Wie 'has to beat women'
(South China Morning Post)
Updated: 2006-05-19 10:22
Michael Campbell says Michelle Wie has to prove herself on her own tour
before she deserves to play against the men.
Wie could be one of the New Zealander's opponents when he defends his
title at Winged Foot next month if she continues her progress through
qualifying.
The 16-year-old Hawaiian has also been invited to play at the European Tour's
European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland in September.
Asked about Wie's participation at Crans-sur-Sierre, Campbell said: "I can go
two different ways on this question. I can be politically correct and say it's
wonderful to see Michelle Wie at a European Tour event and to promote it.
"Or, I could say that she's got to prove herself, that she can win on the
women's tour before she can have a chance on the men's tour.
"Look at Annika Sorenstam, one of the best golfers ever. She deserved to play
on the men's tour in the US. Unfortunately she didn't make the cut. Michelle Wie
is obviously a wonderful talent, but she needs to prove herself."
The teenager made her first cut in a men's event in the recent SK Telecom
Open in South Korea.
Campbell also said he would rely on advice from former All Blacks rugby
captain Zinzan Brooke in a bid to retain his US Open title next month.
"The most important thing I am trying to do is not defend my title, it's to
win it," Campbell said before the first round of the Irish Open.
"Some years ago, Zinzan told me to go with the mindset of trying to actually
win it, not defend it. As soon as I did that, I won back-to-back Heineken
Classics in Perth."
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