How many men will Michelle Wie beat?

[JTrout]

Michelle Wie is playing in a PGA Tour event again this week, the John Deere Classic.
It is one of the thinnest fields of the year.
156 participants.
Here is a sample of the 3 groups ahead of her, and her group:

8:21 Craig Bowden Wes Short, Jr. Hideto Tanihara
8:30 Paul Claxton Matt Davidson Paul Del Vecchio
8:39 Mathias Gronberg Mario Tiziani John Shawver
8:48 Nick Watney Scott Gutschewski Michelle Wie

She's 15. She's a phenom.
I'll set the over/under on players beat at 23.
What do you think?

[eric5148]

40.

Honestly, I just hope she doesn't embarass herself. If she plays really well, she can make the cut.

I might make the 3 hour drive out there tomorrow, it's a really nice course.

[touchfaith]

I think she plays on Saturday this time. Maybe not by much, but I think she makes it.

She is playing outstanding and this is the weakest field I have seen all year.

[judgesmails]

I think she will shoot 149 and miss the cut. She may beat 25 players at that rate.

She came close to the cut in January, but that was on a course she plays all the time and could practice on all winter to prepare. While this is not the toughest course on Tour, it does play 7100+ at a par of 71.

Even though she can hit her driver out there with many of the men, this does not necessarily translate to being able to hit long, high approach shots with spin close to the hole and make birdies.

From what I have seen of her play, she is not up to speed with the big boys in the wedge and putting game and I would be surprised to see her make the cut.

Maybe someday though.

[HajiShirazu]

After watching Wie play at the Women's Open, if she shoots 70 or so on thursday, which could easily happen, the snowman is going to make its appearance on friday. The only way she makes it is if she shoots 74-69 or something like she did at the sony open and backs into it. I would say she doesn't have much of a chance, but the variance is huge in golf. Her overall long game isn't so bad compared to the other guys that she couldn't get lucky and make some putts to sneak in on the number.
FWIW I think sorenstam could finish in the top 125 if she played for a year. Man, have you seen her, her arms are huge now!
Contrary to what some people think, I think playing against the men and women pros will be good for her. How much do you gain winning by 10 every week against other 15 year olds that you outdrive by 60 yards? It's just like poker, nobody is going to get any better crushing the .5/1. Gotta move up in limits.
What I don't get is how there end up being golfers of this age that are so good. My high school didn't have one girl golfer that could break 90, and these were 5600 yard courses.

[MoreWineII]

I just don't think she's as good as everybody says she is. But then again she's only 15. And she's not exactly on fire if you watchd her Sunday US Open performance.

I'd say she beats 30 or so of the men and misses the cut by a wide margin.

And hopefully stops entering men's tourneys until she improves...a lot.

[M2d]

in the clubhouse at -1. not a bad first day. currently tied for 60 with a lot of golfers on the course.

[nolanfan34]

[ QUOTE ]
I'll set the over/under on players beat at 23.
What do you think?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll take the over. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

First round 70. -1. Beat David Duval by 6 shots.

[touchfaith]

Looks like she shot a great round today. I still think she plays Sat., but still, just berely. Lots of low scores being posted...I think she may be below the projected cut line by days end.

Still much work to be done, but the way she is playing...even with the largest gallery in the field that must be playing on her nerves a bit...she will get it done.

[RacersEdge]

I think she will come close to making the cut anyway...so that means what - beating about 60-70 players? I'd have to take the over on a line of 23.