Balance and power
Bursting onto the golfing scene at such a young age has given the media a new star to latch onto. Promoted like a Hollywood celebrity rather than a golfing heroine is inevitable in a media savvy world ready to grasp any money-making opportunity to come their way. Is it exploitation or seizing the moment to bring a child into the limelight so early? It is nothing new of course; popular culture has traditionally fed on stories of child prodigies from Mozart to Michael Jackson. This is not to say that these tragedies will befall Michelle - but nonetheless it is worth noting the dangers.
Whilst comparisons to the greatest golfer of our time are all well and good, Wie is still a young lady with time on her side. EAT GOLF! asked Ewen Murray to put Michelle’s ambitious programme into context with Tiger at the same age.
Ewen Murray: “Michelle Wie at 15, now 16, shouldn’t be talking about playing the Masters. Woods was 19 when he turned pro and she’s got three years yet before even thinking about proving herself to the same extent. I understand her decision to turn pro early because she’s so far ahead of the amateur girls... but that’s why I think the next two or three years are so important. If they push her too much, play too much, travel too much, while she’s still growing (and I say that in inverted commas because hopefully she won’t grow much further than the 6 foot she is now!) I just think it’s a very important part of her life. Her development in the next few years is vital and will fashion the future for her.”
Careering out of control?
There is no doubting that Michelle Wie has a bright future ahead of her, indeed she could well win her first professional tournament and fulfill the expectations of her sponsors early. But the fact remains that Michelle is still a young and developing talent, and taking this into account she has much to learn and may well change her outlook on life, as well as her goals. When previously asked how she felt about golf psychologists, she replied: “I’m not really interested in sports psychology. It makes me feel like a crazy person.”
Yet after her 3rd place finish at the Fields Open in Hawaii, February 2006, a more mature Wie replied: “The mental part of the game is very important in golf, especially because it’s four and a half, five hours long and you have a lot of breaks in between the shots. And I think the mental part of the game... was a very important part, and hopefully I can get better as I get older and have more experience under my belt.”
The sensible approach could be developing a career by learning to compete one level at a time. This would ensure a gradual shift building a more rounded, experienced player. At 16, and with time on her side there really should be no rush to make premature and sensationalist remarks about taking on the men before conquering the LPGA. If Tiger, Ernie and Annika really are her role models, then why not take a leaf out of their book and take the time to grow and complete her education?
Ewen Murray: “Woods gave up a bit of his education at Stanford, because he was ready and Michelle Wie obviously feels she is ready. I think the general assessment is women mature quicker than men, so that’s another reason. I still think over the next couple of years she needs to be treated with kid gloves.”
In an age where marketing, sponsorship and ultimately money are the main driving forces to gain interest from players and viewers, there are reasons to look beyond the immediate opportunities to cash in on such revenue streams. Attempting to create an overnight sensation to make a swift buck could well be a quick fix at the expense of Michelle’s long term career, and if she fails to succeed this could have a negative effect on both tours.
