The Golf Blog: Who will save the LPGA? Michelle Wie? Alexis Thompson?
The Golf Blog says: Now that Lorena Ochoa has retired, it’s time for the LPGA to regroup. No one has yet to fill the huge void left by Annika Sorenstam’s retirement in 2008. Since that time, the LPGA has had a very hard time — lost sponsors, a change in commissioner, and a lack of even one star to garner the public’s attention. So does anyone know who the new World No. 1 women’s golfer is? Hint: Jiyai Shin. Now, once again, does anyone know who the new World No. 1 women’s golfer is? Didn’t think so.
The one person who has “superstar” quality has failed to live up to her expectations. That’s Michelle Wie, of course. This week, Michelle is in LAST PLACE (73rd) at the Bell Micro LPGA Classic, where she is 5 over par. The 20 year-old is still young, but her career so far has been filled with disappointment, odd disqualifications and WDs, and a lame-brained quest to play on the PGA tour as a teenager.
So where does this leave the LPGA? In not very good shape. The tragic death of 25 year old Erica Blasberg this past week only added a further pall over the LPGA. The league is suffering from an identity crisis. It needs help fast. We at The Golf Blog wish we had a quick fix. But the only real fix would be for Michelle Wie or some other woman with “star power” (maybe Natalie Gulbis, Morgan Pressel, or Paula Creamer) to start winning tournaments. It may be too much to expect, but we like 15 year old Alexis Thompson (click here for photo), who will be turning pro next month. The LPGA can and should start picking tournament sites that suit these players’ games. Other than that, the LPGA can pray that Michelle or one of these other star players starts winning.
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