WIE WHIFFS ! October 12,2006

All golfers have whiffed, but let me tell you some whiffs are more costly than others. Michelle Wie's whiff cost her a stroke, a little pride whether she admits it or not, and she will no doubt be the victim of some good natured and not so good natured ribbing in the club house. Which will probably do Michelle and all the LPGA players a ton of good if Dad doesn't some how get involved and try to protect his baby. There has been a ton of controversy surrounding the young Wie since her high profile debut and a good solid belly laugh or two with "the girls" will do everyone a lot of good.

Anyway I digress, as I was saying all golfers have whiffed. The last time I whiffed was not without its share of controversy. It occurred during a 4-ball twilight league match on the 175 yard par 3 seventh. A Donald Ross designed nightmare with a classic domed green surrounded by traps and a runway approach from left to right in front to accommodate the low fade when the tees are back in the other "zip code". The pin was tucked front left and the match was tight so I wanted it close to put just a little extra pressure on the competition. I selected a 6 iron as I needed something that would not go past the pin into 3 putt territory and ripped away.

SNAP ! On my downswing the shaft snapped and my precious 6 iron club head embedded about 3 inches behind the ball leaving me swinging my shaft in the breeze. Our worthy opponents without hesitation started calling for "whiff drinks" immediately and a lively discussion promptly followed as I waved my headless shaft about claiming that it was not a whiff and that the hole and match were being played under protest.

Upon completion of the round we all rushed with great anticipation to the club's PGA golf professional for a ruling. My partner and I because if it was not a whiff we won the hole and as a result the match. Our opponents because if it was a whiff they salvaged a tie for the match, would receive "whiff drinks" in the grill room and would not doubt start haggling immediately for "ruling drinks". ( If you make an erroneous ruling decision during play, you buy drinks for those involved.) When we arrived our golf professional listened to the situation preparing to give his stock answer of "you should know the rules of golf look it up..". Instead he grabbed his copy of Decisions on the Rules of Golf and started thumbing and reading, paused looked up with a very serious expression asked "did you follow through ?" I sunk knowing what was about to come and protested I couldn't stop. Then in a serious and grim manner that only a professional golfer could muster roared "You Whiffed !" and I once again watched the Silver Bullet on tap turn into Chivas on the rocks and laughter when we hit the grill room. Match tied, my beloved 6 iron to be re-shafted, a round or two of whiff drinks and another terrific golfing memory.

Let's see if Michelle Wie and the other LPGA Tour players walk away with as much as we did.

PS I would suggest the Michelle learn to hit from the cart path, if she damages a club do you think Nike will mind replacing it after it's photographed and shown in every golf magazine in the world ?

Wish to learn more about Michelle Wie and her appointment with history,
may we suggest you continue your search here