Wie Exemptions

by Mulligan Stu on Mar 13, 2008 5:57 PM EDT Comment 6 comments

I've posted a couple times over the past few months wondering whether Michelle Wie's atrocious performances in 2007 would affect in 2008 her ability to draw sponsor exemptions. Would most tournaments spurn her? Would only the top events turn her away? Or would it be business as usual?

Business as usual, it appears. Of course, I say this after her respectable showing at the Fields Open - where "respectable" is defined as "not embarrassing herself" (she actually played quite poorly, but scored better than she played and made the cut).

Wie's next appearance is at the Safeway International in two weeks. And it was announced yesterday that Wie is getting into the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill.

That's significant because the Ultra is sort of the fifth major of the LPGA Tour, the Murray the K to the John, Paul, George and Ringo of the four majors. (Hmmm, which one of the four is Ringo? On the PGA Tour it's the PGA Championship.)

But also because Michelob and Kingsmill have been turned down by Wie each year since 2004, and they still asked her back.

I guess Wie needn't have worried. If John Daly is still getting exemptions ...

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whatever happened to...

...the big plan from major general Leadbetter...or maybe it was admiral Wie herself who came up with the idea of scheduling her six allowed exemptions earlier in the season and closer together to get her a little more tournament tough ?

This makes one in February, one in March, and one in May. She will not be in the Kraft, and you can bet dollars to doughnuts that she won't be welcomed back to the Ginn for quite a while if Annika has anything to say about it.

Best laid plans of Miche and Men ?

(geez - that's so cheesy, someone at xxx Golf Channel might use it !) :-)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 13, 2008 8:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

true

There are two other LPGA events in April, though, Corona and the new pro-am. And in May, the Tulsa tournament, plus Sybase and Corning.

Lead also broached the possibility of playing some Futures Tour stops, but put that under "I'll believe it when I see it." It'd be a good idea, though, and maybe even been seen as a gesture of goodwill by LPGA players (as in, "she's working hard, going down one level, getting her work in," kinda thing).

I bet she could get some good appearance fees from an LET stop. And even if she didn't play any better than she did at the Fields, she could probably make the Top 25.

by Mulligan Stu on Mar 13, 2008 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

didn't consider the LET

those are some pretty different courses - I wonder if her highness would consider them beneath her and not worth the travel ? The LET isn't exactly rolling in Euros.

At least most of the Futures events are fairly close to one home base or the other.

Do you think they approached the other in-between tournaments in March and April before they got to the Michelob ? Seems like a big hole between starts.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 13, 2008 10:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs