Wie Puts It on Record to Work on Her Swing

By Thomas Bonk

May 6, 2004 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

Michelle Wie is in the news again this week. The 14-year-old is playing the LPGA event at Kingsmill in Williamsburg, Va., and will once again put her slightly revised swing on display.

Instructor David Leadbetter’s plan has been to change the plane of Wie’s swing and make it less steep, thus improving accuracy. It has been something of a high-tech transformation lately, according to her father, B.J. Wie.

“I used my digital camcorder to record her swings and sent the DVD to David Leadbetter,” he said. “He sent his comments on her swings and several drills to improve them via the Internet.”

Leadbetter also worked with Wie in person on the range Wednesday at Kingsmill.

“She is very excited about the plan,” said the elder Wie.

Not only has Vijay Singh won the last three PGA Tour events carried over until Monday, he has also won the last six times he has held the lead after 54 holes. Singh has 10 victories since 2000, the same as Phil Mickelson. Tiger Woods has the most victories since 2000 began, 25.

Woods is back this week at the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, N.C., his first tournament since he tied for 22nd at the Masters.

It looks as if he has some work to do. Since he won the match-play event at La Costa in February, Woods tied for 46th at Bay Hill, tied for 16th at the Players Championship and then had his worst finish at the Masters since he was an amateur in 1995 and 1996.

In his last 12 rounds, Woods has been under par in four of them. After playing his first three stroke-play events in a combined 33 under, he has played his last three in a combined one under.

Next week, Woods will play the Byron Nelson, as he begins preparations for the U.S. Open, June 17-20 at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island. And when he gets there, Woods will be reminded that his streak of majors without a victory is seven and that he hasn’t finished under par in his last six majors, since the 2002 PGA Championship, where he was nine under and lost to Rich Beem by one shot.

He turns 50 next year and is eligible for the Champions Tour, but Greg Norman isn’t interested in playing more often to get ready. In fact, he said that he will restrict his PGA Tour appearances to about six to protect his sore back and pursue his business interests.

“I don’t want to decrease my quality of life, and playing 20 events a year would do that,” Norman said before touring a 7,200-yard private golf course he is designing in a luxury development called Vellano in Chino Hills, scheduled to be ready in September 2005.

“I used to practice 10 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 times a year. Quite honestly, it burns you out a bit. I played 25 years under the microscope. Now, it’s good to chill out, put your feet up by your own pool and relax.”

Norman has played four times this year; his best result was a tie for 81st at the Players Championship.

The opening weekend for “Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius,” wasn’t up to par. The film ranked 16th in box office receipts with $1.38 million. That’s far from the leader, “Mean Girls,” which opened with $25 million. “Bobby Jones” stars Jim Caviezel, whose last role was as Jesus in “The Passion of the Christ.”

The tee times are going to be a little unusual at the 36-hole amateur Amstel Light Iceland Open on June 24-25 -- at midnight. During the summer solstice, Iceland has five weeks of 24-hour-a-day sunshine.

The fifth Barlow Respiratory Hospital charity event will be played May 14 at Robinson Ranch in Santa Clarita. The event benefits programs at the specialty respiratory hospital, including a children’s asthma camp. Details: (213) 250-4200.

The Avengers host their third charity tournament May 24 at MountainGate Country Club. The event benefits the Malibu Foundation for Youth and Families. Details: (310) 407-0503.

This Week

PGA TOUR

Wachovia Championship

* When: Today-Sunday.

* Where: Quail Hollow Club (7,438 yards, par 72); Charlotte, N.C.

* Purse: $5.6 million. Winner’s share: $1,008,000.

* TV: USA (Today, 4-6 p.m.; Friday, 3-6 p.m.) and Channel 2 (Saturday-Sunday, noon-3 p.m.).

* 2003 winner: David Toms.

* Next week: Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas.

LPGA TOUR

Michelob Ultra Open

* When: Today-Sunday.