Michelle Wie, Your Not A Kid Anymore!

Michelle Wie is the teenage phenomenon of women's golf. Or at least her handlers - read father in this case - has billed her that way. She's done alright on the LPGA and though she hasn't won, I'm sure she will some day. She hits the ball a long way for a 16 year old. Her short game appears to need some work.

There was a certain anticipation the first time she got an exemption to play in a PGA tournament. It was informative, but not successful. The experiment should have been over at that point. From then on she should have had to earn her spot through a qualifier or Q School like most everyone else.

Now each new attempt she makes at the men's game is more annoying than the last. If you're not caught up in the hype, you can't help but notice that it's all about Michelle Wie. Her father must think it's good for her 'image', gets her name out there and somehow the hype adds to her ability to draw an audience. I've got some advice. The public will give you the benefit of the doubt for only so long even in this media crazed world. Where once you were cute and a novelty, now you are starting to make a mockery of golf itself. If you're going to play in the big leagues, then you no longer can excuse yourself because you're a kid. Professional golf is for adults and when a kid steps on the stage then she's chosen to be an adult whether she's ready or not. Parents are supposed to have the perspective to see what their kids are capable of and advise then accordingly.

Golf is a game steeped in tradition and rules. Professional golfers are supposed to make it on their own. If you play well you get some money, if you don't then better luck next time. There are no guaranteed pay days. If you're an amateur superstar, then you might get an exemption or two. If you don't make it then you go to Q School like everybody else. The clubs are supposed to do the talking.

Michelle Wie certainly knows something about playing the game, but it appears she doesn't know much about the game. I'll give her a pass on her first couple of exemptions just because it brought the game itself some notoriety and was probably motivating to young budding golfers. But my patience has now warn out. From here on in earn your playing time by respecting the game and what others have to go through to get the breaks you've already been given. And I'll be there cheering if you win.