Wie to play in men's events
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
While Annika Sorenstam mulls two invitations to play on the PGA Tour, Honolulu teenager Michelle Wie has accepted offers to play in two men's events on the Canadian Tour this summer.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
Sunday, organizers of the Bay Mills Open Players' Championship, Aug. 21-24 in Brimley, Mich., called the Wies to offer Michelle a sponsor's exemption.
Honolulu's Michelle Wie, 13, has accepted offers to play in two Canadian Tour events this summer.
Yesterday, the Greater Vancouver Classic contacted the family about Michelle playing in its July 31-Aug. 3 event. The Wies tentatively said yes. The Classic could conflict with the U.S. Women's Amateur.
The Canadian Tour is in the midst of its Winter Qualifying School this week. The first of 13 scheduled events is next week. The tour plays in Texas, Mexico, Virginia, Michigan and Canada.
Wie, 13, would play from the same tees as the men on the Canadian Tour.
"I'm happy I got the exemption," said Wie, a Punahou eighth-grader. "I think I'll play good in it."
She also thinks Sorenstam should accept the sponsor's exemptions being offered.
"I'd like to see her play, it would be interesting," Wie said. "And I'd like to see her play well."
Wie stormed into the spotlight when she won two of the three Hawai'i women's majors at age 11. Last year she became the youngest to qualify for an LPGA tournament and played in two others on sponsor exemptions.
Wie will tee off in her second Hawai'i Pearl Open on Friday. She tried to qualify for the Sony Open in Hawai'i in January but shot a 73.
