wie’s long Putter
the year started with great promise for michelle wie
when she finished second in the season-opening honda
thailand tournament. but as time passed, an old nemesis
of hers came back to pay a visit—a shaky putter. after
finishing t-72 at the lpga championship and t-55 at
the u.s. women’s open, where she needed 139 putts (a
whopping 34.75 per round), wie showed up at the evian
masters with a long putter, wielding it with her hands
split about 18 inches apart, the left hand anchored to
her chest. it didn’t help. she needed 64 putts in playing
the first two rounds in five-over 149 and missed the cut.
certainly, wie’s putting stats suggest something needs
to be done. she began play at evian t-137 on tour in putts
per round (30.80) and no. 90 in putts per gir ( 1.86).
but going to the long putter at age 21 seems like an act
of desperation. wie, once a feel player, has become
increasingly mechanical. this seems like another step in
that direction. —R.S.
02
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