Wie's achievement raises questions
By Don Riddell, CNN World Sport
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Wie says she wants to play on the men's tour
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LONDON, England -- Most successful sportsmen and women dread the moment they're brought back down to earth. But one of the world's hottest talents right now is probably enjoying a stint of normality.
This week, Michelle Wie returns to school. The 14-year-old will be back in the classroom learning about biology, maths and the world around her.
Last week she was teaching some of the best golfers in the world a thing or two on the tees and greens.
It's almost impossible to comprehend what Wie has achieved in the last few days.
Not only did a woman hold her own on the men's PGA tour -- missing the cut by just one stroke -- but a young woman at that. There's no way that most of the men on tour could have shot a professional 68 her age. Certainly -- none of them did.
The Wie factor opens up several cans of worms however, and they all begin with the question, "what next?"
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that a large team of sponsors, agents and marketing experts will be beating a path to her door.
No young talent has created this kind of stir in golf, maybe even in sport generally, since the arrival of Tiger Woods.
The effect all this may have on Wie must be of enormous concern to her parents and those close to her
Woods has already questioned the psychological impact this exposure could have on the development of a player's mental game. His father Earl insisted that Tiger conquer one level before moving on up to the next.
'The Tigress'
In Wie's case, this approach is already too late. Then there's the impact on the women's tour, the LPGA. They could stand to profit greatly from having their own Tiger Woods, but 'The Tigress' says she wants to play on the men's tour.
That's not good news. One-offs such as Annika Sorenstam's trip to the Colonial are one thing, but out and out defection is another.
The LPGA would be seriously weakened if it lost its top stars, and in any case, who then could stop average men playing on their tour?
Of course, even great female golfers would not be able to play with the men. They simply cannot hit the ball far enough.
Wie's tall frame means she can hit the ball 280 yards. If she were to qualify fairly and squarely to play with the men, the legal hurdles erected would be fascinating.
These are arguments for the future, but the rate at which Wie is developing, the future may be sooner than anyone realizes.
In the meantime though, she's an awesome talent, and one who's technique, strength, grace, guts and can only be admired in awe.
Don Riddell presents World Sport on CNN International at 0930 GMT, 1230 GMT, 1430 GMT, and 2130 GMT daily (also 0030 GMT at weekends and daily in Asia.)
