Chipping In – Wie impresses at Pinehurst as Northern Ireland unearths new star!

Chipping In is a weekly column written by Golfing Journalist Nick Bonfield

Wonderful Wie

On Sunday, Michelle Wie finally delivered on the huge potential she’s demonstrated since becoming the youngest ever person to qualify for a USGA amateur championship at the age of 10. In the US Women’s Open at Pinehurst No 2. – the same course used for the men’s event and a layout described by some ladies as the hardest US Open test they’d experienced – Wie shot a closing round of 70 to finish two clear of world number one Stacy Lewis as the only player under par after 72 holes.

It was a hugely impressive, and mature, performance from Wie, who, despite being only 24 years old, was playing in her 11th US Women’s Open. That statistic is very telling, with regards both her talent and the media pressure she’s had to deal with since bursting onto the scene. I’m not at all surprised it’s taken her this long to break through, despite her considerable talent. The life of a professional golfer is a whirlwind, especially if you’re a teenage protégé. Before you’ve even formed your own views, established your personal identity or finished school, you’re subject to media requests, attention and scrutiny, and unable to live away from the public eye. It must be a remarkably difficult thing to get used to, and, in my view, only serves to stifle young talent. But I’m thrilled for Wie, who’s managed to come through all the above with good grace and not been corrupted by it. A major championship is a fitting prize for that.

Love the PGA, European and LPGA Tours? Get all the reaction, insight and opinion in our Monday Tour newsltter. Sign Up here >> Monday Mulligan

Luci Li – impressive, but dangerous precedent?

Last week, Lucy Li became the youngest ever person to take part in the US Women’s Open. I’m sorry, but I find the notion of an 11-year-old playing in arguably the biggest event on the ladies’ golfing calendar worrying, irresponsible and immoral.

Firstly, I have a real issue with her parents allowing her to compete at such a young age, as I feel exposing her to worldwide media organisations will mean she’ll struggle for any semblance of privacy going forward. Golf brands and marketers will be all over her and such attention only detracts from what she should be doing: getting a good education and growing up out of the private eye. If she’s good enough to qualify at the age of 11, she will be good enough when she’s older. I really don’t see what can be gained from allowing her to play, aside from experience - something that doesn’t need to start being accrued in a national professional championship at 11 years old.

Secondly, I think the USGA, and governing bodies around the world, should institute a minimum age for qualifiers at 16. That’s the age at which children are legally allowed to finish school, and able to give serious though to the path they might want their life to take. At 11, you are simply too young to know what you want to do, and I do worry that some parents put the possible earning potential of their offspring above their principal parental duty: doing what’s best for their son or daughter.

Thirdly, where does it stop? There was a nine-year-old in qualifying for this year’s tournament. I have a moral objection to that. I really don’t understand what’s wrong with playing competitive junior and amateur golf out of the spotlight until your late teens. What’s the hurry?

Stunning start for Meadow

Michelle Wie’s victory at Pinehurst will take most of the headlines, but what a performance from 22-year-old Stephanie Meadow. The Northern Irishwoman – who played college golf at the University of Alabama and formed part of GB&I’s Curtis Cup-winning team in 2012 – was making her professional debut, and the $270,000 she earned for a third-place finish should be enough to secure a LPGA Tour card for next season. She also recorded the best ever finish from an Irishwoman in a major championship. Not a bad week all round!

Sensational stretch for Streelman

There are some rare moments when everything comes together on the golf course. On Sunday, Kevin Streelman did something that he’ll probably never replicate during his professional career. The American was one-over-par after 11 holes at the Travelers Championship – a tournament he came into off the back of four missed cuts – but proceeded to birdie his last seven holes to win the event by one shot. Unsurprisingly, it was the first time anyone had birdied the last seven holes to win on tour. His reflection? ‘It was just one of those days where I felt I couldn’t miss’.

Inspired Ilonen

Mikko Ilonen’s path to the Irish Open trophy wasn’t nearly as flamboyant as Streelman’s, but there are some parallels between the two winners. Both had been termed journeymen for large portions of their careers – a word that no longer applies. The Fin and American have each won two tournaments over the last 18 months, and both have outside chances of representing their respective continents at Gleneagles this September. It just goes to show that in golf, perseverance and practice can yield results, if accompanied by self-belief.

Fantastic Fitzpatrick

It would be fair to say the future looks bright for 19-year-old Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, who finished inside the top 30 in his professional debut at the Irish Open, earning almost €18,000 in the process. Fitzpatrick decided to do a Jordan Spieth and forego a college education to concentrate full-time on golf, and with the tools he possesses, who can blame him? Last year, he became the first Englishman to win the US Amateur for 102 years. He was also the low amateur at the 2013 Open and the 2014 US Open, becoming the first person in history to hold those two silver medals at the same time. Given what he’s already achieved, it’s hard to predict anything other than success for Fitzpatrick in the professional ranks.

Next week, the European Tour heads to Germany for the BMW International Open, and Tiger Woods returns to action after a lengthy injury lay-off at the PGA Tour’s Quicken Loans National.

Related Articles

Michelle Wie wins the US Open - Higlights and WITB