before she called an unplayable lie.

Then Wie's father, B.J., said something to her caddie. More than one reporter present heard him say, "What about the tee?" Within seconds, Michelle decided to go back to the tee to hit again. She told her playing partners to putt out as she walked back to the beginning of the hole.

Playing partner Janice Moodie cautioned B.J. about Rule 8-1, which forbids a player from soliciting advice. "During a stipulated round," the rule states, "a player must not ... ask for advice from anyone other than his partner or either of their caddies." The penalty is 2 strokes. After Wie blocked her second shot and ended up with a triple-bogey, B.J. approached rules official Angus McKenzie and spoke with him for several minutes while his daughter moved to the next hole. McKenzie said later that B.J. had an explanation for the interaction, saying he was only asking the caddie, "What are the options?"

Technically, there is no rules violation because Michelle did not actively ask for help. But McKenzie told B.J., "When in doubt, don't."

Playing partner Alena Sharp said of Wie, "She didn't look like she was there. She didn't focus like usual." And Sharp is quoted by Adelson, speaking about the incident with B.J.:

"Anybody can say something from outside the ropes," she said. "But he was too close. He's always so close to her. You're going to get your daughter in trouble. Everyone at the range was talking about it."

And later:

"I kind of felt bad for her," Sharp said. "She didn't seem happy."

Adelson's article also details what likely happened to bring about Wie's withdrawal: LPGA Tour officials might have been looking out for her regarding the "Rule of 88." Commissioner Carolyn Bivens showed up on Wie's hole at one point; shortly thereafter an LPGA Tour official approached Wie's manager. Then the manager called aside Wie (a different article states the manager kept Wie's mother Bo from joining the conversation) and Wie then withdrew.

It's starting to look like Wie is going to be very happy to get to Stanford.

Unsolicited PR advice: Withdraw from the John Deere. And no matter what mom and dad say, take as much time as you need to feel comfortable that your wrist injuries have fully healed.

It's time that Wie's advisors - outside of her parents - started standing up to her parents for her, even if it costs them their jobs.

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chill pill

everyone needs to chill out, not just wie's parents but also the media and fans. she's 17 and already gettin written off. take a break people, there's a lot more to this story

"Not even God can hit a 1-iron." - Lee Trevino

by 1ironCharlie on Jun 1, 2007 10:42 PM EDT reply actions