Optimism Glows

by Milo

Another tournament came within her grasp, yet, when she’s about to reach it, someone snatched it away.

Add another one to the list of “I came close” stories to Michelle Wie’s history book.

In the recent Evian Masters, Karrie Webb took home the crown leaving Michelle Wie still winless in her professional career. 

I can hear the critics now.  “She’s trying to make the cut in the men’s circuit, yet she cannot even win a single tournament in the women’s division.” “She’s a choker.” “She does not know how to finish.” “She’s too young.” Blah-blah-blah-blah-blah.

She’ll get there eventually.  Just wait.

If one followed Wie’s recent attempts, one will be able to note that she’s coming closer and closer each time that she can almost taste the victory.  She has made the top 5 in 3 of 4 LPGA majors this year.  Hey, NBA’s Michael Jordan did not become “the Greatest Basketball Player” overnight.

In this Evian Masters cup, Michelle Wie was actually leading, two stroke lead, on the last day, but she bogeyed the 13th hole, just this single mistake, and Karrie Webb stormed in and took the lead for good.

But what I love about her is Wie’s optimism.  She may be still a teenager, too young perhaps, but her attitude and maturity during these setbacks is commendable.  I can still remember Martina Hingis of tennis fame back when she was like Wie, starting out.  She was throwing her racket down, making tantrums, and calling her opponents names when things didn’t call her way.  Who can ever forget Martina’s famous quotes like the one about Amelie Mauresmo, “She’s here with her girlfriend. She’s half a man already” or the one about the Williams sisters, “Being black only helps them. Many times they get sponsors because they are black. And they have had a lot of advantages because they can always say, ‘It’s racism.’ They can always come back and say, ‘Because we are this color, things happen.'”?

Wie on the other hand, at her age, says things like “I’m getting very close. Today was the closest I’ve ever been. It’s not as easy as it would seem.  I’m very proud that I’ve been playing this consistently. It’s an achievement on its own.” and “Karrie and Laura are awesome players and I was very honored to play them. Laura made some awesome shots. I was blown out of my mind and Karrie played some great shots, too.”

Yes, she may have shown her frustration a few times on the course, but she has always kept her emotions in check and hides it under the brim of her sports cap she often wears.  She may have shouted, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” when her shot went flying off course, but never restored to a tantrum or post-game attacks.

And this optimism is what drives her to compete amongst the men, hoping to try and at least make the cut.  She knows she has the skills to do it.  After all, she possesses a powerful drive for a woman.  She probably just needs to do a little tweaking in her style, play a little bit smartly perhaps and try the control over her power.  Those risky shots that land in the rough or hit trees and missed putts because of applying too much strength in her stroke will cost her.  Luck cannot be on her side all the time.

Like Ernie Els said about Wie, “Give her another couple years to get stronger, she can play on the PGA Tour.”

I’m sure that she’ll have her place in the sun sooner than you think.