http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/story?id=1576843 Ammaccapane reportedly upset that Wie crossed her putting line Associated Press NORTH PLAINS, Ore. -- Danielle Ammaccapane allegedly pushed 13-year-old sensation Michelle Wie and later berated her over a breach of etiquette at the U.S. Women's Open, Wie and her father said Friday. B.J. Wie, who caddies for his daughter, said the contact came on the 14th hole of Thursday's first round at Pumpkin Ridge. Wie played with Ammaccapane and Tracy Hanson. The young golfer said Ammaccapane, a 16-year veteran on the LPGA Tour, was upset that Wie had walked in her line as she prepared to putt. Wie said she was trying to go behind Ammaccapane to get to her own putt. The father claimed Ammaccapane bumped, pushed or brushed his daughter on the green. In the scoring tent after the first round, Michelle Wie said Ammaccapane, 37, had words with her, although the teen wouldn't disclose what was said. "I was really surprised, because I guess I've always played with really nice people," Wie said. B.J. Wie would only say the exchange was "nasty," although he wasn't in the scoring tent at the time. "She's young," B.J. Wie said of his daughter. "Danielle is 40, so Michelle is like a daughter. How can she treat a little girl like that?" Ammaccapane, who has seven LPGA Tour victories and was playing in her 17th Open, wouldn't talk about the matter after her round Friday. "I don't have any comments about playing, or etiquette or anything else," she said as she left the course. She and Wie did not speak or shake hands after the round. Hanson also had no comment. "I'm not going to answer anything about Michelle," she said. It was the second time in three years that a teenager has been in the middle of controversy over etiquette at the U.S. Women's Open. Morgan Pressel, 13 when she played at Pine Needles in the 2001 Women's Open, frequently walked in the putting line of her playing partners. One of them, Heather Daly-Donofrio, tried to speak privately to Pressel about the breach, but the teen wouldn't listen. "Whatever," Pressel said at the time. Daly-Donofrio also declined to comment two years ago, sensing she had nothing to gain by publicly criticizing a kid. It also brought back memories of the 1998 U.S. Open, when Peter Kuchar angered Justin Leonard for his movement on the green and cheerleading while caddying for his son, U.S. Amateur champion Matt Kuchar. Wie shot a 73 and at 4-over 146 was assured of making the cut. Ammaccapane had a 74 and was at 148. Wie, a 6-footer from Honolulu who has been hailed as the future of women's golf, has grabbed attention with her 300-yard drives. Two weeks ago Wie became the youngest player to win a USGA title for adults at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links. Earlier this year, she played in the final group of an LPGA major at the Nabisco Championship. She was one of 14 teenagers playing at Pumpkin Ridge. USGA spokesman Marty Parkes walked with the group Thursday and noticed tension rising. He said on the 8th hole, Wie hit out of turn and Ammaccapane followed with a poor shot from the bunker. He also said that the Wies had a tendency to walk up to quickly to their ball, and Hanson at times told them to stop and back up. "Down the stretch it was a little frosty," Parkes said. B.J. Wie said he complained to the USGA on Thursday night, asking that Ammaccapane not speak directly to Michelle and instead go through rules officials. Krendra Graham, senior director of rules and competition for the U.S. Women's Open, would not discuss details about the alleged conflict or B.J. Wie's request. "From what I understand there was some discussion and some effort was made today," said Graham, who met with Ammaccapane in the scoring area to discuss the matter after her round Friday. "I think it's between Danielle and Michelle," Graham said, refusing to say whether any further action would be taken concerning the matter. "He's entitled to what he has to say," Ammaccapane said of B.J. Wie. "If he wants to bad mouth me, he can bad mouth me." After their round Friday, Ammaccapane left the green before Wie made her final putt. The two did not exchange words or shake hands. B.J. Wie suggested Ammaccapane and Hanson should have cut he and his daughter some slack. "They play golf for a living, they know the etiquette," he said. "We don't know, we are still learning." His daughter got the message. "It was a good learning experience, I guess," she said. "Now I won't do that anymore."
Is that legal to physically harm a 13-year old? I mean I know that it's not legal to physically harm anybody, no matter their age, but I would think there would exist stiffer penalties for roughing up a minor.
I've seen some interviews with both Wie and her father. They really don't fully get everything that goes on on tour, but what do you expect? She's freakin' 13. Everything I've seen with them and reports from people who have spoken with them lead me to believe they are polite and gracious people. Sounds more like someone was pissed she was getting whopped by a 13-year-old.
If all that is listed is true, Amanacannes comment is going to CRUSH her marketing career. It will be interesting to see how the fans treat her next time she plays..
Marketing career? i doubt anyone but a handful of people have even heard of her before this incident. I totally agree with what jeff said. I bet she was pissed off she was losing to a 13 year old and had to take it out on her somehow.
While Amaccappane should not have "bumped, pushed or brushed" Wie (according to Wie's father), the following comment says something to me: His daughter got the message. "It was a good learning experience, I guess," she said. "Now I won't do that anymore." If a player doesn't know enough to NOT walk in a fellow player's lie, that player should NOT be playing in an event such as this.
If she can hit the ball 300 yards and can beat most pros at 13 she can re-write the rules in a few years. Honestly someone from the LPGA should work with her on etiquette (it is her responsibility but she is 13 and the FUTURE of the LPGA) Finally she is 13, she is going to do silly things. She is ecited to be playing in an Open. I agree with Jeff, Amawhateverherlastnameis was ticked off about getting beat by a 13 y/o.
As much as I want to believe Wie, because she is the next Big Thing in golf, I have a hard time believing she didn't know not to walk in another players line. That is just absurd. I also found this interesting in the same article: That little b**** should have had her ass kicked after saying that. She's was 13 freakin' years old and mouthing off like that?? She's in this same tournament. I wish her nothing but the worst now.
Wie seems like a pretty nice girl. I think it would be in the best interest of all parties (lpga, wie) that they take care of Wie. She's their meal ticket.
I think that Wie still doesn't understand quite a bit of the LPGA etiquitte. She has only played in a handful of tournaments and is concerned with the pressure she faces as "the next big thing" more than that. Normally, your caddie would handle a lot of that but her father is new to all this also. The LPGA does bear the responsibility of teaching her things like this and should know better than to put her on the course with a hothead like Ammaccapane. This is not Ammaccapane's first altercation on the course and the tour should make better judgements about pairings. This is especially true with someone like Wie who is getting so much attention at such a young age.
Jeff, Not walking in someones putting line is just plain ol' golf etiquitte. She should have been taught that from day one. I'm your typical weekend hacker and I've known that forever. I'm guessing she just wasn't paying attention to where the other chicks ball was marked. I've walked in someones line before by accident. Since there was no money on the line and most of my playing partners don't study their putt for 5 minutes anyway it is usually no big deal. Now the pros, they get pissed when that happens.
I agree with Faos.... I also think that Amanabitch was just pissed that a 13 year old was wupping her tail. Got to be kinda scary when you see your career flying by your ball at only 13... DD
Faos: This wasn't the first etiquitte problem of the day, which is I'm sure why it led to the altercation. I doubt it was just, "You stepped in my line, b****!" I'm sure it was, "You've been ****ing up all day and I'm sick of it!" That just tells me Wie still has a lot to learn and the LPGA should take a more proactive role in helping her make that transition. Whatever the case, Ammaccpane needs to get over it. She's a grown adult who plays golf for a living. She should stop acting like, well, a 13-year-old.
Here's a link to Danielle Ammaccapane's player page at LPGA.org: http://www.lpga.com/players/playerpage.cfm?player_id=31162
