The backseat belongs to Rory McIlroy, compared to Michelle Wie.
Michelle Wie hot in round one of the Manulife Financial
McIlroy was lauded last month for his mental toughness in announcing his breakup with fiancée Caroline Wozniacki and then going out and winning the BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour.
The inner-strength feats of the 25-year-old McIlroy pale in comparison to the inner-strength feats of the 24-year-old Wie.
Wie's rebuilt professional career continues to hit its stride after her second-round 67 left her at 10-under 132 and trailing Hee Young Park at the midpoint of the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic in Waterloo, Ontario.
The former child prodigy, who turned into somewhat of a golfing joke as well as a cautionary golfing tale, continues to put together the type of season many golf experts thought possible when she was a teenager.
After finishing second at the LPGA Tour's first major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship, Wie won her first title in four years, claiming the Lotte Championship in Hawaii.
During her childhood, Wie was the youngest player ever to qualify for the Women's U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at age 10 in 2000. At age 11, she became the youngest to qualify for an LPGA event, the Takefuji Classic in Wie's home state of Hawaii.
It was 11 years ago that Wie became the youngest player to make an LPGA cut at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. She shot a third-round 66 to tie for the amateur record for a women's major championship. The round allowed her to play in the final group at the Kraft.
Wie finished tied for third at the 2006 U.S. Women's Open and had begun to receive exemptions to play in men's events. By the end of the year, however, Wie was missing cuts badly and stopped receiving exemptions.
After returning to the LPGA in 2009, Wie slowly has reconstructed her game. Her progress is to the point that she sounded somewhat disappointed in her 67 on Friday.
"Just didn't get the ball close to the hole on my second shots," Wie said, according to the Golf Channel. "I still can't complain, still in contention and excited for the weekend. I'm having a lot of fun."
And a lot of success.
McIlroy announced a painful personal situation and drew praise for bouncing back so quicky. Wie's journey, however, is far deeper and more deserving of praise for her own improbable comeback.
Who deserves more credit for an ability to overcome adversity? Rory McIlroy or Michelle Wie? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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