Marshalled Michelle Wie's Group

[vinnyv20032003]

AMAZING!!!!!!

Well today was the first day at the LPGA Qualifying School in Daytona Beach, FL (as most of you know). I am a college student down here so I decided to help out and I volunteered a few weeks ago. I know a couple of the girls in the field and of course wanted to see Wie up close!

Well I arrived around 1pm to the Volunteer tent and they were getting radio calls in that they needed marshalls to control the rather LARGE gallery Michelle had. So they put me and two older folks out there to keep things in line. It was AMAZING!! Her swing is flawless right now, very conservative play today, but just fantastic! Her parents are two of the most vocal fans around. After every shot or putt made they let out a big "GO MICHELLE!" or "THERE WE GO!". I gave a friendly hello to Mr. Wie and he turned smiled and said "Oh Hi There." Spoke to Mr. Leaderbetter for a brief minute, what a nice guy!

All in all a fantastic day, I went from liking Michelle to loving her. I wish her the best in Q-School and with her Professional Career. If you guys have any questions/comments please post.

[InTheHole]

Great for you man... good experience.

 

Hopefully this won't turn into a Michelle-bashing thread. Hopefully she's turned the corner and is on the upswing with her game and her career. I know I'm sending her positive vibes.

 

Did she talk with Leadbetter during the round or was he strictly behind the ropes?

[vinnyv20032003]

Well we can't call them "ropes" because they simply did not have anything separating the spectators from the players. But no Leadbetter and Wie did not speak at all throughout the round. Probably sick of each other after spending the past week together..jk jk

[mat562]

Ropes are adequate for the Average Joe in the gallery.

 

I fear only a restraining order would work in the case of Wie's Svengali-esque parents.

[Ghost_Orchid]

I hope MW gets her card and plays well this year. I hope Vicky Hurst does well also. I saw here in person, she's a hottie...i love the kangols too. Oh, i hope Kim Welch makes it too.

[Juan73]

How many people were in the crowd following Michelle Wie?

[dac]

i hope she starts getting things right next year if she makes the tour...

[vinnyv20032003]

I would have to say atleast 100 people out there. Around some of the greens they were 2/3 deep others not so much. I am sure more spectators will come out friday/saturday/sunday

[skinny99]

Are you volunteering all weekend?Todd

[vinnyv20032003]

Hey Todd,

 

I wish I could volunteer all weekend, I go to college in Daytona Beach and have finals starting this weekend. I will be there Friday as a scorer, but that will be it.... :(

[inthecup]

Sounds like you got the life Vinny. A day in the sun Marshalling for Wee, college in Daytona Beach.

 

This 53 yr old Pa guy envies you. Thanks for the great intel and good look with your tests.

 

Bill

[ericld]

The most telling part of your story is the fact that both her parents were positive reinforcers. Traditionally her parents have been quiet and then raise hell behind close doors. Hopefully this signals a change.

 

Asian parents (fathers) typically crack the whip. They drive their kids hard. There was an article in Golfweek about growing up playing golf in an asian family last year. It's just the culture - it can be pretty tough on the kids psyche when they aren't playing well. The article said that the family/child chooses golf and it's 100% of what the kid does every day for the next 10 years.

 

I see it at the Junior tournaments my kid is a part of. Happens in all cultures unfortunately, but when you see Korean dad walk off the course quietly mid round, you can only guess what's happening during the car ride home.

 

Looks like a change for the better.

[Ogre41]

I love the fact that she i splaying well this week. I hope she wins the friggin thing and can finally shut up all of the talking heads who keep criticzing her. And I can't believe I heard Brian Hewitt from The Golf Channel say that he was disappointed that Michelle Wie wouldn't talk to the media until the event was over and that she owed it to the media to talk to them. Owed? Hello, McFly! She owes the media nothing. These are the same people who have been tearing her down over the last few years and I hope she not only plays well, but that she continues this policy that annoys the media so much while she plays well. The media is there to report the facts, not try and stir up drama. Cover the golf and get the heck out of the way. Good job Michelle. You now have another huge fan!

[vinnyv20032003]

So Michelle is putting on 18 today for Birdie and has she makes her stroke a fighter jet flies right overhead (maybe 200 feet in altitude)...HOLY SMOKES! She left it short probably because she was scared mercifully LOL

[I_HATE_SNOW]

So what happened to going to college?

[FlyFish]

I believe that it would be against the rules for her to solicit advice from Leadbetter during a round.

[vinnyv20032003]

Well Final Exams start tomorrow (Yes, Saturday) so today was a study day. Luckily all I have tomorrow is a two-minute speech. So today was my reprieve from studying and as I type this last sentence the studying begins...

[Swingtheclub]

She has dug a hole as far as my opinion of her but I do wish her the best of luck with qualifying.

 

If she conversed with David could she not be accused of getting advice?