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Post by bobawiefan on Mar 31, 2012 8:36:18 GMT -5
Hello Wie Nation: I thought I would start this thread so we could post any information about Michelle’s putting woes. And any information about what Michelle is going to do about her putting woes…  Poor putting causes Wie to miss cut at Kraft  Photo by Tracy Wilcox Michelle Wie uses an umbrella to shield herself from the sun on Friday at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. By Beth Ann Baldry March 30, 2012 6:15 p.m. RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Stacy Lewis spoke for everyone when she said this about Michelle Wie’s putting: “It’s hard to watch.” Lewis was paired with Wie last week at the LPGA Kia Classic, where Wie shot 77-79 to miss the cut. There was more of the same in the desert. Wie will miss the cut for the first time in eight years at the Kraft after shooting 73-77. Wie dropped to her knees after missing a 3-footer for par on the seventh hole (her 16th). Her confidence with the putter had been zapped. She didn’t have much better luck with the long stick, hitting only 12 fairways in two days. But, as her swing coach David Leadbetter said earlier in the year, a shaky putter will contaminate the entire golf bag. “You almost want her to just tap it in and kind of go with it,” Lewis said. “I think she needs to putt more like a kid.’ Wie knows she’s overthinking things. Yet when asked if things have gotten too technical over the years throughout her game, she quickly said, “No.” Anyone who has followed Wie’s career can easily call foul on that comment. There’s so much information being hurled in her direction, it’s a wonder her head doesn’t burst. She can’t hit a ball without four to five sets of eyes watching. It’s mind-blowing to watch a player with that much talent – who finished fourth at this event at 15 – struggle to make a cut. At the HSBC Champions, a limited-field event with no cut, Wie beat only one player: Sock Hwee Koh. Last week at Kia, an important event for Wie judging by those ever-present commercials, Wie hit only six fairways each day and had 62 putts. She had 33 and 32 putts in her rounds at Kraft. It’s difficult to keep track of the number of times Wie has switched putters and/or grips in the past year. She probably has left Nike imprints on practice greens around the world. It’s not that she has ever been known as a great putter. But this is starting to get ugly. “It’s a work in progress,” Wie said. “It’s not something that’s going to change overnight.” Lewis struggled with her putting on Day 1 and decided to make a last-minute switch. A TaylorMade rep drove up four putters for her to test, and she was on the practice green at 6:30 a.m. Lewis had switched putters in January but found putts were bouncing. “Seeing putts go in breeds confidence,” said Lewis, who battled back with three birdies on her last 11 holes to get back to 1 over and see the weekend. “It’s insanity to do the same thing over and over and try to get different results.” Perhaps Wie needs to step away from the practice green for a little while. Some time away might give the demons a chance to escape. It’s a fresh chapter for the Stanford graduate, who now makes her home in Jupiter, Fla. It’s probably too much to ask that she gets some space upon entering the “real world.” Her mom, Bo, escorted her to the bathroom off the 17th tee, though it didn’t look like any fans were planning to rush her. Her parents don’t seem to have any intention of backing off. That’s too bad |
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Post by bobawiefan on Apr 1, 2012 9:20:36 GMT -5
Hello Wie Nation:  I searched the internet under “Wie’s putting woes”, and there are a lot of articules about her bad putting…I am posting two full articles…the first dated July 24, 2004.…the second dated, May 14, 2010...The third is an excerpt from an article from June 19, 2006...I’ve highlighted, what I find ironic….Quote. ”But his charge, said Leadbetter, "has worked very hard with my wife, Kelly, on developing a consistent routine.”… After six years, Michelle has still not developed a consistent routine, Michelle is out of college, Michelle has to seriously address her putting problems... After six years,,,MICHELLE needs to or has to see the handwriting on the wall.. Michelle is still maintaining radio silence…. So far…..there is no good news or any news as to what Michelle is going to do about her putting problem…. Hopefully, Michelle will do the right thing? ? Got to love wie golf bobawiefan Posted on: Saturday, July 24, 2004 Wie's putting woes continue Associated Press EVIAN, France — Annika Sorenstam vaulted into a three-shot lead at the Evian Masters tournament with an impressive 7-under 65, while Honolulu's Michelle Wie continued to have putting problems in a storm-delayed third round yesterday.  