I'll give you this much.......16-22 year old professional golfers, with no financial woes, certainly face different pressures than those of us living in the real world.
We're talking about rookie and sophomore teenagers here, not Annika or other experienced veterans that have already been there. I understand they have "made it" to the grand tour, but still ...
... I think the pressure is huge on these kids. Their parents, the sponsors, the media, their coaches, the media, the fans, the media. That is a lot of pressure to deal with, especially for teens who are still growing into their bodies and minds.
Well, the Fields Open was certainly a very successful tournament for Michelle Wie.
Not only did she finish just one shot behind the leader, her closest yet, but also the manner of it was very pleasing.
Some people questioned her ability to perform under pressure down the stretch when it was tight and she was in contention.
I think her birdie, par finish showed her class. Those were not easy holes.
Pressel finished bogey, bogey.
Ochoa finished bogey, bogey.
There were many players who really felt the pressure out there, but Wie handled it excellently and certainly showed those people who questioned her play under pressure, that she is mentally strong.
Also, importantly when Wie finished she held the clubhouse lead, so she did close the deal. She gave herself a good chance of a playoff, and an outside chance of an outright win, but that didn't quite happen.
Also, importantly when Wie finished she held the clubhouse lead, so she did close the deal. She gave herself a good chance of a playoff, and an outside chance of an outright win, but that didn't quite happen.
Wie had an outstanding tournament and I'm sure it's just the first of many LPGA events that she will do well in. However, where I come from "closing the deal" means a win. Not just getting close. She'll be closing the deal soon.
Wie had an outstanding tournament and I'm sure it's just the first of many LPGA events that she will do well in. However, where I come from "closing the deal" means a win. Not just getting close. She'll be closing the deal soon.
The way I meant it was this:
A month or two ago, Monty came into the clubhouse with the clubhouse lead but he was one behind the leader, who just had a relatively easy hole to finish with.
The leader got a double bogey and Monty was handed the title without even a playoff.
Did Monty close the deal any more than Michelle Wie?
No, but he did get very lucky with the win.
Neither closed the deal as such, but she certainly gave herself a good chance.
The way I meant it was this:
A month or two ago, Monty came into the clubhouse with the clubhouse lead but he was one behind the leader, who just had a relatively easy hole to finish with.
The leader got a double bogey and Monty was handed the title without even a playoff.
Did Monty close the deal any more than Michelle Wie?
No, but he did get very lucky with the win.
Neither closed the deal as such, but she certainly gave herself a good chance.
Monty won....Wie didn't. Regardless of the circumstances, second place is not closing the deal.
Monty won....Wie didn't. Regardless of the circumstances, second place is not closing the deal.
Is there an argument brewing?
Closing the deal, is refered to when a player makes the decisive shots down the stretch. If someone stumbles over a line, it isn't really closing the deal.
Monty got handed a win, he did not close the deal.
You can say that Michelle didn't close the deal, because she didn't actually win the tournament, but the fact remains that she performed in a way that could have allowed her to win the tournament.
She needed to make a birdie on one of the last 2 holes. She did this on hole 17 making a very difficult shot. On her final hole of the tournament, she was faced with the water, Natalie Guilbis was too, and she hit it straight in. Michelle well, and it just didn't work out.
Tiger won a couple of playoffs recently where all he had to do was par, and got handed the titles. This is not closing the deal, it is more like having the deal closed for you, by your opponent. Although Tiger has shown many times in the past that he is a great champion and able to make important putts, on these recent playoffs he simply accepted the scraps left by other golfers.
The main point I am making, is that too much is made of the actual result, when sometimes you can actually play better and finish 2nd, than when you get lucky and win.
Closing the deal, is refered to when a player makes the decisive shots down the stretch. If someone stumbles over a line, it isn't really closing the deal.
Monty got handed a win, he did not close the deal.
You can say that Michelle didn't close the deal, because she didn't actually win the tournament, but the fact remains that she performed in a way that could have allowed her to win the tournament.
She needed to make a birdie on one of the last 2 holes. She did this on hole 17 making a very difficult shot. On her final hole of the tournament, she was faced with the water, Natalie Guilbis was too, and she hit it straight in. Michelle well, and it just didn't work out.
Tiger won a couple of playoffs recently where all he had to do was par, and got handed the titles. This is not closing the deal, it is more like having the deal closed for you, by your opponent. Although Tiger has shown many times in the past that he is a great champion and able to make important putts, on these recent playoffs he simply accepted the scraps left by other golfers.
The main point I am making, is that too much is made of the actual result, when sometimes you can actually play better and finish 2nd, than when you get lucky and win.
Had Wie birdied #18 she would've made the play-off and had the opportunity to "close the deal." As for tiger, sometimes all it takes to close the deal is a par. That's golf.
Wie played well, but I have to believe even she would say that she didn't play quite well enough to close the deal with a victory. If second place is the goal then Wie did indeed close the deal. I don't think that's the case.
We may just have to agree to disagree about meaning of the term.
Had Wie birdied #18 she would've made the play-off and had the opportunity to "close the deal."
I would have to agree here. She would have closed the deal if she made the birdie putt at 18. She gave herself a chance to win, but it wasn't enough. One more/less putt and at least she would have been tied for first and in the playoff.
This is never going to be settled until she wins one, which I believe will be sooner rather than later. She really lost the tournament on Saturday, by dropping too far behind. She played splendidly on Sunday and got to the house tied for the lead. No one in their right mind could find fault with her play on Sunday. Sure she may have sunk another putt or 2, but come on ... a 66 ? She was just too far back.
This is never going to be settled until she wins one, which I believe will be sooner rather than later. She really lost the tournament on Saturday, by dropping too far behind. She played splendidly on Sunday and got to the house tied for the lead. No one in their right mind could find fault with her play on Sunday. Sure she may have sunk another putt or 2, but come on ... a 66 ? She was just too far back.
The woman that won shot 65. She made the putt on 18 to do it. BUt I agree that it won't be settled until she wins one. I hope she does it soon. I like her even if she doesn't but, I think she's got the potential.
Maybe if she wins one, we won't have to look at that upside down horshoe expression on her face. You know - the one whre it looks like she is saying "Uh like what I do now"
Golfweek nailed it in their cartoon depiction of her. The one of Annika wasn't to flattering either.
The woman that won shot 65. She made the putt on 18 to do it.
Her putt was a straight putt and a fairly easy read.
Wie's putt was an extremely hard read. To illustrate this, the winner Meena Lee had pretty much exactly the same putt that Wie had, on the first playoff hole, and she missed it and hit it practically exactly the same way as Wie.
I like Meena Lee though and was pleased for her win.
February 26th, 2006, 02:37 PM
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