<p>Annika Sorenstam, who has retired from the LPGA, suggested last month during the U.S. Women's Open that Wie was shortchanging women's golf by pursuing her degree at Stanford.</p>
<p>"I think her focus, in my opinion, should be more on golf," Sorenstam said. "She's very distracted with school, doesn't really play as much full time as I thought she would. I think she needs to come out here and compete more regularly."</p>
<p>....</p>
<p>I think everyone's entitled to their own opinion," Wie said in a phone conversation. She was in Florida working with her swing coach, David Leadbetter, aiming to finish out the 2011 season strong.</p>
<p>"I'm making my own decisions, though, and going to Stanford was something I needed to do for myself. It was not a decision made for my golf career, it was really solely a decision I made. It's been one of the first things in my life I did for myself."</p>
<p>Wie is making her own decisions, but Annika Sorenstam is certainly entitled to her opinion, too. Knowing what I know now, it I were lucky enough to have Wie’s talent I would pursue golf. My understanding is that Arizona was a great opportunity for Sorenstam from a golf perspective. There is plenty of time for a degree later, if needed. But I respect Wie’s decision - it’s her life.</p>
<p>I wish Michelle had just smiled, nodded, and moved on when this issue came up. If there had to be an explanation, I would have felt this would have been if she decided not to get her degree.</p>
<p>Annika Sorenstam is not a rival, she is retired. She is very focused on the women’s tour, but does she remember the criticism she took when she was “distracted” by playing an event on the men’s tour?</p>
<p>Wei understands that success in her profession is more than merely winning tournaments. There is a lot of money to be earned being in the news. Skipping events on tour to earn a Stanford degree will generate ink. Ink generates revenue for those who know what they are doing. Wei is not only getting some valuable experiences, an education and a degree, but she is making some noise - that is every bit a part of her profession as the short game.</p>
<p>Wie could definitely be shortchanging women’s golf by pursuing her degree first rather than being full time on the tour. Women’s golf could use a BIG name (a la Sorenstam or Tiger in his younger days) on the tour. But Michelle Wie obviously doesn’t think that she is shortchanging herself.</p>
<p>The lifespan of a professional athlete is very, very short…will Michelle Wie ever become as good a golfer as she could have been had she gone right into full time competitive golf? We’ll never know.</p>
<p>[I’m sure Sorenstam was only at U of A to golf, just like the big tennis players in my day who went to college for one year to win the NCAA and then went pro.]</p>
<p>Gosh, like it would be the end of the world if some talented athlete didn’t actually pursue the sport. Give me a break. I wouldn’t know who these two women are if I tripped over them, but since when is one athlete’s life the concern of another’s?</p>
<p>Bravo to the young lady. There is no better time to pursue an education than when young and unencumbered with other things. She has plenty of time to improve her golf in just a few short years- she hasn’t dropped the sport completely. Better that than the path Tiger Woods took. She can have a degree, probably a golf career and one after that. Her comment makes it seem as though her parents controlled her life- H looking her up now- age 10 golfing…, pro age 16. No wonder she wants to shift gears and figure out her life. She missed so much through the focus on golf.</p>
<p>Sorenstam is rightly concerned with the development and future of the sport of women’s golf. Wie is rightly concerned with her own development and future. I vote with Wie. For most athletes playing pro sports lasts a few years, but your education will enrich you for a lifetime.</p>
<p>Wie’s father has controlled every move in her life up to now…including forcing her to play in men’s tour events as a teen instead of playing and developing her game on the LPGA tour or on the junior circuit…very sad. She is finally doing what she wants to do…good for her.</p>
<p>There is no question that a competitive Wie participating on the tour fulltime and with her full attention would be better for the game. LPGA is struggling mightily to keep and find sponsors. They are down somewhere around 10 tournaments from previous years.</p>
<p>I think Sorenstam should have her own children whose lives she can control and not worry so much about the life a different parent has tried to control. She can then join the (very small) ranks of parents who are upset their child is going to Stanford, if she cares to! As the Tiger situation shows, pinning the hopes of a sports organization on one person is a very big mistake…</p>
<p>Plenty of male golfers are still playing professionally in their 30’s, 40’s, etc. For Michelle to take 4 or 5 years to go to Stanford at this young age will not really hurt her. She can get her degree, keep practicing, play occasionally and return to full time pro golf after Stanford if that is what SHE wants to do and still has the talent to do. Time is really on her side in this sport.</p>
<p>I applaud Michelle Wie for her decision and I think that Sorenstam is in the wrong here but a previous poster made a disparaging comment about Sorenstam going to Arizona for two years and then “dropping out”.</p>
<p>Sorenstam may have dropped out in the literal sense, but she left Arizona to turn professional in the game she loves. I certainly wouldn’t criticize her for that, especially when Tiger did the same thing at Stanford (and she is basically the women’s version of Tiger on the course).</p>
<p>I think many of you are being unnecessarily harsh towards Annika Sorenstam. Her comments were not posted in their entirety and the context is clearly not there. Annika was, as has been mentioned, the Tiger Woods of women’s golf and has a strong desire for the strengthening and success of the LPGA. When Michelle Wie started playing as a young teen, many felt that she was the next rising star. Unfortunately, all the hype was, mostly, for naught and she struggled for years, never really reaching her much anticipated potential. The article I read about this, which by the way was over a month ago because I saw it when on vacation in early July, included context that Annika was asked what Michelle would have to do in order to find success. A clear focus, without the distraction of school, and the ability to concentrate on golf on a full-time basis, was something that Annika suggested might be enough to help Michelle finally reach the level of success that everyone had hoped she would reach. That doesn’t mean that she thought Michelle should quit college. It’s quite possible that as with many others, Michelle has irritated Annika through the years. There’s been much controversy of her and her father’s choices earlier in her career, in addition to a couple of issues with Michelle’s honesty when it comes to injuries and pulling out of tournaments. But I honestly don’t think that in this particular case, Annika’s intentions are what is being portrayed here, particularly since Michelle is almost finished her degree.</p>
<p>By the way, Annika Sorenstam and her husband have two children.</p>
<p>For years? I know she started early, but she’s only in her early 20’s. I don’t think that 20 is the “peak” time for most golfers. She still could reach her potential in golf…if that’s what she decides.</p>