"It Would Be a Good Lesson, Michelle"

What would be the reason that players in the final rounds of the leading amateur golf competitions in the U.S., which use match play, are forced to march through 36 holes in a day?

The reason would probably be to pick out the true champion. In addition to having the best technique on each shot, only the participant who tops on mental and physical strength can claim the winning trophy.

The 1996 U.S. Amateur championship in which "Golf King" Tiger Woods accomplished his third championship is a good example. Woods was behind by five strokes to the finalist opponent, Steve Scott (USA) after the fifth hole. Woods then received a special lesson during lunch break from his coach, Butch Harmon, who equipped him with a winning mentality. Woods dramatically tied the score in the 36th hole and broke the tie to win in the second hole in overtime.

But the 2004 U.S. Women`s Amateur Publinx Championships, in which golf prodigy Michelle Wie (Korean name: Wie Sung-mi) failed to accomplish back-to-back championships for the fourth time in the competition`s history, ended up as a trial for her.

At the final rounds, held in Golden Hose Shoe GC green course (par 72) Williamsburg, Virginia, USA, on Sunday, Wie was up four shots on her opponent after the sixth hole. She maintained the four-stroke lead up to the 14th hole, and it looked like Wie had solidified her victory.

But overconfidence caused deep trouble. Wie, pursued inch by inch by Ya-Ni Tseng (Taiwan), permitted a tie in the 34th hole and handed the victory to her opponent, who sank a 3.6-meter birdie putt in the final 36th. Ya-Ni Tseng is a phenomenon who came to the States three years ago to pursue two activities--school and golf--simultaneously.

Wie, who wept and sought comfort as she embraced her mother after realizing her loss, couldn`t hide her frustration as she commented, "I`ve made too many bogies and lots of shots have been wasted. This was my worst play of the week."

The Associated Press quoted Wie`s coach, Gary Gilstright, as saying, "Michelle learned holding a title isn`t that easy. The defeat gave Michelle a good lesson."

Wie will participate in the season`s third major, the U.S. Women`s Open, which kicks off on Thursday.

Young-Sik Ahn ysahn@donga.com