By BETH ANN BALDRY
Senior Writer
Michelle Wie’s latest move is one most folks can agree on: As first reported by
Golfweek (Forecaddie, Sept. 6), she’s headed to LPGA Qualifying School.
The application deadline is 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9, and multiple sources confirmed with
Golfweek last week that Wie’s check was in the mail.
Wie, who turns 19 on Oct. 11, has been spotted in Rancho Mirage, Calif., gearing up for the first sectional qualifier, Sept. 16-19 at Mission Hills Country Club, a course where she has enjoyed much success.
In four appearances at Mission Hills for the Kraft Nabisco Championship, Wie’s worst finish is a tie for 14th in 2005. She finished T-9 in ’03, fourth in ’04 and T-3 in ’06.
“I think reality set in,” said Wie’s swing coach, David Leadbetter, when reached by phone Sept. 9. “She needs to play more tournaments, and not make those tournaments PGA Tour events.
“She’s on the threshold of something really good. If she’s going to resurrect her career, this is the first step.”
Leadbetter said to write off last year now that Wie is fit, injury-free, talking the right language and has a PGA Tour-caliber short game.
“There’s nothing like success,” Leadbetter said. “People forget what’s happened in the past. They look at what’s going on now. This is the first step in her rebuilding her career. She’s got the resume. Now she just needs to find a job.”
Wie can make it through the first stage before the fall quarter begins Sept. 22 at Stanford. If Wie were to pass her first playing test, she would advance to the final stage, Dec. 1-7 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Should Wie fail to make it out of sectional qualifying, she would get a mulligan. The LPGA offers a second-chance sectional in Venice, Fla., at Plantation Golf and Country Club.
Leadbetter said Wie will return to Stanford in January, even if she were to get her card.
“The family feels she could be rookie of the year and player of the year if things go according to plan,” Leadbetter said.
“She’s going to be great for the LPGA, with Annika leaving the scene. Heaven knows, they need some great American players out there, apart from Morgan (Pressel) and Paula (Creamer).”
• • •
Beth Ann Baldry is a
Golfweek senior writer. To reach her e-mail
bbaldry@golfweek.com.
Posted: 9/9/2008
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