LPGA: Is Being #1 Worthwhile?
by Adam Fonseca on Aug 30, 2010 12:11 PM EDT
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This past weekend, LPGA superstar hopeful Michelle Wie won her second event as a professional by capturing the title in Winnipeg. Long seen as a potential "Face of the LPGA", Wie has finally started to play up to her (hype) potential as of late ever since a strong showing at the Solheim Cup last year.
This LPGA season, much like the PGA Tour, has seen its fair share of new faces in the winner's circle. In addition, solid talent like Christie Kerr, Paula Creamer, and Wie continue their quest to become annual winners and help drive more interest to the Tour. LPGA stars have also taken a fan-friendly approach to driving home their success to new fans, making themselves more available than ever in terms of Twitter use, event appearances, and an overall transperacy to the public.
However, the following question continues to come up in the mind of any golf fan who has watched the evolution of the LPGA over the years: why do the top players continue to leave?
True, we have a very limited sample size to discuss this phenomenon, however two of the biggest stories in recent memory for the LPGA have involved the Tour's top player retiring from a game she was currently conquering on an annual basis. Annika Sorenstam was the face of the LPGA for years, winning multiple times during a season and often by a large margin. When deciding to leave the game to pursue other endeavors (including a family), Sorenstam was still playing at a very high level and was arguably the best player, even then.
Fast forward to Lorena Ochoa, the World #1 following Sorenstam's departure. Ochoa appeared to be even more dominant on Tour, winning tournaments by insane margins and at an impressive frequency, both in the US and overseas. Armed with youth and one heck of a game, Ochoa was prepped to not only top Sorenstam's legacy as the best professional women's golfer ever, but to take down a few records in the process. In a shocking move, however, Ochoa soon announced her own retirement from the game (while still in her 20's, to boot), again citing her desire to start a family and focus on other business areas.
One cannot help but wonder if this trend will continue in the LPGA, regardless of who takes over the #1 spot for any length of time. Young talent on the Tour is more recognizable now than ever before, and the LPGA finally has a legitimate chance at young talent-marketability only previously seen on the PGA.
Will the desire to dominate the LPGA Tour ever get past the social pressures experienced by women, especially those who wish to start a family? Can fans of the LPGA expect to have their "face of the sport" any time soon, considering what a female golfer will need to presumably sacrifice in order to do so?
FanPosts are written by Waggle Room members. Viewpoints expressed do not necessarily reflect those of WaggleRoom.com, editor, Charles Boyer or any other writer or member.
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Just a quck and easy thought….because they are women and women usually want to have babies ? Hard wiring, CD. Men work to be providers and to be recognized for their careers. Women want security and kids. I know – that can be taken to a ridiculous extreme – but in general, it holds up. Annika got married and got pregnant. Ochoa has said for years that she wasn’t planning to play much past 10 years if that long.
So sure, when these women are focused on their golf, being #1 is definitely worthwhile – but there are other goals in some of these women’s lives.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
In business it's possible (but not easy)
to have a successful career, husband & children (& afford help), but to be no. 1 in a sport, any sport, and stay there requires a single-mindedness that is difficult to maintain with women still being the main carers of their children. Just the way it goes – no axe to grind.
Very good points, Wendy.
I think you hit the nail on the head. I personally don’t think that the LPGA will see the same sort of World Golf Ranking “dominance” that is seen on the other tours for that very reason. However, to comment on court’s point, not all women want to have children. It just coincidentally seems like the ones who have been the most successful did want to start families. What does that mean for the sport, though?
Adam Fonseca
by Adam Fonseca on Aug 30, 2010 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Wendy......I'm just glad
you didn’t say you “grinded” your axe……Jumpn would have been all over that…..:)
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
Wie has finally started to play up to her (hype) potential as of late ever since a strong showing at the Solheim Cup last year ??
Her record this year shows a different story all together. Here are her last 10 starts prior to the CN Canadian.
Safeway Classic 37th
Rico Womans Brittish 17th
Evian Masters 31st.
US Womans Open, Missed Cut
LPGA Championship 19th
Shop Rite Classic 46th
State Farm Classic 52nd
Bell Micro 73rd.
Tres Marias 3rd
Kraft Nabisco 27th
You did get the “Hype” part correct though
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
It can be done though, PG
Look at Kuchar breaking through at last after losing his card, etc. I’m “Wie indifferent” but there’s no denying that great success by her (rather than a lot of other US players) would be good for viewing figures – for whatever reason she is followed.
just goes to show you how gullible people can be – rather have glitz than substance
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Why gullible?
If people (mainly men) watch Wie because she is tall, slim & v. attractive – & then plays great golf – what’s your problem?
He hates her because she talks
like she is 20…..oh, that’s right, she IS 20……my bad…….:)
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
she talks like she’s 12. A 20 year old should know better – especially one who has speech coaches and commercial training.
She has a pretty swing and occassionally hits great shots – but she rarely plays great golf. Do you REALLY need this explanation ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Actually, I could care less how she talks......
bad grammar seems to be more the rule than the exception these days…..besides, Boo makes her sound like a PHD. I would much rather see her work on her putting skills than her speaking skills…….:)
I watched an interview with Dustin Johnson yesterday and he said “You Know” about 100 times in a 1 minute interview…….I’ll be waiting to hear your criticism of him. When you stop putting a space before your question marks, your criticism of her communication skills will be more credible.
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
Agreed – but Boo Weekley isn’t being touted as the saviour of golf.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
She is.....
arguably the most popular woman on the tour. The crowds that follow her have proven who the fans want to see play…….that is good reason to “tout her as the saviour”…….of not golf, but womens golf/LPGA.
Do you REALLY need this explanation ?…………:)
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
Why can't you accept her as she is court ?
isn’t that would you would hope for from others about you ?
Easy........If I were to speculate....
I would think that Court and Jumpn are part of that group of fans that feel they were “let down” by Wie. I would bet they were like most everyone us who were infatuated by the incredible prodigy we watched when she was having that unbelievable run in the majors over the 2 -3 years when she was 13 -15. Now she has failed to meet expectations, so it has become fashionable to bash her. I don’t understand how easily they forget how great she was, (which is why she is still forefront in the media) and throw her on the trash heap as a has-been….she is only 20 and still “might” have a great future ahead of her.
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
EM Brother
your comments sound similiar to your TW bashing no ? I’m not much of a basher of anyone, I’m just not a fan of Wie and that is my right. Just like you are not a fan of Tiger and are not afraid to admit it.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Jumpn,,,,,the only valid comparision of Wie to Tiger would
be the overblown media coverage. Other than that, the only thing she has done wrong, is not win. Yes she has made mistakes, which are minor compared to Tiger’s shenanigans. As for me, I didn’t like Tiger before all the adultery, I didn’t like Tiger before I started commenting at TGC (where I was enlightened to the poor journalism), but I did like him early on until I realized what a pompous arrogant jerk he was. As for you not bashing Wie, I think you should re-read most of your Wie related comments, maybe you didn’t realize how they sounded.
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
The thing about Wie
she already has a better record than many of the so called stars of the ladies tour…she will win more than Creamer and Kerr IMO…shes still only 20.
how do you figure that she WILL win more than Kerr and/or Creamer ? Creamer won four times her first year as a pro (2 LPGA, 2 Asian), then screwed up her wrist, which has bothered her for three years.
The only “star” she has more wins than is Gulbis.
You MIGHT be right, but can’t say for sure because of her record of “injuries” and other excuses in the past.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Perhaps EM
Once again, it’s mostly the overblown media coverage of her that I don’t like and not necessarily her. Like I said, I’m not a fan but I don’t hate any of the players.
I am a fan of Suzann Petersen and Anna Nordqvist.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
I understand.......and
you have always been consistent on the over the top media coverage of both Tiger and MW.
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
Of course being No 1 is worthwhile
over a long period. In the Men’s game, Langer , Woosnam and Couples were No 1 for a brief period, and it didn’t mean all that much as the others who were for a year or more. When a woman is again for say, a year or so, it will mean something.
