The Once and Future Prodigies

Lucy Li (NBC News photo)

During the first two days of the U.S. Women's Open the story was all about a pig-tailed wunderkind from Redwood Shores.

11-year-old Lucy Li astonished the grownups first with her golfing ability (78-78, missing the cut, but a lower score than 24 other ladies), then her un-self-conscious presence in the face of the media horde.

In the final rounds it was Michelle Wie's turn. Michelle, a former prodigy of whom much had been expected, won her first major tournament:

Michelle Wie (NY Daily News photo)

in 2003, when she was 13, she finished in a tie for 39th. Also astonishing. She was better at 13 than she was at 20. Now she’s 24 and better than she’s ever been. Golf is hard to predict.

Now, there are reports that Michelle Wie is partying hard after her long-awaited victory. Let's hope that Michelle, who has much to teach Lucy about how to work through inevitable disappointment, also becomes a good role model for handling success.