A Hawaiin teen did qualify for the US Open.

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:31 pm

Tadd Fujikawa:

A teenage Hawaiian DID qualify for the U.S. Open after all. The 15-year-old (boy) beat out a small field to earn a spot at Winged Foot.

Where is the media coverage? He is younger than her and looks to be better.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:58 pm

If he keeps playing like that, the media coverage will come. Trust me. Golf is all about shining the light on young up and commers who are playing over their heads.

That being said, you do realize that Wie has already beaten Fujikawa straight up when she was the medalist at their local qualifier?

Oh, you didn't?

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:03 pm

He beat her when it counted.

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:06 am

What part of 'straight up' do you not understand, cic? 'Straight up' trumps not qualifying for the Open vs. a field of 150 or so.

Ali/Frazier... perhaps they should have played in a round robin tourney rather than one on one to see who was better on a given day.

Qbert · Post by **Qbert** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:45 am

BSmack wrote:If he keeps playing like that, the media coverage will come. Trust me. Golf is all about shining the light on young up and commers who are playing over their heads.

That being said, you do realize that Wie has already beaten Fujikawa straight up when she was the medalist at their local qualifier?

Oh, you didn't?

OUCH!

and isn't FUJIKURA...err...Fujikawa a SHAFT anyways?

...it is...

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:36 pm

Didn't we bomb Fujikawa?

MuchoBulls · Post by **MuchoBulls** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:50 pm

Cicero wrote:He beat her when it counted.

They played in 2 totally different events. Something tells me if Wie played the same course she would have made it as well.

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 2:43 pm

Possibly but at least the boy knows how to close out a match. Wie has proven time and time again that she incapable of making puts when it matters. She hasnt learned how to win yet and thus would be better suited playing Amateurs and Women's Events where she has a chance of winning.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:32 pm

Cicero wrote:Possibly but at least the boy knows how to close out a match. Wie has proven time and time again that she incapable of making puts when it matters. She hasnt learned how to win yet and thus would be better suited playing Amateurs and Women's Events where she has a chance of winning.

Do me a favor and at least cite Steve Duemig when you repeat his takes verbatim? Her game has done nothing but improve over the last 2 years of playing in mens events. The fact that she hasn't broken through and won is irrelevant. By that kind of logic, Natalie Gulbis should renounce her LPGA card and go back to playing in amateur events so she can "learn how to win".

MuchoBulls · Post by **MuchoBulls** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:49 pm

Cicero wrote:Possibly but at least the boy knows how to close out a match. Wie has proven time and time again that she incapable of making puts when it matters. She hasnt learned how to win yet and thus would be better suited playing Amateurs and Women's Events where she has a chance of winning.

The dude played against a much smaller field. If Wie weren't stateside to play in the Women's Open this weekend, then she poirbably would have played the same course and made it in.

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:49 pm

I didnt take that from Steve Duemig. I despise that man. He is on here in Tampa from 3-6 everyday and he is by far one of the worst radio talk show hosts have ever heard. I dont give that asshat the time of day.

I have been tired of Wie for about a year now and can never understand why she is given such hype when she never wins. I was prompted to type my previous post after reading a column by one of my favorite radio hosts/ columnists in the country, Mr Steve Czaban.

http://www.onmilwaukee.com/sports/artic ... choke.html

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:02 pm

Cicero wrote:I didnt take that from Steve Duemig. I despise that man. He is on here in Tampa from 3-6 everyday and he is by far one of the worst radio talk show hosts have ever heard. I dont give that asshat the time of day.

I have been tired of Wie for about a year now and can never understand why she is given such hype when she never wins. I was prompted to type my previous post after reading a column by one of my favorite radio hosts/ columnists in the country, Mr Steve Czaban.

http://www.onmilwaukee.com/sports/artic ... choke.html

I figured that was a talk radio post. Limited props for theiving the take from Czaban, who is sort of listenable. However, he is dead wrong on this issue. Wie is making more money this year from endorsements than Lorena Ochoa will win in tournament victories. In fact, Wie will likely bank 3 to 4 times as much total earnings this year than the best player on the LPGA tour.

