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Wie Skips A Major; Some Wonder Why

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 31, 2008

Michelle Wie skipped a major to play on the PGA Tour this week. Count Annika Sorenstam and Helen Alfredsson among those wondering why. After all, Wie has yet to win on the women's tour and has not made the cut on the PGA Tour.

Wie, who is managed by her parents, was listed in qualifying for the Women's British Open at Sunningdale. But she pulled out and instead has a sponsor's exemption for the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open at Reno, Nev. It is her eighth PGA Tour event.

Sorenstam is playing in her final major before she leaves golf at the end of the season. She is chasing her 11th major and 73rd title. She made a brief foray on the PGA Tour but questioned Wie's decision to duck a women's major.

"I really don't know why Michelle continues to do this," Sorenstam said. "We have a major this week and, if you can't qualify for a major, I don't see any reason why you should play with the men."

Alfredsson is coming off a victory at the Evian Masters at age 43. She has doubts about the advice the 18-year-old Wie is receiving from her parents.

"I feel kind of sad for her," Alfredsson said. "I think she's a very good person.

"I feel sad for the guidance that she seems to not have in the right direction."

Media Savvy

Someone asked Jim Furyk last week at the Canadian Open if he found it refreshing to see golf stories about someone other than Tiger Woods.

"You actually assume that I read," Furyk said to laughter.

Only he wasn't kidding.

Furyk said he goes out of his way to avoid newspaper coverage at golf tournaments because there is nothing to gain.

"If something positive is written about you, I guess you can either ignore it or your head can get big," he said. "If something is negative about you, which happens quite a bit, then that can just tick you off, and that's not all that good."

But he does read. His favorite items are Q&As in a magazine.

"I love quotes, because I like to see what guys had to say," he said.

Final Word

"It's as quick as you'll ever see, considering we're not in Georgia with a lot of hills." - Stuart Appleby, left, comparing the greens at Firestone, site of this week's Bridgestone Invitational, with those at Augusta.

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