Golf

Wie to play in women's Open, Euro tour event

By TIMES WIRES
Published May 16, 2006

[AP Photo]

Michelle Wie will be the second woman to play on the European tour. Laura Davies competed in the ANZ Championship two years ago.

NEWPORT, R.I. - Michelle Wie had a busy day. And now she has a busy summer ahead of her.

The 16-year-old phenom received another exemption to the U.S. Women's Open and accepted her first exemption to a European tour men's event on Monday, the same day she faced the first stage of U.S. Open men's qualifying in Hawaii.

The special exemption to the U.S. Women's Open was hardly a surprise.

USGA women's tournament chairman Marcia Luigs said the exemptions are given to players who would be eligible to play in a tournament if not for some external reason. Along with Wie, a special exemption was given to Kelly Robbins, who had consecutive top-three finishes in the Women's Open but missed last year's with a back injury.

"Michelle's case was more cut-and-dried, when you looked at the numbers," Luigs said. "If she had been on the LPGA Tour, she would have been exempt. Even though she is a professional and has won enough money to have an exemption, it's not on the LPGA money list."

Although Wie is not an LPGA Tour member, she would have ranked 12th on the official money list last year and would be within the top 35 in 2006 - and eligible for the tournament at the Newport Country Club - after just two events this year.

Wie finished third in the Fields Open this year and tied for third in the Kraft Nabisco Championship, both times missing a playoff by one shot. She has earned $181,449, which would place her 16th on the money list.

"I think she clearly has enough experience to play," defending Women's Open champion Birdie Kim said Monday at the Newport Country Club. "I think even if she goes through qualifying, she'd make it through."

Wie also will play Sept. 7-10 in the Omega European Masters in Switzerland, her first time competing on the European tour. Wie has competed eight times against the men on five tours, making the cut for the first time May 5 in the SK Telecom Open in South Korea.

Wie, who has an endorsement contract with Omega, will be the second woman to compete on the European tour. Laura Davies finished next to last in ANZ Championship in Australia two years ago.

The European invitation gives Wie, who is finishing her junior year of high school in Honolulu, a global schedule against men and women. Her 2006 schedule now includes 14 tournaments - eight on the LPGA, three on the PGA Tour and one each on the Asian and European tours and Japanese PGA Tour.

Her second special exemption - Wie also received one to the Women's Open in 2004 - is sure to rankle some women. Morgan Pressel, who tied for second at Cherry Hills, said this year she felt Wie should have to qualify like any other player.

"I don't see why she shouldn't, or why (she) should be afraid, or expect an exemption," Pressel said.

U.S. OPEN QUALIFYING: Marshall Barkman and Mike Sposa shared medalist honors at Hunter's Green Country Club in Tampa to advance to sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open on June 15-18 at Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Orlando's Barkman and Tampa's Sposa qualified after shooting 4-under 68. Brett Hitchcock of Plant City (70) and England's Abs Mawji (71) also advanced.

At Waterlefe Golf and River Club in Bradenton, Chanin Puntawong of Bradenton and Gregor Slabe of Slovenia fired 67s to advance. Tommy Rymer of Bradenton shot 70 to secure the final spot.

[Last modified May 16, 2006, 01:50:15]