Hawaiian teenager Michelle
Wie had double cause to celebrate on Monday after receiving a special exemption
for next month's U.S. Women's Open and her first invitation to play on the men's
European Tour.
Michelle Wie and her
father, BJ Wie, watch a ball hook into the woods at the17th hole during
the U.S. Open Championship local qualifier at Turtle Bay Resort, Kahuku,
Hawaii May 15, 2006. She parred the hole and advanced to the sectional
qualifier.[Reuters] |
The 16-year-old schoolgirl
from Honolulu will compete in her 10th major championship at Newport Country
Club on Rhode Island from June 29 to July 2.
Wie will then play alongside the men for the ninth time in a professional
event at the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland from September
7-10.
"I am honoured to play in my first European Tour event," Wie said in a
statement issued by the European Tour.
"I am very excited to play against the best professional golfers in Europe in
the magnificent setting of Crans-sur-Sierre."
European Tour executive director George O'Grady added: "Michelle Wie has
demonstrated her outstanding golfing skills to a global audience as both an
amateur and now as a professional.
"We look forward to welcoming her to the European Masters."
Wie, who made
the cut for the first time in a men's event at the SK Telecom Open in South
Korea earlier this month, will become the second woman to compete in a
tournament sanctioned by the European Tour.
Britain's Laura Davies played in the 2004 ANZ Championship at the Horizons
Golf Resort in Port Stevens, Australia but missed the cut in the modified
stableford event co-sanctioned by the Australasian and European tours.
Arguably the most exciting young talent in the game since Tiger Woods, Wie
has accepted a special exemption for the second women's major championship of
the year, along with fellow American Kelly Robins.
The pair were offered the exemptions by the women's committee of the United
States Golf Association, which runs the U.S. Women's Open.
It is the second special exemption for Wie, who earned her first for the 2004
Open where she tied for 13th with compatriot Paula Creamer.
Last year, Wie made the cut at all four majors, finishing second at the
McDonald's LPGA Championship and tying for third at the Women's British Open.
She held a share of the lead going into the final round of the U.S. Women's
Open at Cherry Hills, but tumbled out of contention with an 82 on her way to a
tie for 23rd.
With only the top 15 and ties gaining automatic exemption for the following
year, Wie was relying on a special exemption or getting in via a 36-hole
qualifying tournament.
She had already entered a local qualifier in Hawaii on May 15 for the 2006
U.S. Women's Open.
Wie's special exemption will not meet with the unanimous approval of her
peers.
Morgan Pressel, who tied for second at Cherry Hills last June, said earlier
this year Wie should have to qualify for the tournament like anyone else not
already exempt.
"I don't see why she shouldn't, or why should be afraid, or expect an
exemption," she said.
Although Wie has not won a title since the 2003 U.S. women's amateur public
links championship at the age of 13, she has produced five top-10 finishes in
nine major starts.
