Golf keeps track by money. It is an example of a sport that uses money for determining success. But Wi had endorsements before she took her first professional swing. She was a financial success, immediately. But she was not a golfing success and has not become one. I feel kind of sad that it seems to be getting away from her at such an early time in her career.
I wouldn’t put too much stock in what she did in this one tournament. They’re playing Oakmont, a course that tests the best men in the world, set up for U.S. Open conditions. The cut was at +10, and there were a whole lot of women who did worse that Wie.
She’s 16th on the money list and this is the first cut she’s missed in 2010.
I’d still do her. 
Oakmont is brutal. It’s no sin to miss the cut there.
I think she still has plenty of time to have a great career. She’s only 20. It seems like she’s much older because she was playing in men’s tournaments when she was what, 15 or so? Expectations were built so high, it was almost impossible for her to do anything but fall short of them.
She has one win on the LPGA. That’s one more than all of us do. If in 10 years, she still has one win, maybe she’s done. But right now, I think it’s too soon to bury her.
If her golf career is over, then we should expect a Playboy spread in the near future? 
I was a big detractor of MW back when she was playing PGA events. In fact, I’m pretty sure I started a Pit thread about it. But now that she’s settled into the LPGA, I think it would be silly to announce her career to be over. She can be streaky, but I wouldn’t be on her not having more wins ahead, including a major.
She was touted as the next coming. She was to be the next Tiger and dominate the women and maybe beat the men. That is the problem. They set the bar at a level that no one could reach. So even a good solid professional career will be a disappointment. But, I doubt she will even reach that. That is not her fault. I feel a little sorry for her because she will never quiet her critics.
Yeah - but what about ON the course? 
Fuck her scores, I’d use my wood on her green any day of the week: http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41968000/jpg/_41968974_wie_pa_300.jpg
Winnings are of course a good measure of success in sports. I take exception to Omni’s claim that endorsement deals are the primary measure of success.
Winning is the only measure of a golfers prowess. She has practically nothing to show. The money list is a measure of success. Wins and wins at majors are all important. She has little to show.
She has more money at age 20 than I’ll see in 20 years of work. It would be nice to win more tournaments, but she’s doing pretty well for herself.
She got the money because of hype and potential. She has not delivered. Most of her money was due to endorsements before she swung a club on the tour. I am sure they are drying up and worth less now.
A list of all-time money leaders makes clear the difficulty of basing conclusions as to excellence solely on money won.
How is that? The list includes the best golfers. The money they got is accumulated by winning or placing high in tournaments. They have done so. That is golfing excellence. A all time list would have to be be corrected for the larger purses and inflation.
The leading money winner for a long time was Tom Kite. Back then 5 million in a career was great. Million dollar purses has changed that. But that list has the top golfers on it ,as they should.
Michelle Wie West - Wikipedia Here is Wiki on her entire career event by event. It is very unimpressive.
Except for that fact that she was a teenager during most of it. Tell me, Gonzo, do you go to Tee Ball games and taunt little kids because they can’t field or throw? I don’t understand the fascination with wanting to constantly rip this attractive talented young woman a new one-in the sporting world at least I can probably think of 99 other things which would offend me more. Frankly it borders on sick obsessiveness to actively root against someone like this (in team sports such an attitude might be more understandable-“Yankees Suck!” and so on).
Well, I don’t know the exact methodology for that particular list, but it doesn’t say anyhing about beling limited to active golfers, adjusted for cost-of-living, or anything else. So where is Nicklaus on the list? Briny Baird ahead of Tom Watson?
Tom Kite was the first to break 5 million. You win 1 million for winning many of the tournaments nowadays.
checking that link, she finished in the top 5 of four consecutive women majors and 5 top 5 out of 6 majors. Top 5. At age 15 and 16.
T2 in the 2005 LPGA
T3 in the 2005 Womens British Open
T3 in the 2006 Kraft Nabisco
T5 in the 2006 LPGA
T3 in the 2006 US Womens Open
I am sure other females have done that, but probably not too many. Annika once did 7 out 8 including 4 consecutive. So did Lorena Ochoa had 4 consecutive top 5 finishes but not .
Karrie Webb has never done it. The best Nancy Lopez did was two straight top 5s. Paula Creamer has a total of 3 top 5’s in Majors.
People tend to focus on what she hasn’t done rather than what she has done.
At age 14, she missed the cut in a PGA Tournament by one shot!!
At Age 13, she won the USGA Women Publinx tournament. A womens event with some of the best amateur women playing, at age 13.
At age 16, she made the cut in an Asian Mens tournament and finished T35
At Age 12, she won the Hawaiin Ladies Open Golf tournament,
At age 15, she advanced to the quarter finals of the USGA MENS Publinx, arguably one of the most prestigious MENS amateur tournaments of the year. She lost to the eventual champion.
These are impressive accomplishments for a young girl, no matter how you slice it.
Yes, For the record, she hasn’t won many tournaments. She has a very credible and impressive resume. And yes, she (and her family) have made some bad decisions.
She was a much better golfer as a young teenager than she is now as a young adult. Maybe her swing has not grown with her body.
Nobody, ever, in the history of sports has ever equated endorsement dollars with talent.