PROFESSIONAL GOLF
DiMarco is waiting for Wie to win
By Harry Blauvelt
Special to the Star-Bulletin
FARMINGTON, Pa. » PGA Tour star Chris DiMarco says winning might do wonders for Michelle Wie's confidence.
"The one thing you can't teach is how to win," DiMarco says. "That's the one thing you have to know how to do. I'd like to see her play maybe some more events her age, girls her age, and not only win, but whip them by a lot."
He cites Tiger Woods as an example.
"That's what breeds confidence and that's what Tiger did and that's why Tiger is so good," DiMarco says. "Winning. The reason he is so good when it's on the line is because he knows how to win and he won so much, and that's why he's where he is."
Wie has not won a men's or women's pro tour event. She has seven top-10s in LPGA majors, including second at the 2005 McDonald's LPGA Championship.
She won local events in Hawaii, but her biggest triumph was the 2003 USGA Women's Amateur Public Links Championship. At 13, she was the youngest to claim the title.
"I'd like to have seen her win more than she has," DiMarco says. "I think at whatever level it is, winning breeds winning."
The subject of Wie was raised in the context of a question to DiMarco as to how he feels about her playing in this week's 84 Lumber Classic and how he expects her to fare.
Wie is playing on a sponsor's exemption in the PGA Tour event that starts today on Mystic Rock Golf Course.
"Obviously, she's a great player," says DiMarco, a three-time PGA Tour winner. "The way she handles herself at 16 years old is amazing."
But the course is long at 7,511 yards and rain Tuesday and yesterday will make it play even longer because the ball won't roll as far as usual.
"I think she's going to have a tough go-around with the way it's playing," DiMarco says. "The rough is up, it's going to be thick and gnarly. The greens are probably faster than she's used to putting on the LPGA Tour."
As for Wie playing at golf's highest level, DiMarco offers this thought: go out and enjoy being a kid. Golf will always be there.
But he adds, "I think it's amazing that she can even think about competing here."
DiMarco spoke candidly about sponsor's exemptions.
"There's a few guys here that are trying to maintain their (PGA Tour playing) cards and probably have tried out here for a long time," he says.
DiMarco cited as an example his friend, Donnie Hammond, who was an alternate for this week's tournament, although Hammond got into the field late yesterday.
But there are others on the alternate list who fit the profile described by DiMarco.
"That's where I draw the line," he says.
"Does she deserve to be out here or does somebody who's put in time and effort more deserve that?"