Appleby and Wie, Brits and Majors

Filed in archive Golf News on January 19, 2007

Courtesy: ESPN

A couple of topics from the pro tours, today. First, let's re-visit a post from the other day on Michelle Wie.

I ranted about how she was ruining her game by continually trying to make the cut in a PGA event rather than concentrating on her LPGA game.

Seems I'm not alone in that view. PGA veteran Stuart Appleby is quoted as saying that she's tried to make the men's tour five years too soon and that's she's far from ready. Check out the story on the BBC's sports page (a terrific news site, by the way, if you want to know what's going on in the world.)

There are some interesting numbers in the article from her last four tournaments on the men's tour. If her results aren't argument enough for leaving well enough alone, her scores offer ample evidence that she's in way over her head.

Topic number two has the press in the UK wondering - perhaps "worrying" is a better word - about whether a British golfer (that includes Scotland, Wales and Ireland, by the way) will win a major this year.

The Scottish daily, The Scotsman, akin to the Times of London in journalistic quality, notes that it's been nearly 8 years ("and 29 majors...") since English golfer, Paul Lawrie won The Open (er, the BRITISH Open to the rest of us).

Of course, whenever topics like that come up, the bookmakers in the UK jump right in. And they're not too optimistic about the chances this year. That's despite the fact that last year's victorious Ryder Cup team boasted 8 players from England or Ireland.

It's a good story and worth the read for a non-North American perspective on the US pro tour (where all the majors but one are played, after all).

Tomorrow, two of our resident experts on golf gizmos designed to improve your swing.

Do you really need 'em? Come back and find out!