Michelle Wie Finally Wins Her First Major At The U.S. Open
Putting together a winning formula in professional sport can be found as one of the demonstrative tasks the world has to offer. Michelle Wie found that formula and did so by winning her first Major championship at the U.S. Open on the LPGA Tour. Her 2-under at Pinehurst No. 2 spoke volumes for the women’s world of golf and years of unfulfilled potential.
“Without your downs, without your hardships, I don’t think you appreciate the ups as much,” – Michelle Wie
It was a journey often less traveled for Wie, as she came into the LPGA Tour scene with a lot to prove. Think of her like the female version of Tiger Wood; fans around the world expected immediate gratification and trophies to fill her den.
Like most nonfiction stories, it didn’t happen quite like a storybook.
Wie continues to play at the professional; she has since the age of 10 when she qualified for the United States Golf Association event. Quite like the 11-year old Lucy Li who made a name for herself at the U.S. Open this year, Wie did it first around the same age group. Our own Jon Hueber wrote about Li’s departure from Pinehurst No. 2 and her composure at such young age.
Before the setbacks began to come in bunches, Wie had six top-10 finishes from 2004 to 2005. In the next three years following that spectacular 365 days, she only accrued six finishes in the top-10.
Wie’s struggles were well-documented after undergoing a horrific 2012. The season brought Wie one top-10 finish and made only 13 cuts out of 23 events. For golf being a very profitable sport, if the talent is there that is, Wie took home $150,000. That seems like winning the lottery for the common person, but not for a talented professional golfer. A small number like that is chicken scratch for someone who was expected to take the LPGA by storm.
You may remember how Wie became so famous many years ago. She performed on the PGA Tour. Yes, the big boys welcomed Wie to the big tees and long par 4’s. Below are her PGA Tour results:
- 2004: Sony Open — 140
- 2005: Sony Open — 149
- 2006: Sony Open — 147
- 2006: John Deere Classic — 77 and then withdrew
- 2006: 84 Lumber Classic — 159
- 2007: Sony Open — 154
- 2008: Reno-Tahoe Open — 153
In 2004, Wie was 14-years old. The shock and math are self-explanatory. She never made the cut at a PGA Tour event, but still set a precedent for women’s golf. Anything you can do, I can do better.
Wie earned the right to kiss the trophy yesterday on a historic day for golf. Lexi Thompson, LPGA pro, believes women’s golf grew at Pinehurst.
I think it will grow women’s golf a lot. Michelle is playing so great right now. It was a matter of time before she got her first major.
One putt on the 18th-hole changed the game for good and with Michelle Wie’s emphatic victory; history may never be the same again.
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