Michelle Wie, Reno-Tahoe Open unfairly attacked

When Michelle Wie failed to affix her signature, the very same signature that has been penned on lucrative endorsement contracts earning her close to $30 million, to her scorecard after the second round of this month's LPGA State Farm Classic in Illinois, thus disqualifying her from the event, a Pandora's Box of criticism dissecting and second-guessing the 18-year-old's career was again torn open.

For the record Wie, who wasn't alerted to the infraction until after the completion of her third round, which placed her second just one stroke behind the leader, was on the verge of her first ever LPGA Tour victory.

On the heels of that heartbreaking incident, Wie decided to accept a sponsor's exemption to this week's Legends Reno-Tahoe Open at Montreux Golf and Country Club just outside of downtown Reno, Nevada.

The decision has attracted a great deal of criticism and negative reaction from the national media who have chastised Wie for another brazen and bold choice to play with the boys. Legends Reno-Tahoe Open Tournament Director, Michael Sterns, who is in his first year with the tournament, has also received his fair share of criticism for the decision as well.

Let's clear the air if you will. First off, during a telephone conversation after it was announced that Wie would participate in Reno, Stearns told me the idea of bringing Wie into the fold has been discussed since the time he was hired to run the event; it wasn't a spur of the moment decision made following Wie's scorecard gaffe in Illinois.

He said having Wie play in Reno helps to accomplish certain goals or objectives and moves the tournament in a certain direction that it wanted to go. From what I've read and gathered I believe that goal is to make the event more of a national draw and bring in an audience from outside of the immediate area. Wie, a national figure of prominence in the golf world, helps move the Reno-Tahoe Open in that direction.

The Reno-Tahoe Open in turn gives Wie a chance to share her golf gift with the crowd and continue her solid play. It's important not to lose sight of the fact that Wie's out of sponsor's exemptions on the LPGA Tour having already used the maximum allowed and has only one ladies' event left on her schedule. This particular PGA Tour event, which is played opposite the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational, gives Wie the opportunity to play in a competitive golf tournament and build on her strong performance earlier this month.

Stearns said that had the tournament taken place in April or May, it's unlikely that Wie would have accepted the invitation. Only now that she has been playing better and is competing at a higher level did Wie and her family sign off.

"We kept in casual contact throughout the year and as she began to play better we got more serious about it," said Stearns. She made the decision to test her skills against some of the best players in the world and I'm happy she chose to do that. It's unfortunate people don't look at it that way. She has a skill very few possess and it's something to watch."

The Reno-Tahoe Open is one of the lesser known events on the PGA Tour and could use the added publicity, this is true. However, the commentary leveled against the tournament labeling it a B-event is a bit harsh. It's played opposite a World Golf Championships event which is a limited-field tournament so there will still be plenty of players from the top 100 in Reno next week. As for Wie, she's playing much better and might be thinking, "I'm on a roll, so why not roll the dice."

This is a golf tournament and a resilient young lady, both looking to make a statement. If anything, the brief relationship will be mutually beneficial for both and good for the game of golf.

"I just think we're poised for a bit of history," said Stearns, referring to the fact that no female has ever survived the cut at a PGA Tour event. "We're not here to play with her in the sense of trying to damage her in anyway. We presented an opportunity to her and her family and it made sense."

If Wie's career has been damaged by prematurely attempting to play on the PGA Tour, that damage is done and further failure won't impact her career as dramatically as it has in the past. What is at stake here is the progression of a once promising talent who after last week's dramatic conclusion needs to get back onto the golf course.

And what ever happened to the appreciation for athletes who want to compete against the very best?

 Does anyone remember Kenny Perry and his decision to forgo the Open Championship to play in Milwaukee? That wasn't very popular and Perry was openly ripped for bypassing a Major Championship because he would be settling for the second flight of competition.

In my opinion it's very hypocritical to pass judgment on one golfer for backing down from a challenge while doing the same to another for accepting a challenge.

At this point a victory for Wie would be achieved by simply surviving the cut line. Winning for Perry at the Open Championship would've meant actually finishing on top of the leaderboard. Certainly, Wie has as good a shot of doing that as Perry did of taking home the Claret Jug.

I've also taken umbrage with those who have had harsh things to say about the Reno-Tahoe Open and its tournament director. If raising national awareness for your golf tournament can be achieved by inviting a "professional" golfer to play, why not do it? It's not like Stearns and company rolled out the red carpet for Tony Romo.

In early June I was enjoying dinner at an event at Montreux Golf Club when Mr. Stearns gave a brief address about the coming golf tournament and introduced himself to the crowd. The conversation turned to sponsor's exemptions and I immediately shouted, "How about John Daly?" That suggestion was greeted with a stern look from Stearns who appeared none too pleased with that plan. Now that would have been a publicity stunt.

Wie's career is still promising. Let's see what she's got.

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