Wie Continues to Be Lightning Rod

A lightning rod for criticism, that is. To wit:

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• There was the recent story about Brittany Lincicome - supposedly speaking on behalf of many players - slamming the exemption Wie received into the Samsung World Championship.
• There is ongoing criticism of the PGA Tour John Deere Classic giving Wie another spot in this year's field. Visit just about any golf message board and you'll find people slamming Deere and Wie.
• And then there seems to be a lot of negative reaction to this photo of Wie.
  

As I wrote about the Lincicome issue, opposition to Wie getting an LPGA exemption is silly. Expecially coming from a player who has used an exemption herself.

The John Deere? I would have advised Wie against going back to the PGA Tour at this point ... but you know what? I don't get to make her decisions for her. We're all entitled to make bad decisions - if, in fact, this turns out to be one. Who knows - maybe this will be the PGA Tour event where she makes a cut. (And wouldn't that send Wie-bashers into paroxysms of apoply! I hope she does make it, just to watch the haters wetting themselves over it.)

But you know, if you want to slam someone over this, slam the tournament, not the golfer who did what every other golfer in the world would have done (accepted the invitation).

As for the photo? Give me a break. She's 17, acting like any other 17-year-old, and in a photo taken from an unfortunate angle. Try living your life with your every public move taking place in front of cameras.

So I guess I'd sum up my feelings about Wie at this moment this way: I disagree with some choices she's making, but I support her right to make those choices. I'm still a fan, and a big believer that there are huge things to come from her in the world of golf.

I suspect that the fan/hater breakdown is still heavily weighted toward fans. It's just that the haters are much more vocal.