There is no need recount all that followed, but to summarize she played 367 LPGA holes in 2007 a total of 109 over par for a stroke average of 76.68 -- not what we had grown to expect. On the heels of that it was probably a relief for her to start her freshman year at Stanford year in September.
Apparently refreshed, Wie picked a perfect place to return to competition. Where better than on your virtual home course? And next month she will leave Stanford to focus on golf, with the plan to return for the fall quarter in September.
While there were a lot of positive signs in Wie's first round back, she still has a rather large hole from which to extricate herself. First off, she alienated a lot of LPGA players last year, especially when she withdrew at the Ginn Tribute and popped up two days later to practice at Bulle Rock, where the McDonald's LPGA Championship is played. She has to show her fellow professionals she has grown up -- maybe by apologizing.
Secondly, she has put herself between a rock and a hard place in terms of the LPGA Tour. Unless they change the rules, she cannot get into either the Kraft Nabisco Championship or the McDonald's LPGA Championship, the first two majors of the year. And unless the USGA gives her a third special exemption, she will have to qualify to get into the U.S Women's Open. She is also not likely to get an invite into the Ricoh Women's British Open, the final major, unless she plays a lot better than last year.
The other thing that has happened since Wie was Wie is that she in no longer the wonder kid. Michelle is now 18 years old. Paula Creamer won on the LPGA -- twice -- when she was 18. Morgan Pressel won a major championship when she was 18. The LPGA is ankle-deep in teenagers. No longer does Wie have the novelty of youth on her side. Now she has to perform.
And the way things stand right now, Wie will have to go to LPGA Q school if she wants a full playing card for 2009. The only way she can avoid that is to either win a lot of money or win a tournament this year. That's a tough task, but the good news for Wie is that she gave every indication in the first round of the Fields Open she is capable of achieving those goals.
Which, in Chapter Three, brings us back to where we were at the end of Chapter One. We know Wie can compete, what we don't known if is she can close the deal. But it is way too early in this season to pass judgment on that. No matter what happens in the next two rounds of the Fields Open -- barring another WD or a number that is silly big -- we know this much already: Michelle Wie's return to competition in 2008 has been a success.
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