Why do you think that is? Do you think it's because she's "learned how to close"? Or just maybe it's because she's chasing history the way Billie Jean King and Ruffian chased history. The good news for her is that she will be filthy stinking rich before her 18th birthday, she's an honors student who can write her ticket to any college she wants to and she's not likely to break her leg while turning down the backstretch of the LPGA Championship. So I'm guessing BJ Wie won't have to put her down. So even if she goes David Duval on us, she's set for life.

Just try to find a 16 year old golfer who is in a BETTER position physicaly or mentaly than Michelle Wie. I won't hold my breath.

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:33 pm

So she'll be the richest female golfer ever but not the best golfer ever.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:49 pm

Cicero wrote:So she'll be the richest female golfer ever but not the best golfer ever.

She may well be the best female golfer to ever play the game. But only time will tell. Right now she's 16 years old. When she's 24 she may not even want to play golf. Or, she may go in the tank when she's 21 and never contend again. Had she stayed the amateur route, she would have nothing saved for her future. As it stands right now, she is already a multimillionaire many times over. And she only stands to get richer. She made 700,000 dollars just for teeing it up at the SK Telcom Open in South Korea. Those fees will only get bigger. Whether she's one day considered "the best" or not, she will have made a lasting impression on how the game is played and how young talent is brought into the professional ranks.

Personally, I am glad she turned pro because she was making a sham of the term amateur anyway. When the Presidents of 84 Lumber and John Deere are shuttling you to your "amateur" events by private jet, you are no longer an amateur anyway. It wasn't fair to the people she had to compete against.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:37 pm

Another forum, another Sissyroo pile-on.

Go figure.

But Sis...bear in mind your act has worn pretty thin with me outside of the main forum...and I have the buttons in this one.

Just food for your thought.

And for the subject at hand...

She's 16.

She's made a run at a Major.

She's 16.

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 6:16 pm

Almost won. Thats the point. There are tons of people out there who have "almost" won. I just dont think she should be given all the hype in the world b/c she is almost as good as guys in Q School.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:54 am

Cicero wrote:Almost won. Thats the point. There are tons of people out there who have "almost" won. I just dont think she should be given all the hype in the world b/c she is almost as good as guys in Q School.

If she's 22-23 and still hasn't won a women's major, much less a few LPGA events and made a cut in a PGA Tour event...

...well, then you have a point. And trust me, if that's the case, then the only media you will see on Michelle Wie will be of the "how badly did BJ Wie fuck up his daughter. Never mind that he's ensured that she will be financially set for life before she turns 18 years old. The media will crucify him simply because it will be the only story left.

But now that she's still just a girl of 16, the mere fact that she can stand toe to toe with anybody on the LPGA and quite a few men is something that true golf fans find absolutely amazing. This shit simply doesn't happen. Sure, maybe a local kid will get a sponsor's invite and catch lightning in a bottle. But Wie has scored 5 top 10s in LPGA majors before her 17th birthday. She got to the quarterfinals of the US Pub Links when she was 15. She won the Women's Pub Links when she was 13. And most recently, she took the toughest draw in sectional qualifying and was in contention for a berth in the US Open with 9 holes to go. Oh, and amongst the players she beat that day were Alex Cejka, Ricky Barnes, Stephen Leaney, Len Mattiace, David Gossett, Briny Baird and Jose Coceres.

Simply put, there is absolutely no precedent for Michelle Wie. None, nada, zero, not ever before. And as long as she keeps reaching for the impossible dream AND keeps improving her game (as she has already) she will continue to be (as Paul Azinger said) "the second biggest draw in men's golf". And it won't bother me a bit.

Qbert · Post by **Qbert** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:31 am

^^^^^^^^^

that's about as good as it gets.

RACK Bri'

Wie will WIN something this year; and EVERYONE will be "tuned IN" to watch.

why else would Phil Knight pony up the $$$ to pimp Wie?

(save the "its just his giving back to the Asian community....that he continuely exploits through sweat-shop labor!")

Wie is a HUGE Draw......in person and on TV...NOW!....wherever She goes!

she's 16.

good for her.