January 18, 2004
Four Feet from History
I am not a sports follower. I follow sports so that I can make contact with my sports nut husband, Woody and to try to make up for not being one of the guys, or one of his childhood buddies that he left on the mainland. We also don't have a TV and the reception is lousy here for the box or the radio, so Woody goes to a venue like Charlie's in Keaau, or Cronies in Hilo near the store, For the wide screen TV, and social interaction with others of his kind. Now that these places are non smoking, I might join him once in a while.
This week and previous weeks really since last year, I have been following the amateur career of the extraordinarily talented young golf sensation from Honolulu, Michelle Wei. At 14, she has the golf swing of a man 3 times her age and a steadiness that everyone on the PGA tour has now recognized as extraordinary. If you have ever seen this freshman from the prestigious Punahou School belt a golf ball into next week, you know that this isn't going to be your average lady on the LPGA. She gets them on the green in regulation from the mens tees, and then putts like she's been doing it for 20 years. Tiger Woods said that he was taken aback by her height...(dis wahine nui is 6 feet and growing) and "her drive is exceptionally strong" Playing at the Sony Open this week on an exemption requested by our govenor, Linda Lingle, Michelle had a chance at something a rare few women golfers let alone a young girl get to do, play at a PGA Tour event, on her home course, with many of the sports greats.
And she played there like she belonged in the company... Her first round was two over par, and she was playing with the defending champ Ernie Ells, who in a photo that I saw, was beaming at her as she made a great putt. Commenting later, Ells remarked that " He really wouldnt be surprised if Michelle, should she keep up like this, be carrying a PGA Tour card in her pocket..." That would be history made for sure.
In her second round, she shot an even 72 along with fellow Hawaii golfer Dean Wilson... But it was not to be as she missed the cut by one shot. There was one hole that everyone agreed that had she hit the ball another four feet (and into the cup) she would have made the cut and history as the youngest woman to play against the men and make the cut. As it stands, she has the lowest score by a woman in a mens event where the woman missed the cut. By the way had the leader been off one shot, all of those that ended even that day would have made the cut including Michelle. She finished 80th ahead of 47 guys...Imagine how it must feel for those pros to get beaten by a 14 year old girl...
Why do I blog about this...this girl is a hero here. I live on an island where more often than not the women are used as punching bags and girls in school don't see anyway for them to be a success in life... Michelle has many advantages that is true, but she is"a local girl" making headlines and people are talking about it.
I hope that Michelle can keep up with her studies, (shes no slouch in the books dept either) and continues to enjoy her particular gifts in the golf dept. None of this seems not have gone to her head yet and I think that speaks well of her parents and of her attitude about life.
Way to go, Michelle... Watch out guys..."She'll be Back...."