Michelle Wie gets advice from mother, Bo, before the start of the third day of the Evian Masters women's tournament. Associated Press Wie had a run of four bogeys in five holes starting at the second, then had twelve pars for a 4-over 76 yesterday. "I had the stupidest three-putt in my life at the second hole," Wie said. "I saw the downhill but still putted hard." On Thursday, she had five three-putts. Wie is at 2-over 218, 18 strokes behind Sorenstam entering today's final round. The 14-year-old's travails on the notoriously tricky Evian greens continued at the fourth hole, where she came out of the right greenside bunker but missed the putt. Wie three-putted from more than 24 feet at the fifth, then hit an overcooked chip from the fringe rough at the next hole to put her 4-over for the day. "I just had no confidence in my putting," Wie confessed. "These last two days, I've had no feel." In a display of cool, controlled play, the world No. 1 rattled off seven birdies on an unblemished card to put her three shots clear of overnight leader Karen Stupples, fell into second. "What can I say? I hit a lot of good irons and was solid all day," said Sorenstam, who had five birdie putts from inside four feet. "Even when I made a mistake I was able to make par." Heavy rain fell as the last group played the last two holes. Sorenstam drove into the left rough at the par-5 18th, got her 9-iron grabbed by the wet grass and only advanced the ball 74 yards. With 170 yards to the pin, the 33-year-old Swede then flighted a 7-iron to two inches from the hole and tapped in her seventh birdie. Overall, Sorenstam sits 16-under-par. Stupples slipped to second with a 69. Mexico's Lorena Ochoa was in third after carding a 67, and Australia's Wendy Doolan shot a 69 to finish in fourth. |
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Post by bobawiefan on Apr 1, 2012 9:30:36 GMT -5
Wie's new coach? Friday, May 14, 2010Comments (1)  Michelle Wie is straddling the cut line at the LPGA's Bell Micro Classic. If she doesn't hold on, she'll miss her first cut of the year. Is she injured? No. Is the golf course an unbearable beast? Apparently not--the leaders are diving way under par. Is she missing putts? Yes! Footage of yesterday's round exposed Wie's new (weird) putting routine. She takes her stance, makes one (or two! or three!) practice strokes, and moves her putter to the ball without moving her feet. "When you let your hands hang below you, your putter head will naturally guide your putter back and through," said Matt Rudy, Golf Digest's senior instruction writer. "By moving her hands up without moving her feet, she's probably manipulating the stroke." Wie famously partnered with Dave Stockton last August, and under his tutelage she won her first LPGA Tour event as a professional. Stockton advises against taking practice strokes, so Wie's new routine seems to defy Stockton's golden rule. More interestingly, footage of Wie's first round showed Dave Pelz following her and pumping his fists when she made a putt. So while nothing is certain about who's coaching Wie, Pelz is making his interest known. In other news, Se Ri Pak, who hasn't won since July, 2007, and Brittany Lincicome are roaring up the leader board. Be sure to catch some live action this weekend on the Golf Channel from 4-6pm |
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Post by bobawiefan on Apr 1, 2012 9:34:13 GMT -5
June 19, 2006
Se Ri Pak's Fresh Start
Before a Playoff Win at the LPGA Championship the Iconic Korean Took Time Off to Get a Life
E.M. Swift , Alan Shipnuck
Wie salvaged the round by birdieing three of her last four holes for a respectable 71, but on a windless day when Nicole Castrale set the course record of 64, it wasn't an ideal start. Teeing off early on Friday, when the course was soft and the air calm, Wie built on her momentum, shooting 68 before a thunderstorm blew in and delayed play for most of the field for five hours. She still needed 30 putts, however, and could easily have gone three or four shots lower.
David Leadbetter, Wie's coach, defended her putting stroke, saying that Wie's woes were the result of switching from the bermuda grass she plays on at home in Hawaii, where Wie recently finished her junior year at Honolulu's Punahou School, to the bentgrass of the East. "Even on the PGA Tour players struggle going from West to East," Leadbetter said. "Her putting stroke is way better than last year. It's more rhythmic. She has learned to control the speed better on lag putts. Under pressure that stroke gets a little slower and more deliberate, and she stands over the ball longer." Leadbetter would like Wie to pull the trigger in about eight seconds; longer than that and too much tension builds in her arms. But his charge, said Leadbetter, "has worked very hard with my wife, Kelly, on developing a consistent routine." In truth, Wie has two putting routines. From 12 feet and in, which is where she has the most problems, she steps up to the ball, peeks at the hole twice and putts without taking any practice strokes. Beyond 12 feet, Wie takes a couple of practice strokes to get the feel for distance.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2012 12:28:43 GMT -5
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Post by smiller on Apr 2, 2012 13:47:19 GMT -5
Having personally watched Michelle during the first round at both the KIA and KFC tournaments, I have to agree that with Stacy Lewis ‘It is hard to watch”, but as shown in earlier posts, putting problems are nothing new, the major difference today is that her long game is rusty, putting too much pressure of her short game and specifically putting. I think that Michelle practices more than enough if not too much, she was stretching her back on Thursday last week, usually an indication of too many hours on the putting green. At her worst what I saw was a cramped position, ball back in her stance, elbows tucked in, an all upper body dominated stroke. Now, all that is easily fixable and as displayed during the first nine at the Kraft…
The main issue in my opinion is her mental approach to the consequences of not putting successfully; she is trying so hard not to fail that that she ends up not executing.
