November 16, 2005. Copyright 2005, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Michelle Wie set to make her mark
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, November 16, Graphic News:  Teenage golf sensation Michelle Wie is following in the illustrious footsteps of SwedenÕs Annika Sorenstam in burying the notion that womenÕs golf comes a poor second to the menÕs game. But, following her unfortunate professional debut at the WomenÕs World Championships in California, where she finished fourth but was subsequently disqualified for a rules violation, the question now being asked is whether the 6ft Hawaiian schoolgirl lives up to her bidding as the female Tiger Woods?

On October 5, a week shy of her 16th birthday, Wie announced she was turning pro, enabling her not just to sign sponsorship deals worth around $10 million a year with Sony and Nike, but also to begin in earnest her campaign to beat the men at their own game. As she takes up her Òdream jobÓ. Wie has made no secret of the fact that her ambition is to play on the menÕs PGA tour and ultimately to qualify for the Masters.

Born in Honolulu of Korean descent, Wie began playing golf aged just four. By 10 she had become the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. WomenÕs Amateur Public Links Championship. Two years later she reached the semi-finals of the same event and in 2003, aged 14, she became its youngest ever winner.

In 2004 WieÕs profile grew as the striking teenager notched up appearances in the bigger tournaments: she played in two majors, finishing fourth at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, and 13th at the U.S. WomenÕs Open, despite some controversy over the special exemption she was given to compete. That year she also took part in the Sony Open in Hawaii, becoming only the fourth woman to play in an event on the menÕs PGA tour.

In June 2005 Wie recorded the best win of her career, placing second after Sorenstam at the elite LPGA Championship. Shortly afterwards she became the first female to qualify for a USGA menÕs tournament after tying for first place at the 36-hole qualifier for the U.S. Amateur Public Links. On her first appearance at the WomenÕs British Open, the fourth and final major of the year, Wie tied for third.

WieÕs determination to play both women and menÕs events has attracted critics who say she should focus first on beating Sorenstam. But others point out that there has never been a woman golfer with the potential strength of the Hawaiian schoolgirl: at just over 6ft, her average drive of around 280 yards is only slightly behind the average on the PGA tour. Next year she plans to combine the LGPA Tour with menÕs events.

How Wie matches up on the professional circuit remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the buzz is unlikely to fade around the A-student who has two more years of high school to complete. Had Wie turned professional at the start of 2005, she would have earned more than $640,000, placing her 14th on the money list. But Wie could afford to wait. Like Tiger Woods, she is a marketing menÕs dream destined to both win more fans for the sport and become one of its richest women.
/ENDS