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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Thursday, December 25, 2003

Mercedes pro-am adds Wie, Sorenstam

 •  Wie's exploits led local golf in 2003

Advertiser Staff

MICHELLE WIE

ANNIKA SORENSTAM
Two ground-breaking female golfers — 14-year-old Michelle Wie and Annika Sorenstam — will participate in the pro-am of the Mercedes Championships.

The PGA's season-opening tournament, which invites only golfers who won a PGA tournament the previous season, will be played Jan. 8 to 11 at Kapalua on Maui. The pro-am will be played Jan. 7.

The tournament field includes Ernie Els, who opened last PGA season with victories at the Mercedes and Sony Open in Hawai'i, and Tiger Woods.

"We've got the No. 1 men's player in the world (Woods) and we've got the No. 1 women's player in the world (Sorenstam). It's pretty exciting," said Gary Planos, Kapalua's vice president of resort operations.

Wie, then 13, became the youngest champion in the history of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship when she won the event in June.

Wie played in the pro-am last year, being paired with pro Shigeki Maruyama of Japan.

Sorenstam became the first female in 58 years to compete in a PGA Tour event when she played in the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, in May.

Sorenstam, who represents Mercedes USA, will be paired with amateurs.

For ticket information, go to www.ticketmaster.com or call (808) 669-2440.