Eas – it’s not her, per se. I have been against this media onslaught since she was 12 years old. They have poisoned this kid and held her back from playing her best golf. Then at age 16, she traded in the idea of being a potential all-time champion for a few million dollars in the short run.
(then there’s the English teacher in me who just can’t stand listening to her talk and despises our school system for not expecting more of these kids)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I agree about the media hype when she was so young.
reminds me of Tracy Austin. As for English, as has been pointed out, Boo and a lot of others are awful…no one judges Boo for being anything but himself. Tiger, IMO, is like a machine when he gets behind the mike. I can’t stand that inhuman way of his.
Again – Boo is not being put forward as “The Annointed One” – and more often than not, the media wants to interview Boo just to get a sound bite they can laugh at.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Surely those days are past, CG
when she was referred to in such terms? (or perhaps I just don’t follow the “right” websites). I think she still has a lot of maturing to do but she is moving in the right direction having gone through Q school, and won 2 tournaments. I would like to think that her comment – “I ran away from Tina (Christina Kim who was trying to spray her with champagne) as I was wearing white pants” was a jibe back at us about her white skirt – but I doubt it!
guess again – this past week, Judy Rankin referred to Wie as “The Annointed One”.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
........And we all know how much
you hate Rankin……now you quote her…….lol
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
is that supposed to make sense ?
of COURSE I quote her – she’s the one who made that idiotic statement.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
how many times do I have to say “MEDIA HYPE” before it sinks in ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I keep saying that it’s the media – and I guess I have to keep saying it until it gets through. I can’t stand the Wie-gasms in the media. Judy Rankin is off her rocker and can’t get up.
And Michelle Wie needs to go back to Junior High and learn to speak English. She brought a lot of negativity on herself by declaring that she was better than the LPGA. She may be dumber than a box of rocks (including dumping her short game coach who got her to her first win last year), but she’s 20 and has a few more years before she moves into the Emperor’s mansion with Barry O as a “world citizen”. ;-D
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I agree with most of what you just said......
which is why I am confused about your continual bashing her……surely a 16 year old is not prepared to make the decisions you say she made. If she made them, and not her parents and handlers, the I would think you would be even more forgiving of her mistakes.
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
She made them – she was claiming all the decisions as her own from the time she was 15.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Actually, I do. She was the one hiring and firing the caddies. She picked her tournaments. I think the family probably sat down and picked her management company. But I think by the age of 15, it was more “Daddy, I wanna…..”in the Wie household.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
all too many “modern enlightened” parents who think that they’re supposed to be their little darling’s best friend.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Not in a Korean household
"(I)f you think you've got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated." Saul Alinsky
I should have been more specific, shouldn’t I. Not in Korean CULTURE household. I don’t believe there’s a Korean on tour (exception may be Jiyai Shin) whose father hasn’t made all career decisions, including those players who were born in the US.
"(I)f you think you've got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated." Saul Alinsky
I'm not sure what happen to the body
of my comment…..but here goes again…..I agree with most of what you said……which is why I am confused at your continual bashing of her. If she, at 16, made the decisions you say she did, (not her parents or handlers), surely you would understand the mistakes she made and be a little forgiving of her. I would hate to be judged on the mistakes I made at 16.
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
When I watch Creamer being interviewed
She seems like a child also. Yet she somehow escapes the wrath . I know, to some, she is a pin up, if you like, but she makes me cringe. Good for a toothpaste ad, I’ll give you that !
I watch the LPGA to see some great golf
If I wanted to see a beauty contest I’d either watch Miss America or hang out on the beach for the weekend.
To me it doesn’t matter if they look like they got hit in the face with a 4 iron, I just want to see great golf.
PS, I was never a fan of Natalie Gulbis either
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
I agree......I have a hard time relating to
someone with a clubhead speed of 125 and can fly it 300 yards……..
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
Jump...that was because
your BGF wouldn’t let you…..We saw you sneaking peeks anyhow….hahaha..jist sayin…..STUB
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