Michelle Wie says Annika Sorenstam apologized for criticizing her in a recent interview.
In an interview with Golf Magazine, Sorenstam said Wie has “almost gone backwards” in her golf career, among other negative comments.
“She actually reached out to me last night, said a couple of things got misquoted,” Wie said Thursday, via The Associated Press. “I thought that was really nice of her to reach out to me. She apologized for what she said, and that’s that.”
Wie says she didn’t read the interview, so she was unaware of Sorenstam’s exact comments.
Sorenstam responded to a question about playing against the men at Colonial in 2003 and said it was the highlight of her career. Wie, once considered a prodigy, also played on the PGA Tour. Sorenstam was asked if that devalued her accomplishment.
“I don’t think it mattered to my career, but I don’t think it helped her career,” she told Golf Magazine. “I think we see some of it today. I think she jumped in way too deep, and I think it had some tough consequences for her. I walked away with an amazing experience. I don’t necessarily think she did.
“I never criticized her for getting an education. I said that I think it’s funny for her to go to Stanford when she’s at the peak of her career. I mean she’s almost gone backwards. She played more when she was younger and less when she’s older. Getting a degree from Stanford is something I applaud her for, but it’s funny to not play any of the high-school stuff and play against the men, and then she gets her [LPGA] card and she plays less than she did before. I thought that was strange.”
Sorenstam also said Wie has a long way to go before ever becoming the top LPGA golfer.
Wie is now 23 and has only won two LPGA events, which is much less than what was expected from her based on all the hype. She has missed the cut in three of five events this year, and she finished 45th in the others.
Maybe Sorenstam’s criticism inspired Wie, because she shot par on Thursday and two-under Friday at the Kraft Nabisco Championship to place her tied for 12th.
One thing is for certain — Sorenstam isn’t alone in her criticism of Wie:
I think @annika59 is right about Wie. If I worked with her:Here’s a 5iron, don’t come back until you can break par for 9holes.#RawTalent
— Paul Azinger (@PaulAzinger) April 5, 2013
Head over to Golf Magazine to read the full Sorenstam interview.
Photo: Twitter/Michelle Wie
