Wie's Day of Reckoning Approaches

Give credit to Legends Reno-Tahoe Open tournament director Michael Stearns and his star attraction, Michelle Wie, for drumming up more attention and hype for an “opposite” PGA Tour event than most thought was humanly possible.

As the tournament quickly approaches its opening tee times, the hate-mongering, backseat parenting and media campaign encouraging the public to go Salem Witch Trial on Wie will soon have a resolution. For those that defended the 18-year-old multi-millionaire, Wie’s survival of the cut line would be sweet retribution. For all those writers out there drinking Haterade Tiger, another failure would provide justification for their ruthless ramblings. 

But before actual golf and competition interjects itself into the discussion, it was the ladies turn to weigh in on the topic before this week's Women's British Open got underway.

I should mention that Michelle Wie was entered into qualifying for the tournament before pulling out when she was given a sponsor's exemption to compete in the Reno-Tahoe Open.

Annika Sorenstam might be the only female golfer capable of relating to Wie's expeditions on the PGA Tour. She competed in the 2003 Colonial Tournament but missed the cut by four strokes. Well the verdict is in and Annika thinks Wie is guilty of making bad choices for her career.

"I really don't know why Michelle continues to do this," said Sorenstam. "I mean, we have a major this week, and if you can't qualify for a major, I don't see any reason why you should play with the men."

Helen Alfredson, winner of last week's Evian Masters in France, was also critical of Wie's decision to play in Reno.

"I feel kind of sad for her," Alfredson stated. "I think she's a very good person. I feel sad for the guidance that she seems to not have in the right direction.

"I think the exhibition time is over for her, and we have some great, great players on the LPGA (Tour) right now, and obviously Morgan (Pressel) has won, Paula Creamer is a fantastic player and you have a bunch of young Koreans," she added. "I think if she wants to be a better golfer, she should really concentrate on being on the women's tour and dealing with them and learning to win. Winning is what we are out here for, but I don't know, I just really don't see the interest on being on the men's tour. I didn't even know - I thought she had quit that idea but obviously not."

Wow maybe the bigger story here is the overt political incorrectness displayed by Alfredson as she eloquently lumps an entire ethnic group together.

But that is a topic to delve into at another time and place.

Who's next? Paula Creamer, why don't you join the opinion party?

"I don't know why you would want to pass up playing in a major especially the British Open here at Sunningdale but she goes a different path and that's not the pathway that I've taken," Creamer said. "We'll see what happens."

Indeed, we will see what happens and I for one cannot wait to see this thing play out for better or for worse. Actually, that makes this situation sound like Wie and the Reno-Tahoe Open have joined together in Holy Matrimony.

Playing the percentages, I would say 98% of those who have weighed in aren't specifically rooting for Wie to fail, but they think she will. Now she gets her chance to use her given ability to prove everyone wrong.

We'll see what happens. 

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