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By John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Contributor

Editor's note: John Maginnes played the PGA TOUR for a decade and also won three times on the Nationwide Tour. Maginnes now works as an analyst for the PGA TOUR Network on XM Satellite Radio. He will be contributing regularly to PGATOUR.com.

Dear Michelle,

I am sure that you do not remember me. We met a few years ago at the Sony Open in Hawaii. I was in the first group off the first tee on Thursday and you were in the last group off No. 10. I watched you play nine holes both days from the fairway right behind you. After the round on Thursday, I introduced myself on the driving range and wished you well. You played well that year and nearly made the cut.

The reason that I am writing is because I know a thing or two about playing the PGA TOUR. I know even more about struggling with your game. I do not know anything about being a teenage girl, high school crushes or how to tell your father that you got a speeding ticket. Those are all things that you are going to have to figure out for yourself -- just like the rest of us did.

Here is the problem as I see it. Being a teenager is hard. I would not go back to 17 for $10 million. Add to that the complications of trying to compete in the hardest profession in the world and no one is strong enough. As you read on, I want you to remember that I am pulling for you. As a matter of fact, everyone on the PGA TOUR is pulling for you, whether they admit it or not.

Of course they are upset that a member of the TOUR is sitting at home this week while you play hooky from school. But -- and here is lesson No. 1 -- playing the TOUR is not at all about your fellow competitors. Some of the best golf advice I ever got was from an old pro named Johnny Cake, who said, "When you play professional golf and you make a 9, 90 percent of the field doesn't care ... the rest of them wish that you had made 10."

The point that I am trying to make is that the other players in the field would not be doing their jobs if they were worried about you. Your game, while impressive, doesn't intimidate anyone on TOUR.

The second thing that you need to know about playing the TOUR is this: Every player in the field believes that if they bring their best stuff to the golf course for four rounds that they will win the tournament. You may not believe me, but trust me it is true. I never won on the TOUR but I believed every Wednesday night that if I could put it all together that I would be hoisting the trophy on Sunday. Look yourself in the mirror and ask that pretty face staring back at you if you believe your best stuff will win. The answer lies in your heart of hearts. No one can answer it for you.

Third, every member of the PGA TOUR cut his teeth somewhere, same as with the LPGA. Playing the TOUR is not about potential, it is about achievement. I was fortunate enough to play with a young Ricky Barnes at Bethpage in the U.S. Open almost five years ago. Later that summer, he won the U.S. Amateur. Ricky is supremely talented and I am certain that at some point that he will be a great player on the PGA TOUR. Furthermore, the lessons that he has learned since turning professional are more valuable to a career than anything you can learn with a great teacher on the driving range. To date, though, Ricky does not have a PGA TOUR card.

I know at this point that it seems like dialing back your career would be like trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube. But I think that the world will understand. If you continue to try to play against the men, you run some very great risks. There are young women out there right now with your picture in their lockers. Those are the admirers to whom you are gracious beyond your years. It is the others that you have to be worried about. They want your head on a platter. They want to beat you so badly that they can taste it. They want to Sharapova your Kournikova. Prove them wrong.

Here is what I think you should do. I think that you should play a comfortable number of LPGA events. Before each event you should call Annika and try to set up a practice round. Then you should invite her to dinner and pick her brain. She is the greatest of all time.

Finally, remember this is just a silly game. If you are not having fun then you are not doing it right. Have fun and play well and all the other stuff will take care of itself ... well, except for giving that cute surfer boy in fourth period the courage to ask you to the prom. You are on your own there. If you need any more help don't hesitate to call.

Best wishes,

Uncle John

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