Friday, June 1, 2007

Wie Intrigue

So it turns out that perhaps there was more to Michelle Wie’s WD from the Ginn Tribute on Thursday than just an injured wrist. An obscure LPGA Tour rule bans non-tour members who shoot a score of 88 or higher from competing in sanctioned tournaments for a year. Wie, who is not a member of the LPGA tour because she is not old enough, was plus-14 when she quit her round after the 16th hole. Bogeys on 17 and 18 would have given her a score of 88 and a year-long ban. No sponsor exemptions into LPGA tournaments. Hmmm. Interestingly enough, her agent was seen on his cell phone during the course of the round and conferring with her. To make matters worse, her father came under suspicion of violating the rules that cover advice. One of her playing partners warned her father about giving advice. Did she quit because her wrist hurt or because her agent figured out that two more bad holes would jeopardize her tournament schedule for a year?

By the way, MacKinzie “Mac” Kline, the 15-year-old with a heart condition who was allowed to use a cart in the tournament, shot 86 Thursay.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Carol Ann Creed.