A Wie Bit Too Much

Golfing phenom Michelle Wie is good.  She's very, very good.  That's how she got the phenom tag.  However, while the LPGA (and the media) search for golf's next legend, they have one in their midst.  I can't believe I'm going to say this, but Annika Sorenstam is getting overlooked. 

I know, this is the woman who played in a PGA Tour event.  This is the most dominant player on the LPGA circuit.  I would argue that Sorenstam is simply the finest women's player of all-time.  Wasn't it Bobby Jones who, when asked about a young Jack Nicklaus, said "He plays a game I am not familiar with."?  Well, Sorenstam is playing a game Wie would be darn lucky to emulate.  Sorenstam is racking up wins, majors, top ten finishes and money at a record pace.  A pace yet unknown to any other woman to play on the tour. 

Yet, regardless of where she finishes, Wie's score is noted in crawls each day.  In today's Evian Masters, Wie's tie for thirty-third was one of two scores listed on the ESPN ticker.  Sorenstam, the third round leader, was not mentioned.  The sport's biggest name, bar none, finished second.  Wendy Doolan won, by the way.  She, at least, did get first billing for beating Sorenstam by a stroke. 

I get tired of this kind of over-emphasis on Tiger Woods' play each round, too, but at least I can say he's been the most impressive player since Jack Nicklaus.  Sure, he got tons of hype backed by Nike dollars, when he first turned pro, but he was much older.  He had a rather impressive amateur career behind him, as well.  Wie is still too young to have even had the opportunity to reach that level of amateur success. 

Although, I should admit, Wie's been a spectacular amateur.  Again, that's how one gets the "phenom" label.  However, I would encourage everyone to quickly review the list of fine amateurs who either never reached professional success.  It's just too darn soon to be overly concerned about a fourteen year old.  Maybe I'm just too old school today, but it just seems disrespectful of the other LPGA players working hard and doing well to have a teenager finishing thirty-third upstage their work. 

I know I am sounding like one of those bitter PGA Tour guys when Tiger broke on the scene, grabbing every ounce of attention.  I apologize for that, but until our latest golfing wonderkid holds all four majors at the same time or has a career grandslam plus a spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame locked up, maybe Sorenstam deserves some of Wie's hype.  She is, after all, the person Michelle Wie will have to succeed as the greatest player ever.