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I’ve never been a fan of Michelle Wie. Sure, the girl has incredible talent and may become the greatest female golfer before all is said and done, but at this point she’s not even close. But that hasn’t stopped the media and sponsors from treating her like she already is. Not that I blame her for piling up the cash. Given the opportunity, who wouldn’t? (Though it’s a bit sad that her father thought it appropriate to teach her the value of selling out.) I just don’t respect her. Actually, let me clarify - it’s not so much Michelle Wie that I have a problem with as much as it’s Michelle Wie, Inc. She is still just an adolescent, after all, and doesn’t really know any better. She’s pretty much a victim to the whims of those surrounding her, molding her into something that is going to take an awful lot of tournament victories to overcome when all is said and done.

Word has been circulating that her peers on the LPGA tour have been grumbling about her behavior for some time now. (Now that I think about it, are they her peers? She hasn’t officially joined the tour yet. More on that later.) Now Annika Sorenstam, the golfer whom Wie should aspire to emulate, has called her out. In this Yahoo Sports report on Wie’s pullout from a tournament due to a “wrist injury”, Sorenstam is quoted as saying,

“I just feel that there’s a little bit of lack of respect and class just to leave a tournament like that and then come out and practice here. It’s a little funny that you pull out with an injury and then you start grinding. My doctor told me to rest.” (Referring to a back and neck injury that she suffered.)

Beyond the quotes from Sorenstram, the Yahoo article was far from flattering to Wie. It opens with this doozie,

Phil Mickelson withdrew because of a wrist injury and flew home to San Diego for an MRI. He saw two doctors, had one cortisone shot and decided to withdraw from his next tournament.

Michelle Wie withdrew because of a wrist injury and went to the range to hit balls.

In fairness, at least she took a day off.

Now, back to the point that Wie is not a member of the tour. The Yahoo article later says that,

Sorenstam was quick to note that Wie received a sponsor’s exemption to the tournament. That means she was invited. The feeling on the LPGA Tour is that Wie has mistaken invitation for entitlement.

The fact that she was invited meant that, had she shot 88 or higher, she would no longer be allowed to participate in tour events for the rest of the year. After toughing it out through 16 holes (16 holes!), she decided she couldn’t play out the final two and the fact that she was only two bogies from shooting an 88 of course had nothing to do with it.

Sorenstam is not the only golfer casting a doubtful eye at the actions of Wie. Ron Sirak reports at ESPN.com,

“When Wie withdrew with two holes to play in the first round of the Ginn Tribute virtually no player believed it was because of an injury, as she said. The overwhelming consensus was that she walked off the course rather than risk being suspended from tour play for the rest of the year for failing to break 88 in a competitive round. Salt was poured in that wound when she showed up two days later practicing at Bulle Rock, where the McDonald’s is being played this week.” (Emphasis added.)

Michelle, Michelle, Michelle. You’ve been heading down the wrong path for some time now. Get yourself together before it’s too late. Otherwise, your career is going to fade out faster than you can say Anna Kournikova.