Van de Velde and Wie – Golf’s Most Lovable Losers

This year's British Open at Royal Birkdale will mark the ninth anniversary of Frenchman Jean Van de Velde's monumental collapse at Carnoustie. Infamously, Van de Velde blew a three-shot lead on the 72^nd hole and would eventually fall short in a playoff. Regardless of what Tiger did at Torrey Pines this year, nothing can supplant that moment in my mind for sheer theater. Come on, everyone out there still has a vivid mental image of that poor schmuck rolling up his pant legs and wadding out into the hazard. Was he really going to play that shot? Nothing at that point would have shocked me.

Watching the telecast that year was like watching the Exorcist when you were a child, or for some of us as adults; hey haunted houses and ferris wheels still freak me out. You're on your couch with your knees pulled close to your chest and your hands covering your face. You tense up and can barely watch but through a gap between your fingers. It was just one of those television moments where picking another channel wasn't an option. 

Well maybe Van de Velde's luck when it comes to final holes and the Open Championship is finally taking a turn for the better. This past Tuesday, the 42-year-old Van de Velde birdied the final hole at Hillside - which adjoins Royal Birkdale - to qualify for this year's Open by earning the last spot in the field. Van de Velde hasn't been part of the Open field since 2005.

I previously stated my lack of interest entering this year's event across the pond but I'm reconsidering. We have so many players in the field who have battled final round demons in Major Championships, especially the British Open. Imagine the possibilities with the likes of Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie and Van de Velde in the field. Any combination of that foursome in the final group and I would be more than happy to wake up at 6:30 a.m. to watch.

If I'm Van de Velde and I take a three-shot lead into the final round this year, I think I play the final hole with my pants off and pull out a nine iron on the tee just to break the tension up a bit.

Onto the most accomplished professional golfer who hasn't accomplished anything. Michelle Wie's U.S. Amateur Public Links victory still ranks as her one and only stroke-play win. At this year's U.S. Women's Open the consensus was that Wie was capable of contending again. She quickly put that idea to bed when she posted a nine on her card on a par-4; a quintuple bogey.

This week Wie was given a sponsor's exemption to play in the $2.25 million Canadian Women's Open (Aug. 14-17). The event already has a strong field that includes stars like Lorena Ochoa, Annika Sorenstam, Karie Webb, Paula Creamer and Meg Mallon.

My contention is that we're only a year or two from Wie giving up golf completely if she continues to struggle. If I had to place a bet on whether or not she will ever win a professional golf tournament, as in the over/under is at 1, I'm going under. Can she get her amateur status back?

Wie is becoming the equivalent to John Daly in that we all watch her every move but we're almost certain she'll be shrouded in disappointment by day's end. I think the golf world is rooting for Michelle the same way the entertainment world is rooting for Britney Spears, hoping she'll somehow regain her form. But I don't think it ever happens. Wie's on a slippery slope headed toward early retirement. Let's just hope she's invested her endorsement money well.

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