Golfers weigh in on Wie's future
| • | They're crazy over Wie as she finishes fourth |
| • | Kraft notebook: Nike representative sets sights on Wie |
| • | Scoreboard |
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
Fittingly, the Michelle Wie watch was in full swing yesterday afternoon at the Pearl Country Club, which is one of Wie's practice sites.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser
Dozens of recreational golfers watched the 14-year-old Punahou School freshman on the clubhouse television. Some analyzed her game and debated whether Wie should forgo college and turn pro.
Charles Yonamine, of Kuli'ou'ou Valley, cheered on Michelle Wie as she played in the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Yonamine was among many watching on television at the Pearl Country Club clubhouse.
Wie shot a 7-under 281 to finish fourth at the Kraft Nabisco Championship yesterday. It was her best showing at an LPGA major, bettering her previous ninth-place tie at the same tournament last year.
About half of the golfers interviewed yesterday believed Wie should earn her college degree before turning professional; the others felt Wie should turn pro after high school, reasoning she could always return to college.
"She should probably go to college, just in case she gets hurt and she can't golf anymore," said Jason Kim, 39, a maintenance worker at the Kahala Mandarin, who lives in 'Aina Haina and golfs once or twice a week and sports an 18-handicap.
Wie's professional golf future has been a hot national topic with her recent success. In the past few years, Wie and her father, BJ, have joked that she would turn pro if someone offered her "Tiger money," or endorsements similar to the more than $100 million Tiger Woods reportedly earns annually. Wie could have pocketed $100,000 in winnings last year and $82,000 yesterday if not for her amateur status.
Wie is not an LPGA member, and is limited to six sponsor's exemptions a year by the tour's 18-year age requirement and her high school responsibilities.
Cynthia Nakamura, of Manoa, said Wie needs to "learn how to win" before taking her professional shot. Nakamura applauded the Wies for emphasizing education before wealth.
"At age 14, I don't think she knows exactly what she wants yet," said Nakamura, who helps her husband with a service station and plays golf once every other week. "She's talented, but talent is not enough. You need the maturity to go with it, and you need to know how to handle the fame."
Wes Nomura, 43, of Waikele, who golfs once a week and holds a 15-handicap, said Wie should turn pro, if she so chooses.
"I think she can turn pro after high school," said Nomura, who works at Kama'aina Quality Roofing. "She's like one in a million as far as talent. She's good enough. The reason for college is to find some career to make a living. Obviously, when she signs (an endorsement deal), she'll have enough money."
Peter Fukuda, 58, of Pearl City, said if his 24-year-old son, Bryson, was as talented a golfer as Wie, he would see no problem if his son had turned pro after high school.
"I would think, I would let him turn pro if he wants to," said Fukuda, an operations supervisor at the University of Hawai'i, who plays to a 20-handicap. "The money is going to outweigh everything."
Dean Dorothy, 33, an assistant pro at Pearl Country Club, said Wie is "going to need college at some point in her life," but understood how quickly things can change when big money is tossed around.
"She's going to be a professional athlete," Dorothy said. "The biggest fear is, if anything is to happen to you, even if it's not your fault, your career just ends. So it's hard to weigh what to do."
Many of the recreational golfers gushed about Wie's ability, composure and charm.
"She has such a smooth swing," said Trish Nomura, a flight attendant who is married to Wes, and golfs once a month and holds a 24-handicap. "She never takes the club past parallel."
"Everybody knows she hits the ball a long way, but what I've seen on television is that she's really improved her short game," said David Okabe, 41, a treasurer for Hawai'i Pacific Heath from Nu'uanu who golfs once or twice a month and sports an 8-handicap.
Many said Wie looked "comfortable" yesterday, but one questioned whether she could handle the pressure playing for money.
"The key is if she were to play for big money, how that would affect her," said Bob Nagao, 58, a UH budget officer from Kane'ohe who sports a 25-handicap. "If she played for the $200,000 first prize. ... It might be a little different."
Nonetheless, Myron Mizuta, 49, of Hawai'i Kai, said Wie showed great character for her age.
"I'm amazed at someone so young who shows the amount of maturity playing with the other pros," said Mizuta, a manager at Obun Hawai'i printing company with a 21-handicap. "She's shown a lot of maturity beyond her years."
Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.
