GOLF BRIEFS
Wie's Sony showing to keep focus on state
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
Michelle Wie's astonishing performance at last week's Sony Open in Hawai'i will reverberate through golf for years. It will be interesting to see its impact here.
"I think Hawai'i has a treasure," said Kapalua's Mark Rolfing, NBC analyst and host of Golf Hawai'i. "We talk so much about golf in the state and how important it is. She is going to be an integral part of this for a long, long time. The focus is going to be on Hawai'i because she is Hawai'i."
Wie, a Punahou School freshman, is 14. Though she missed the cut last week by one shot, she became the first female in history to shoot a sub-par round in a PGA Tour event and beat 48 men.
Her performance transcended the sport. It inspired people to re-think their ideas of limits, particularly for little girls. It silenced cynics. It drew larger crowds and more diverse fans. Swarms of little girls came to join the thousands who followed Wie on Friday, leading some to wonder if schools had closed down.
"I've certainly never worn a badge before that said, 'Wie can do it,' " Rolfing said. "It was cool. Kids said, 'Man, this is cool.' "
It reminded Rolfing of Tiger Woods' impact, especially when Wie salvaged a 2-under 68 on Friday without her best game. She scrambled all over Waialae Country Club, one-putting 12 of the last 14 greens.
"What she did out there was play golf at the highest level without hitting the best shots and that is extremely difficult for people to comprehend unless you can play at that level," Rolfing said. "That really amazed me."
It was an amazing week, after an amazing year. The future is amazing to ponder. Wie next plays in the 26th annual Hawai'i Pearl Open, Feb. 6-8 at Pearl Country Club. She has two LPGA tournaments scheduled the following month, including a repeat performance at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, where she finished ninth last year.
Last week, Wie spoke of "struggling and fighting" to find her way. She matter-of-factly told everyone she belonged on the LPGA and PGA tours. When asked if she wanted to come back to Sony, her answer was a grin and "What do you think?"
All that surprised her was the hype. It wasn't nearly what Annika Sorenstam faced last summer when she became the first woman in 58 years to play on the tour. But, buoyed by the crush of a massive, fascinated crowd, it was still huge.
"I didn't expect this much because I thought you guys would probably be used to women playing by now," she told the media. "I don't know if it was as much as Annika got. But I was, I guess, sort of expecting it, kind of wanting it to be this much. It worked out very nicely.
"I feel less nervous the more people there are. I mean, I feel like I play better when there's more spotlight and more people following me. I think I feel more nervous when people are not watching me."
Rolfing said he'd never seen such a crowd follow one group in 27 years of watching Hawaiian and Sony opens. Now, he would like to see what would happen if the LPGA returned. He believes it's time.
"To me, it's almost the best thing that the two (LPGA) events went away and now we can step back and start over," Rolfing said. "What is the basis now? Michelle Wie, simple as that. And that's a pretty darn good starting point."
Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.
