01-21-2008, 06:21 AM
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Quote: MICHELLE Wie has whacked golf balls into swamps, stormwater drains, even parked cars this past year . . . and bagged a tidy $14 million for her efforts.
In a spectacular case of sex really selling, Golf Digest this week announced American sensation Wie as the highest money-earner in women's golf.
Yep, the same teenager who broke par only twice in 2007. Who never scored in the 60s and made a cut just three times.
In one memorable match, struggling with wrist injuries, she hit a parked car and stormwater drain with the same shot.
This is the millionaire who, despite grossing more than Australians Aaron Baddeley and Geoff Ogilvy combined, made just $11,029 swinging her own clubs.
Yep, that's right, eleven grand . The cost of a 1995 Commodore. Less than most Aussies make in a year at Macca's.
But who's really laughing?
Of course, these revelations will have sporting purists bemoaning the fact golf now has its very own Anna Kournikova. All body, beauty and bogeys.
Golfing experts will tinker with her swing. Shrinks doing the same with her brain.
Trying all those gimmicks once used on Kournikova, Mark Philippoussis and countless other beautiful folk from whom we demanded more.
Yet just like the Poo with his Ferraris and models, or Kournikova with her swimsuit shoots and film gigs, Wie will continue making millions.
Why? Because if the girl straddling her motorbike in those Chiko Roll ads taught us anything, it's sex sells.
It was Kournikova, remember, who signed a lucrative contract with Berlei sports bras seemingly hours after turning 18. Pictured half naked next to a catchline Only the balls should bounce.
In 1999 her dipping career earned only $800,000 on court but the most Googled woman on the planet still made $20 million in endorsements.
In comparison, world No. 1 Martina Hingis made $5 million on court and still couldn't catch her earnings.
Wie, who only cut her 18th birthday cake last October, made $10 million the instant she turned professional a week before her 16th birthday.
But more than just a good sort, this Stanford student also speaks fluent Korean, Chinese and Japanese. In 2006, Time magazine listed her among the "100 people who shape our world".
Of course, those magazine titles can be as short-lived as the on sale dates.
ESPN once rated Kournikova "the hottest female athlete" on the planet. A few years later they had her in the "25 biggest sports flops of the past 25 years".
For the record, the Golf Digest reveals Eldrick "Tiger" Woods is still the undisputed king of world sport.
In 2007 alone, this Vietnam veteran's son made some $111 million from endorsements and another $26 million swinging clubs.
All up, the breathing Nike swoosh has now accrued roughly $112 million from the game. Another $752 million in endorsements.
Salivating sports analysts now tip him to break the $1 billion (US) barrier within three years.
And all without squeezing into a bikini. |  |
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