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Nancy's Corner
Nancy Lopez answers readers questions in her new online column.
- Advice for Michelle Wie
Q: This year was a disastrous one for Michelle Wie, and last week she finished near-last in the Samsung. What advice would you give to her and her parents?
—Kira Karkus, Charlottesville, VA
A: My dad gave me the opportunity to play amateur golf. It's hard to compare because now there's so much money out there. But even though I was a prodigy—I won the New Mexico State Amateur when I was 12 years old—my dad let me enjoy my young life. I did play a lot of golf, but I chose that. Everyday after school I went out on the golf course to practice. My mom would pick me up, I would change clothes, she'd drop me off, I'd play golf, go home, have dinner and do homework. That's basically what I did, and I loved it. My dad told me to enjoy it and be happy and he told me that I'd be the best at what I was doing if I loved it.
I don't know who has advised Michelle to, first of all, play on the men's tour. I think that's a total mistake. Being a parent and having a daughter, I know that if my daughter had been 14 years old I would never allow her to be on the men's tour. I guess I'm kind of old fashioned in that way. She will never, ever win a golf tournament competing against the men on the PGA Tour. Nobody will, not even Annika. Men are just that much stronger. They're not necessarily better, because we have just as good putting and chipping skills, but we can hit it as far as they do and it makes it a lot easier when you hit it far. But I think the pressure of her being on the men's tour and trying to prove whatever it was took a toll on her. All of her experiences were negative. Once you get negativity in your golf mind, it becomes very difficult to get rid of it.
My dad was not forceful. He didn't push me to do anything. He left all the choices up to me to do what I needed to do, and he was there to support me. I could have turned professional at an early age, or at least tried to at age 15 or 16. Beverly Klass did during that time, but money was not important. I know when I went to college my dad didn't say anything but I think he wanted me to try the pro tour. But I had played in many U.S. Opens and I just wasn't ready. I didn't think I was good enough and I was lucky to be surrounded by people who let me make my own decisions. I still had my dad there and he guided me and directed me and he loved me. He always gave me a hug.It's the mental pressure that Michelle Wie has had to endure that has been really tough. She may have the golf game like a 20 year old, but her mind's still young. For her to have to deal with the press and the media...here she was this great player and often times I would just cringe because I just wanted to take her into a room and hug her and tell her everything's going to be alright. You're young; Just concentrate on having fun.
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