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"She said her wrist hurts, and yet she's practicing for the next tournament right away," said players from the U.S. LGPA.
"My wrist injury is real. But as stubborn as I am, I just kept on playing because I wanted to play," said Michelle Wie.
"I just feel there's a little bit of lack of respect and class just to kind of leave a tournament like that," said Annika Sorenstam.
"I don't really feel like I have to apologize for anything. I just have to take care of my body and move forward and only think of positive things," replied Wie.
Michelle Wie is finding herself the subject of unwanted attention. While earlier it was Wie's play that was dubious, now it's her ethics that are in the spotlight. According to U.S. sports channel ESPN on Wednesday, Wie was seen practicing last week at Bulle Rock golf course in Maryland, ahead of this week's McDonald's LPGA Championship on the very same course. That's made several other players unhappy.
At the first round of the Ginn Tribute last Friday, Wie, who was 14 over par after 16 holes, walked off the course saying she had injured her left wrist. However, many people believe that Wie pulled out from the Ginn to avoid being banned from LPGA events by a rule that says nonmembers who shoot 88 or higher are disqualified for the year.
"I just feel there's a little bit of lack of respect and class just to kind of leave a tournament like that and come out and practice here. It just seemed really weird," said Annika Sorenstam, hostess of the Ginn event, on Wednesday. After taking several questions on the matter from reporters, Wie finally confronted the situation. "I don't really feel like I have to apologize for anything. I just have to take care of my body and move forward," she said.
Wie's attitude was problematic during the pro-am competition as well. Wie's four amateur playing partners complained that Wie would walk off by herself after hitting her shots rather than playing together, and the complaints eventually reached the office of LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens. Then on Tuesday, an LPGA official ordered Wie's parents off the practice range, citing a rule that only coaches and caddies are allowed on the course with players.
Local press reported that the controversy could affect Wie's participation in tour games. As a nonmember of the LGPA, Wie can have sponsor exemptions into six LPGA events plus play in the U.S. Women's Open and the Ricoh Women's British Open. With a less than comfortable relationship with the LPGA, however, sponsors might avoid the teen star.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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