|
Why are there more spectators in the gallery surrounding Michelle Wie than there are accompanying "Golf Queen" Annika Sorenstam?
A members-only website by Samsung Research called SeriCEO (www.sericeo.org) posted the question on its homepage Wednesday. An answer: "In contrast to Sorenstam, Michelle Wie is a creative destroyer¡± of preconceptions.
An article titled "Michelle's Changing World" attributes Wie's US$10 million endorsement deals -- with Nike among others -- and her enjoyment of unparalleled popularity in the golf world despite her tender age and short record, to her breaking of preconceived notions: a triumph of marketing over substance they feel deserves teaching on business courses.
The first barrier Wie broke down was gender, by taking on the Masters, a men¡¯s match. Then she turned pro at only 16, instead of the usual 18. That made the Korean-American prodigy a full five years younger at her pro debut than Tiger Woods, who only turned pro at 21 during his junior year at Stanford University.
In addition, her style of playing mixes inexperience and expertness in an endearing and unique way. Ignominiously disqualified during her pro debut because she misjudged a ball drop, Wie still stood out when she managed to get out of the bushes without penalty by saying she was allergic to bees. And then there is the bravado: declaring that she will outdo Tiger Woods in the game as a woman golfer also ensures that more eyes are on her than on the more reticent Swede.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
