IT IS not unusual for a town in Switzerland to be given over to visible adoration of a sports personality because that is what happens in Basle, where Roger Federer lives and where he is such a hero. The degree of adoration is similar in Crans, a chic town in the foothills of the Alps, even if the sports personality in question is female.
A massive poster of Michelle Wie is the first thing you see upon entering this resort where the air is rare, the Swiss franc is strong and 155 male professional golfers are hoping that they will not be shown up by the 16-year-old in the Omega European Masters that starts today. If there are those who feel that she has no business competing in a men’s event — this is her tenth — Sergio García, the defending champion, is not one of them.
“Anything that helps the game of golf is good,” García, who played a practice round with Wie on Tuesday, said. “It might not help the guy she takes the spot from this week, but it might help him in the future. When I see Michelle or Annika Sorenstam playing, I don’t see them as a female player, I see them as golfers.”
Asked if he would put money on Wie lasting four rounds, García said: “If I had to put my life on it, probably not. But if I had a tenner, why not?”