Michelle Wie is the LPGA's Phil Mickelson
The Newark Star-Ledger's Steve Politi nails it: Michelle Wie can't be the LPGA's Tiger Woods because she already is the LPGA's Phil Mickelson, at least the pre-2004 Masters Phil.
Think about it: Massively talented, adored by fans while generating mixed feelings among fellow pros, capable of an amazing, tell-your-friends-about-it birdie or a what-was-she-thinking bogey on virtually every hole. The only thing Wie's missing is the white belt.
Politi followed Wie at last weekend's Sybase Classic in Clifton, N.J., and noted that the parallels between Wie and Mickelson are unmistakable.
She signed a massive contract with Nike just like Tiger Woods,
attends Stanford like Woods did and someday wants to break down
barriers like the most dominant player in her sport.
But right now? Michelle Wie sure has a lot more Phil Mickelson in her game than Tiger.
That was the feeling Sunday afternoon watching her at the Sybase Classic. Wie attracted the largest gallery, just like Phil does when he comes to the area. She had the longest drives and made some of the most spectacular shots, just like Phil does any time he tees it up.
She also had a couple of unthinkable miss-hits and questionable decisions -- as you-know-who so often does -- to turn what could have been a breakthrough performance into another near miss.
Politi predicts that Wie will win a tournament once she learns to value consistency over the sublime, but let's hope she keeps some Mickelsonian sparkle to her game. Lord knows, professional golf already has enough grinders.
Posted by: stevie | May 30, 2009 12:43:55 AM
I guess if Wie is Phil Mickleson....... 6 month older Yani Tseng is Tiger Woods.
Posted by: Sandy | May 24, 2009 2:06:31 AM
Why do people look at Michelle Wie as such a high, good player? I mean she hasn't even won anything, she has never proved anything to me or to anybody. She makes constant mistakes. The media is just putting her on the flaslight hoping that she will bcome big one day. However I dont think she will be. To early in her life, she went for 'show' not "dough". Signing big contracts with nike, trying to join the PGA Tour. Sure she has a great game, but she is never ever consistant. Her interviews are horrible, she seems as if she is clueless. She should get some lessons from Annika
Posted by: Frank | May 20, 2009 10:20:19 AM
When I saw the title of the article, I just thought she had gotten really fat...
Posted by: JR | May 19, 2009 10:17:26 PM
Michelle Wie does not compare to either Phil or Tiger. Why don't you pick out another LPGA pro who hasn't won yet. How's this for MW's new tag line... Best Female Pro Golfer Never to have won a LPGA tourament.
Posted by: JB | May 19, 2009 4:03:25 PM
SORRY: correction - Phil's parents were NOT grooming him to be a cash machine for them.
The difference between Phil and Wie is that Phil's parents were grooming him to be a cash machine for them.
Wie's lack of emotional maturity, including having her agent fire her caddy, is unexplicable. Yes, you can say she is only 19, but she is getting paid a lot of money and seems to want respect from the other players. You want to be treated like an adult, act like one. She took a step this year by qualifying for the tour instead of doing sponsor exemptions. But she has a long way to go before you can compare her to Phil... it may have taken him awhile to win a major, but he had plenty of other wins before that.
Posted by: JB | May 19, 2009 3:56:40 PM
The difference between Phil and Wie is that Phil's parents were grooming him to be a cash machine for them. Wie's lack of emotional maturity, including having her agent fire her caddy, is unexplicable. Yes, you can say she is only 19, but she is getting paid a lot of money and seems to want respect from the other players. You want to be treated like an adult, act like one. She took a step this year by qualifying for the tour instead of doing sponsor exemptions. But she has a long way to go before you can compare her to Phil... it may have taken him awhile to win a major, but he had plenty of other wins before that.
Posted by: Shag Bag | May 19, 2009 1:40:23 PM
Michelle Wie is younger than Rory McIlroy. She is also younger than either of Phil or Tiger when they won their first PGA tournaments. Giver her time.
Posted by: Seano | May 19, 2009 12:44:08 PM
Isn't Paula Creamer more like pre-2004 Mickelson at this point? Racking up wins in other events, finding ways to lose in the majors. Wie still has a ways to go to get up in that category.
Posted by: Jher1 | May 19, 2009 10:18:41 AM
Wie will win this year and turn it around, to all those who keep hating, she is young and we can all agree her parents sent her down the wrong path way too early, she is young and has some real talent! Quit hating on a asian girl and worry about natalie/paula that cant keep a dying tour alive....korean tour you joke but they keep it hot with wins not whines and complaints! Wie keeps the tour alive with near misses, while others cant keep any attention to the tour.
Posted by: bob | May 19, 2009 10:17:32 AM
she's still young. i think she will peak out in her 20's at some point and win a ton.
Posted by: Golf Lover | May 19, 2009 8:45:04 AM
Why do some many people feel the need to smash a young girl. At the same age, Woods had a brilliant amateur career but had not won on the PGA tour. Her father chose a different path (which i think was a mistake) but she was a child. I believe she has 8 or 9 top 10 finishes in LPGA majors and she is still a teenager. Tiger is the greatest ever and applying his standard to her is not realistic. I do agree there are similarities in her and Phil (a Hall of Fame player). Wie is already approaching the top-10 in Solheim points (has a 2nd, 3rd and 8th place finish in 6 starts). Let's just enjoy her. She is bringing HUGE ratings and increases in gate attendance for LPGA events.
