What are your expectations for Michelle at the PGA Sony Open?
The Sony Open ... No. 1, Michelle Wie is the poster girl for junior golf. Because she’s getting a lot of kids, especially girls, into the game of golf. It’s not about trying to beat the men now. That’s going to come, you know, maybe when she’s 18 years old. But now ... she’s raising money in Hawaii for junior golf, so if they can make so much (more) to go towards junior golf, that’s fantastic. So it’s not about beating the men because that’s unrealistic.
She could play better than some men, because everybody in the game of golf can play poorly. But now she’s more someone that’s bringing awareness to the game.
But sooner or later ... people say she should play the LPGA (Tour) first and beat the women. But her ultimate goal is to play 50 percent on the PGA Tour, 50 percent on the LPGA Tour. And if she wants to compete with the men she better play with the men.
Is it realistic for Michelle Wie to say she wants to eventually play half her tournaments on the PGA Tour?
I’ve grown up and I've played with some of the best (male golfers) in the world, and she’s better at her age now than they were. She came down here (to the academy in Florida) a while ago and we played, three men and her, off the men’s tees, and she beat us. So it’s all experience and gaining more strength and believing you can do it.
How soon do you think she can win on the LPGA Tour?
If she putts like she putted the last time I played with her - she had 24 putts - then she can win the next time she tees it up. But you have to learn how to putt and have 24 putts under pressure. She’s 14 now. The next two years, by the time she hits 16 years I think she can definitely have the game to put herself in a position to win. And then you need to get lucky out there, if you get lucky you can do it.
You caddied for Michelle a couple times in 2003. Will you be doing that again?
No, that was just something that happened during that period of time. I caddied for her at the U.S. Open, and at the U.S. Junior because a parent can't caddie at the U.S. Junior.
Do you work with other players on the pro tours?
I work with Brennan Webb and he’s on the Canadian Tour. I’ve worked with Garrett Willis on the PGA Tour, I work with Peter Hedblom on the European Tour. But my main focus is to oversee the 160 kids at the academy. I have 18 instructors underneath me that I have to basically look over.
What is the philosophy behind your work at the academy with juniors?
My whole thing is basically that you need to learn how to prepare well for tournaments. You need to learn how to have quality practice. Because a lot of kids have dreams, but they have a lot of false hopes because they don’t have a plan. A dream without a plan, to me, is a false hope. So they have to plan on what areas they need to work on and stay disciplined and committed. Our philosophy is to build the character of a person because that’s what’s going to hold up under pressure.
And do you have any closing words of advice for the recreational players out there?
They need to definitely know their limitations. They need to play off a tee that is realistic. Don’t tee off the back tees because then it’s really difficult. Tee off the right tees and swing within yourself. Don’t try to hit the ball too far. And if you can always work on your basic fundamentals, that will help you tremendously.
Polls
• What will Michelle Wie's average score be at the PGA Sony Open?
• Is Michelle Wie ready for her first PGA Tour appearance?
• How old will Michelle Wie be at the time of her first LPGA Tour win?