How this is cured is by removal of the fear of the consequences. The consequences will potentially always be there, disappointed parents, or IMG, or Nike, or fans, but the fear can be managed, usually by properly assessing just how critical the consequences are, missing a putt is not getting cancer, suffering from a bad car accident, losing your eyesight or be starving and physically threatened.
There is rumor that she is communicating with the Vision 54 team; I hope that it is true, since the gist of their consulting is to have players have the proper perspective on what golf is all about and managing expectations.
Michelle has given more to golf than just anybody else and does not owe anything to anybody. I hope that she will not conclude that she will be happier without golf, but I would certainly respect her decision, the mental pain that she is going through these days is simply not worth it.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2012 19:11:36 GMT -5
Here is the link to VISION54 For anyone who wants to check it out. www.vision54.com/vision54/pages/programs/think54.jsp"Among the many companies and organizations who have enjoyed VISION54's custom 54THINK programs are groups such as:" Nike Golf Thomson Financial Volvo Swedish Match Mass Mutual Association for Applied Sport Psychology McDonald’s |
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Post by bobawiefan on Apr 2, 2012 19:11:38 GMT -5
Hello Wie Nation: Hello Smiller: Excellent post Smiller…Excellent observations… And I agree…It does not appear Michelle is enjoying herself on the golf course during a regular tournament. While playing in the Solhiem Cup, Michelle’s demeanor was relaxed, outgoing and fun loving…Lately, while playing in a regular tournaments, Michelle’s demeanor has been guarded and restricted as revealed by the frustrating arm motions of a misplayed shot. Hopefully, Michelle can learn to express herself comfortably on the golf course… Once again, an excellent post Smiller. Michelle tweeted: Michelle Wieþ@themichellewie So true!  And this: Michelle Wieþ@themichellewie Feels sooo good to be back in the 808!! #homesweethome Anybody know what the 808 is??? Found it...It's the area code for Hawaii Michelle is in Hawaii...Good for her.. Got to love Wie golf bobawiefan |
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Post by LoJo on Apr 2, 2012 20:27:56 GMT -5
Yeah....I read about her talking to the Vision 54 people too. Could be a good thing. Suzann Pettersen, another of Leadbetter's students, is with them. Of course, she's with Dave Stockton too I believe. Vision 54 is all about mental stuff....and god knows, Michelle has some mental cobwebs to clean out right now.
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Post by wowwie1 on Apr 3, 2012 12:21:11 GMT -5
TeeShot,
Am curious about this in your post: "Michelle has given more to golf than just anybody else."
What do you mean by that?
Thanks.
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Post by chargepads on Apr 3, 2012 21:59:27 GMT -5
The lady commentator at the last tournament said something about, "Michelle should try putting without the sun glasses, for she thinks that it can presents depth perception issue", I do agree with that comment. if we see Michelle putting without the glasses the next time she plays, then at least we know her team is willing to try anything.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2012 9:17:14 GMT -5
TeeShot, Am curious about this in your post: "Michelle has given more to golf than just anybody else." What do you mean by that? Thanks. That was Smiller's comment. I don't know what he was referring to either. |
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Post by chargepads on Apr 4, 2012 20:22:42 GMT -5
TeeShot, Am curious about this in your post: "Michelle has given more to golf than just anybody else." What do you mean by that? Thanks. That was Smiller's comment. I don't know what he was referring to either. Let's face it, Michelle can move TV ratings every time she's in contention. I know that's how I got hooked watching her since she was 14. As the saying goes, "rising tide, lifts all boats." |
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Post by boolaboss on Apr 6, 2012 3:32:24 GMT -5
I want to thank everyone who posted on this thread......It shows that we all care about Michelle's putting problems......and her problems with the other parts of her game right now.........but she is IN Hawaii........probably practicing on her OLD home course...........where she will play in the LPGA LOTTE Championship in about 12 days..........the only time she played on that course in an LPGA event........was when she was 15 years old.........she finished in 3rd place in that event..........moving up from T-6 on the last day.........to finish in 3rd place, just one shot out of a playoff with the winner Meena Lee and another player named Lee........this is the same course where she practiced every day after high school classes........wiefan should jump in to this thread.........as he was there in person to see her play in this event..........and should be able to give us all some meaningful comments..........but at least we know she is on the right track to fixing her problems.........and we just have to wait and see what the results will be..........
........Boola Boss
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Post by fuzzylogic on Apr 10, 2012 1:46:43 GMT -5
IMO Michelle doesn’t have a problem with her putter, she was a great putter in her youth, breaming with confidence. I think her confidence is shaken with the putter, and she’s putting defensively, she should just ram them in and make that 3 foot comeback putt.
Leadbetter should change her setup posture to a slightly more upright position to get her drives in the fairway. Michelle is driving stats show her hitting 5+ when she needs to be 14+ in fairways hit, and play her approach shot from the fairway and not the rough. You can't expect to putts for birdies from outside 10 feet and make more than 50% of them, under tournament conditions.
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