Michelle Wie: is she the next Annika Sorenstam?
Annika Sorenstam has always inspired younger female golfers with her extraordinary performances and amazing swing techniques. This is why she is ranked among topflight professional female golfers in the world. But many rising players have emerged in the
mean time, posing a serious challenge to her hard-earned position in women's golf.
Though putting Annika Sorenstam behind the scene will not be easy for any player, one player is often mentioned when it comes to comparison: Michelle Wie. The young American golfer has grabbed attention recently with her exceptional skills.
She clinched victories in several prestigious titles, making a name for herself in women's golf. Wie turned professional in 2005, way too a short time for her to gain so much.
Right from the beginning of her pro career, she had to face some trouble gaining LPGA Tour membership but she managed to take part in certain LPGA Tour events after she received sponsor's exemption.
Just a year after receiving her exemption in the LPGA Tour events, she had improved her game to a greater extent. As in the Fields Open that was played in Hawaii, she came off well, finishing third.
Though she won the tournament by a one-stroke lead, she did bolster her confidence. Similarly in another LPGA event titled Kraft Nabisco Championship, she again proved her mettle as she capped off the match with one-stroke lead over her nearest rival.
The year 2006 proved good for young Wie, as she had amassed a whopping $700,000. The entire money came in the form of appearance fee, which was quite a huge success for a player as young as Michelle Wie. Her success journey did not stop, as she appeared
in the Asian Tour SK Telecom Open and stunned the spectators with her skilful play. She managed to finish 2nd despite the presence of competitive players.
The young American has bagged two LPGA Tour wins so far. She recorded an impressive 2-stroke victory against Paula Creamer in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational held in November 2009. Overall, her score was 13-under 275. She managed to surge past some of the
big names like Christie Kerr. She again stunned her fans in 2010 when she won the CN Canadian Women's Open. She had recorded a 3-stroke lead over her nearest rival.
In addition to recording two professional wins, Wie also prove her worth in amateur golf. For instance in June 2003, she won the United States Women's Amateur Public Links.
Despite all the success she has had, Wie will surely see tough times ahead, as the former world number one Annika Sorenstam had been one of the most remarkable female golfers of all times. The most important thing that sets Sorenstam apart from other players
is that she won 8 "Player of the Year" awards, which is the biggest record by far.
In addition, her presence in the European team for Solheim Cup was also spectacular, as she scored most points. As far as Sorenstam's professional wins are concerned, she remained in the spotlight as she clinched 72 victories in the LPGA Tour alone.
However, there are many observers who think Michelle Wie can pose a threat to the former number one. "Michelle Wie is a great player and fan favorite," stated LPGA deputy commissioner Libba Galloway. "We're excited about Michelle Wie, Ji-Yai Shin, Stacy
Lewis and other promising young rookies competing with established stars like Lorena, Paula and Suzann [Pettersen] in 2009. LPGA fans across the globe should stay tuned for an exciting season of LPGA golf."
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