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Image by Getty Images via DaylifeGreg Norman is poised on the brink of an historic victory at the British Open and at the opposite end of the golf spectrum Michelle Wie was disqualified for not signing her scorecard. What do these things have in common? Neither one of them is supposed to happen.
Greg's appearance at the Open Championship was intended to be a warm up for next week's Senior British Open. A casual stroll around the links attended by his new wife Chris Evert. I'm sure that Greg would not have been too disappointed to miss the cut. Instead he finds himself on top of the leaderboard with a 2 shot lead over KJ Choi and the defending champion, Padraig Harrington.
Whatever happens tomorrow and I sincerely hope that Greg wins, this has been an amazing tournament. Greg is the oldest man to have the 54 hole lead and the way that he is playing, one would have to be foolish to bet against him.
At the other extreme is Michelle Wie. I have often been critical of her performance and behavior but I was genuinely happy to see her in contention after two rounds and a third round 66 put her one shot behind teenage phenom Yani Tseng until the news broke that she had been disqualified for failing to sign her second round scorecard. Michelle said that she'll use this as a learning experience which might be believable had she not used the same excuse when she forgot to sign her card in her LPGA debut. Apparently she didn't learn from it.
To see such a talent going to waste is anathema. Michelle is obviously book smart - they don't let dummies into Stanford - but she's not exhibiting much good common sense. Women's golf needs good role models but right now Michelle Wie is about as good a role model as John Daly.
Image by Getty Images via DaylifeI know, I know, it's been Tiger this and Tiger that for a week now and some of you are reminding me that there are other Tours besides the TGA of Woodsmerica.
The LPGA swing back into action this week ahead of next week's US Women's Open where I have more than a passing interest in the results since my student, Joanne Lee, will be playing in her third Open in 3 years.
Michelle Wie has qualified and could be a factor as she has been playing much better of late. However she would not be considered as a good bet to win since she has not played very much tournament golf in the past 8 months because of being a freshman at Stanford University.
Annika and Lorena will be the favorites and I'm sure that Annika would love to top off her final LPGA season with another US Open title.
As you watch the play from Interlachen you will see many things that would do well to emulate.
Few of us will ever have the strength or talent of a Tiger Woods but we can swing like an LPGA player in many ways.
I had the pleasure of attending the last two Opens with Joanne and the most noticeable thing about the way that most LPGA players swing is that they concentrate on turning fast rather than hitting hard. Their swings are very balanced and co-ordinated which is a huge advantage if you are not tall or muscular. Also, a co-ordinated swing is easier to repeat whan you only play once a week.
So watch and learn, it's fun to see the men smash it 320 yards but realistically you're never going to be able to do that. However, perhaps you can emulate the women and hit it 260 straight down the middle.
Image via WikipediaFor the guys, this is US Open week and for many of the women it's Open Qualifying week. Thousands of people enter the USGA Open Championships and play for the few spots that remain after the exempt places are filled. They are following their dreams.
One of my students is playing today in one such qualifying event, hoping to qualify for the third consecutive year. Whether she is successful or not, she represents the new breed of teenage female golfer vying to knock the veteran players from their perches at the top of the women's game.
No wonder Annika is retiring. She's had her day in the sun, won her majors, made millions and now she's going to concentrate on raising a family and perusing her business interests.
Perhaps the most important aspect of Annika's retirement is that she opens up a spot in the field for another player, someone trying to establish themselves in this great game and maybe one day win a tournament, or a major or the Grand Slam.
Perhaps it's time that the LPGA and PGA Tour should take a look at the number of exempt spots that are available each week. I know that the crowds want to see Tiger, Ernie and Phil rather than Joe Bag-of-Doughnuts but there are too many boring cookie-cutter players out there making a great living and providing no excitement or added value to the game.
Let's have 9 spots available through Monday qualifying every week. Some LPGA events have done away with Monday qualifying in favor of sponsors exemptions which is a shame and could easily be rectified by reducing the number of exempt players or by increasing the size of the field.
9 more players is only three more tee times. They don't need to have more players making the cut and so it won't cost any more but it might just allow someone to fulfill their dream of playing on Tour.
Image by Getty Images via Daylife6/3/08 - Against many predictions, Michelle Wie finished a tournament under par for the first time in a year. Admittedly it was on the European Ladies Tour, against a much weaker field than a regular LPGA event but it's a great step in the right direction.
Sources at Stanford credit her relationship with a Stanford basketball player for her re-discovered enthusiasm for golf.
Whatever the reason, she is good for the game and as she matures as a person and as a player she could fulfill her potential to be one of the best in the game.
