Welcome to Those of You Who Just Started Caring About the Solheim Cup
by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 3, 2009 10:27 AM EDT
14 comments
Let me preface this post with a quick comment to my friends and readers that are avid LPGA Tour fans. This post is not for you, though you're welcome to chime in on it. This post is geared to the hundreds of thousands of people that will be searching "Michelle Wie solheim cup" on Google (or Bing or Yahoo!) this morning.
Michelle Wie was the final Captain's Pick for the Solheim Cup that is set to begin August 20th in Illinois at Rich Harvest Farms. Beth Daniel selected her for the squad based upon her quality of play this season - her first as an official member of the LPGA Tour.
Wie was 13th on the points list after the Women's British Open - the final event to earn points to make the top ten and earn an automatic berth onto the team. Daniel made it clear that it was tough to turn away Laura Diaz and Stacy Prammanasudh in lieu of Wie, but the neglible difference in points really indicated that Wie was the better player right now among those three. Her finish tied eleventh at the Women's British Open clearly secured the spot.
At age 49, Juli Inkster is still getting it done on the LPGA Tour. She was 16th in points after missing the cut at the Women's British Open - her second missed cut this season. Both came in majors. Inkster is yet to post a top ten this season, but her experience and fiery passion led friend Beth Daniel to pick her perhaps for the final time.
Now, Michelle Wie injects some serious public interest into a competition that has been dominated by the American side. In the ten prior Solheim Cups, the US has won seven of them. In 2007, the US went over onto Swedish soil to win the matches by a score of 16-12.
Frankly, I don't expect this competition to be particularly close. Though the American squad may be the youngest in recent memory, their record seems to stand out compared to the Europeans. All told, an American win that features Wie may well do wonders for the general public's perception of this event. Even better is that Wie clearly earned her way into this selection. That sentiment seemed strong in her response to the question of the feelings of being picked for this team.
"I am so honored and so thrilled. It was one of my biggest goals this year and I'm just so excited to be wearing this jacket and this hat and to be representing my country; it's such a thrill for me. I'm just so honored and so thankful that Beth picked me and I'll do my best not to let her down."
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Agreed
Good entry. Wie finished 13th based on her finishes this year alone and is more consistent in her recent finishes than Diaz. I don’t support the inclusion of Inkster on this team because her play has been poor, especially around the greens. However, as you point out in this post, the U.S. team is likely going to win anyway and it is not as if Inkster is going to be called on to carry this team.
Been a Reds fan since 1996 and am desperate for a playoff run.
by Britain United on Aug 3, 2009 10:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think that thought entered Beth Daniel’s mind. She won’t tell you that she is darn sure the US will win, but she has to be. Inkster can get a final victory lap at 49 in a big women’s golf event and Michelle Wie can be a low-risk contributor. This isn’t like Paul Azinger picking JB Holmes to make the Ryder Cup team. (Though that panned out very well.)
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 3, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not a gift pick
Inkster is still one of the Top 50 players in the world and better than half of the European side. Despite her less-than-stellar results this year, I wouldn’t have left her experience and winning match-play record off the team in favor of Diaz, Prammanasudh, Wendy Ward or even (one of my personal faves) Jane Park. She’ll do fine.
by hound dog on Aug 3, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can’t argue with that logic. And like I said, Inkster is low risk. Good experience in this event and consistent (though not amazing) results are good enough.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 3, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Solheim Cup Level of Interest
Still not sold that Wie’s selection will create “serious public interest” at the Solheim Cup. Again, this goes back to how I feel about the strength of the LPGA Tour as a whole — when the most marketable players start to play well, then it’s a lot more interesting to both golf fans and general sports fans intrigued by sex appeal. Wie has three top-three finishes this year but the only time she really contended and made serious headlines was at the first event of the year in Hawaii. It’s ironic that Natalie Gulbis, probably the most needle-moving figure on the team besides Wie, qualified on merit but has only one top-10 finish all year and is basically an afterthought in this whole process. Can some American please step up and help the LPGA Tour?
Eli Miller
http://www.southlandgolfmagazine.com
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/millertimegolf
by SouthlandGolf on Aug 3, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
With the certain (at least slight) bump the merited inclusion of Michelle Wie will have on the U.S. TV ratings, it’s pretty safe to say that an American Solheim victory (especially a convincing one) will resonate somewhat and boost the LPGA Tour. If they would only follow that up with a U.S. vs. Asia match-play event (immediately, not in December like Lexus was), you might really get some attention.
by hound dog on Aug 3, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d have to look up the numbers to be certain, but I think golf channel saw something like a 50% hike in ratings for the SBS Open YOY because of Michelle in the final group.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 3, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have to agree with Southland about Wie and “serious public interest”. She won’t – it’s just the way things are.
HD is dead on about Inkster. Taking her was pretty much like how the Euro’s viewed Monty – his last year as a player. He was the heart and soul of the Ryder Cup team. Inkster is the anchor with all of her experience – and she won’t be afraid to get in Wie’s face if she starts screwing around. Beth Daniel can’t tell which direction a putt breaks on TV – I’m pretty sure she won’t be able to enforce anything with the bonus baby.
Wie has a lot of good FINISHES – but only one good tournament. She will get a lot of attention – but I doubt she is going to contribute much to the team unless the Euro’s put their real scrubs against her.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Aug 4, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m sold because of her impact on ratings when she contends. Obviously, we’ll see in a few weeks!
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 4, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmm – so – you’re talking about the one week she actually contended ?
Contending means you have a chance to actually win – she hasn’t had a chance to win on Sunday since her duel with Angela Stanford early in the season. Since then, she has posted a good finishing round after playing herself out of contention the first three days.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Aug 4, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m really getting sick of deciding that a player is “great” based on viewership numbers.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Aug 4, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think Michelle is great because of ratings numbers. I hope no one is insinuating that.
My other number would be the rating for the 2005 USWO at Cherry Hills. That was the highest rated one in the last dozen years.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 4, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it’s the only conclusion you can reach based on the evidence. she has won ONCE since she was 13. as you pointed out, she was actually in contention FOUR YEARS ago – as a freewheeling amateur with nothing to lose – but didn’t finish. Amateur stats don’t count – she was under no pressure.
As a pro and a tour member – she has contended once – yet she is being hailed as one of the greats of the tour. If I were Paula Creamer, I would be ready to wrap a wedge around her neck…except that the attention isn’t exactly Wie’s fault.
Why doesn’t Tom Kite get all kinds of publicity ? He was the Tour’s leading money winner until purses jumped with Greg Norman – but Kite didn’t win very much, and won his only major as he was practically walking out the door to the senior tour.
Michelle Wie is a media darling who hasn’t earned the attention. I don’t doubt that she MIGHT be worthy of it – some day – but it isn’t today.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Aug 4, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not gonna disagree with you there. I certainly am not ready to crown her anything! :)
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 5, 2009 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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