Michelle Wie Disqualification Interview - Samsung World C'ship
BY iseekgolf.com | LPGA Tour | 2005 Samsung World Championship | Final Round | 17 Oct 2005
Q: Michelle, we certainly appreciate you coming in. We’ll take a couple of questions. Do you agree with this decision? Do you agree with what they told you that you did, indeed, play a ball too close to the hole?
Michelle Wie: Yes, I mean, you know, I respect the rules. I was three inches ahead. I mean it looked fine to me. You know, I learned a great lesson today. You know from now on, I’m going to call a rule official no matter what it is. And, you know, I’m really sad that this happened but you know, the rules are the rules. Three inches or 100 yards, is the same thing. I respect that.
Q: Michelle, did you have any idea yesterday, I know there was a discussion here about it, and we all kind of laughed it off because you really felt you were behind the line. Any question in your mind yesterday when you left yesterday?
Michelle Wie: No, none at all. I mean me and Greg were talking when we were up at the shot. He told me like watch out, that you’re not closer. I made sure that I was farther. Well, I thought I was farther behind. But it looked fine to me. And it was far away. You know, it looked fine to me. I didn’t have any question in my mind that I was ahead of the line.
Q: When did you find out there might be a problem, when were you first told?
Michelle Wie: Like 10 minutes after I signed my scorecard today.
Q: Michelle, was there ever a point when you were out there this evening on the 7th hole when they were going through the discussion that you knew that there might be a big problem, and can you just talk about whatever emotions you felt?
Michelle Wie: Well, you know, they did the line and they paced it off. You know, it was like that much in front. You know, obviously, I was really disappointed with my first event. But, you know, at least I got it out of the way.
Q: How far ahead was the ball?
Michelle Wie: Like three inches. It was yesterday, it’s not like it was from today. It’s from yesterday. It was all guesswork where the ball was, where the ball was yesterday, where the ball was originally in the bushes. So it was basically all guesswork. I mean it was only three inches.
Q: Did you protest?
Michelle Wie: I mean I tried to see what would happen. But, you know, the rules are the rules and that’s what happened.
Q: Michelle, can you just describe your emotions right now?
Michelle Wie: Well, you know, I’m pretty sad but, you know, I think I’m going to get over it. I learned a lot from it. It’s obviously not the way I wanted to begin it but, you know, it’s all right.
Q: I’m just curious, Michelle, you took probably three or so unplayables this week without the help of rules officials and you did it quite confidently, do you consider yourself a pretty good statement of knowing when to drop from red to yellow and unplayables and things like that?
Michelle Wie: I mean I’ve been through so many unplayables. I’ve been in a lot of water hazards before so you know, I know. I know what to do. I don’t feel like I cheated or anything. I felt like, you know, I was honest out there. And, you know, it’s what I felt like I did right. I was pretty happy out there with what I did. If I did it again I would still do that because it looked right to me. But I learned my lesson, I’m going to call a rule official every single time.
Source – LPGA
