Where Would We Be Without Wie?

Just as golf is about to swing into that drab period between Bay Hill and The Masters Michelle Wie comes to the rescue.

Her club grounding inside a hazard was a non-issue (except for that pesky 2-stroke penalty), but her hilarious, defensive, and wholly self-serving reaction to the two rules officials who were doing everything they could not to laugh at her or call her an infant was precious.

It's clear that Michelle Wie is weak in her understanding of the rules of golf. Worse, it's equally clear that she has no interest in improving her knowledge. As the saying goes: She doesn't know what she doesn't know. Contrast this to the LPGA's former Number 1, Annkika Sorenstam, who, smack in the middle of her LPGA dominance, went out of her way to attend a USGA Rules Seminar.

Sorenstam was a great player; Wie wants the world to believe she's great.

Since the LPGA had the wrong-headed temerity to tells its members to learn to speak English or else, I would hope someone at the tour would be wiling to take Wie aside and tell that learning the rules is a good thing that will make her a even better player.

Surely, Wie's not going to figure this out on her own.

If Michelle Wie has handlers whom she trusts, she's making a mistake.

If she's making her decisions on her own, she's making a mistake.

It's time to learn that sometimes you can learn from a mistake before you make one.

Tiger Woods' Crossroads

By announcing he's playing in the 2010 Masters, Tiger Woods has arrived at a crossroads. The first part of his storied career is now history; the rest of his career yet to unfold. The first part of his career was characterized by a sharp and unflinching focus on history and his quest to exceed Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 wins in major championships. Until the the events of last Thanksgiving night, very few questioned Woods' ability to surpass that lofty mark. But, this is another time and another Tiger Woods.

It is very hard to play good golf during times of personal turmoil. I speak from personal experience. When a man like Woods, one who is used to controlling his environment even better than he controls the golf ball with his driver, is suddenly put under intense scrutiny, it is very unlikely to help the ball into the hole in fewer strokes.

Woods chose the Masters for good reason. If there's any event that can help him keep the lid on the press and the gallery, it's Augusta National and guys with names like Hootie. Woods knows he can't sneak back into the game. The best he can hope is to make the place of his return be among friends.

There's an even more interesting angle to the story.

Of late, lots of players and pundits have spoken of Woods' vanishing aura and the demise of his mystique. Colin Montgomerie, a man who is no stranger to off course strife said, "The mystique has gone. The mysterious nature of the guy has gone. He is suddenly more normal now." I agree with Monty: I believe Woods' virtual shields have been damaged forever.

But, here's something to consider: What if Woods wins the Masters? What if, at the very moment of his greatest vulnerability, after being driven into hiding and becoming the butt of thousands of jokes, Woods proves to the rest of the tour that it's still just a fight for second place?

If that were to happen, and I would bet (though not much) it won't, the rest of Woods' career would bear a striking resemblance to the first part. Woods would have taken the ultimate shot and bounced back to remind the tour's pretenders of their proper place. He would speak of his renewed faith, of a rebirth and dedication to the game and how he had to endure his fall to gain the humility he needed to attain the crowing achievements of his career.

Remember: We're talking about Tiger Woods...