Posted by: Rick | May 19, 2009 12:26:48 AM
cutiepie, as soon as you can remove your lips from Eldricks backside, shut up! No active player other than Woods has won more PGA tournaments and NO ONE, including Woods, is as exciting. Show the man some respect. Then get back to your job flipping burgers.
Posted by: ALC | May 18, 2009 9:38:43 PM
Comparing Wie to Mickelson is like apples to oranges. Wie is extremely young with all the media focus on her. Sure she does some stupid things but Mickleson does too and he's old enough to know better. He and his caddy seem more intent on hamming for the cameras. They beat everything to death and then he misses the 4 ft. putt anyway.
Posted by: Dean | May 18, 2009 7:46:15 PM
Wie has a lot to prove before she can be compared to Mickelson. Despite this beng the 6th or 7th year she has played at least the big tournaments on the LPGA, she really doesn't have a lot of success. Remember, Mickelson won the US Ameteur and even a PGA tournament while he was an amateur, and now he is close to top ten all-time in PGA tour victories. To say she is theLPGA's Mickelson is ridiculous. They may have great talent and be able to amaze and dumfound us like Mickelson, but let's get some victories first.
Posted by: Hawaii50 | May 18, 2009 7:39:02 PM
She worn a white belt on Saturday at the Sybase. I liked the idea that it was pre-2004 Phil. You're right on the mark. But Wie will do like Phil and get that one major and move up from there.
Posted by: uug | May 18, 2009 6:13:06 PM
Agree with you Ray, and in addition, Wie's Golf etiquette and manners on the golf course is so rediculous! During Sybase, Many times, she started walking off the green while tee mates are still putting! What a Wie(big) HEAD!
Posted by: herrsonic | May 18, 2009 5:47:56 PM
I'm not sure who is more insulted, Wie or Phil? That's a backhanded compliment to both of them.
Posted by: Phil hater | May 18, 2009 5:45:45 PM
Right now Tigers don't have his game,but still managed to finished top ten. Can Phil do that,I don't think so. Tigers rival is the golf course,not whiner,cocky Phil Mickelson.Too cocky sometimes can't even back it up his game.
Posted by: Phil hater | May 18, 2009 5:35:51 PM
Wie and Phil are very inconsistent with their games.Phil was lucky to win the nissan open or the wgc,because there was no big guns infront of him or behind him.
Posted by: Cutie pie | May 18, 2009 5:23:46 PM
Wie is a loser just like Phil Mickelson one day they are brilliant one day they are erratic other day don't make cut.Don't even compared these two to Tiger Woods,not even close.
Posted by: pistol pete | May 18, 2009 4:49:53 PM
come on, give us a break... i'm not a phil fan but wie is no way near mickelson's career path... ultimately, she is not the chosen one for the korean tour... opps LPGA
Posted by: JV | May 18, 2009 4:12:48 PM
Excuse me but you're equating Wie with Mickelson? Ahh, has she won any majors? How about ANY tournaments on the LPGA? I will agree that she's talented and Phil is talented but... What a silly comparison
Posted by: uug | May 18, 2009 2:21:27 PM
Wie will improve in time but Wie will never win a BIG ONE! The cousin will not match the winnings of her Korean sisters. Wie Zero, Korean sisters Major win 4 (excluding Seri Pak)
Posted by: ray | May 18, 2009 2:03:36 PM
A big congratulations also to Oh. But neither she nor her south Korean sisters will have bigger careers than their South Korean cousin, Michelle Wie. Now healthy, wie is coming on like gangbusters. It's amazing how well she has done this year, with two top 3's, 3 top 10's and 4 top 15's in her first 6 events, despite the fact that she is really not yet playing anywhere near her best. it's crazy, but perhaps besides Wie, only Tiger can get away with not playing very well compared to his abilities and still finish 3rd. It seems that if Wie putts well, she doesn't drive well, or if she drives and putts well, it's a poor day with the irons. But the game is getting sharper all the time, and health is no longer an issue. I suspect that sooner rather than later, but certainly relatively soon, it'll all come together, and we're going to see some ridiculously low rounds and some wins.
Posted by: Tiger Hater | May 18, 2009 2:01:00 PM
She is a loser.. Only win was to bamboozle Nike to give her all that money. She is a fake, no winning, big hips getting wider loser that will likely weigh 250 lbs in the future like Laura Davies. Loooser..
Posted by: uug | May 18, 2009 1:40:43 PM
A BIG Congratulation to Ji Young Oh! Korean LPGA players although short off the tee, they are most of them straight shooter. On Wie, not even close..wether it's Phil or Tiger. She is erractic short putter. Always missed a lot of those short putts. And she is wrong to say she is phenom by Golf Channel or any brocaster alike..to date her record still stand as ZERO wins! Korean LPGA players are much better than her.