Wie to play in LPGA at Arizona

Advertiser Staff

Honolulu's Michelle Wie has accepted a sponsor's exemption to play in the Safeway International on the LPGA Tour in March.

Charlotta Sorenstam, the sister of Annika Sorenstam and a past champion of the tournament, received the other exemption to one of the strongest LPGA tournaments of the year.

The Safeway International, played March 18-21 at Superstition Mountain, has a $1.2 million purse and usually has 90 of the top 100 players on the LPGA Tour.

BJ Wie said his daughter likely will play six LPGA events this year, the maximum exemptions allowed.

Good deal: A week on Maui for a minimum $65,000 payout in a no-cut tournament on a breathtakingly beautiful golf course has never been quite enough for Kapalua Resort since it started hosting the Mercedes Championships in 1999. Above and beyond has become routine as the tournament has become somewhat famous for all it gives the players and their families.

This year's Kapalua "Wives' package" includes two pairs of Maui Jim sunglasses, a Ritz-Carlton spa certificate, purse, slippers and dinner certificates for Roy's, David Paul's, Plantation House, Outback and Sansei. Also available was a luxury sunset catamaran ride on Tuesday, last night's Chicago concert at the Ritz-Carlton and a sushi-making demonstration by Sansei's DK Kodama.

And all the golf you can play, or climb Plantation Course's hills to watch.

SHORT PUTTS: Michelle Wie, Hawai'i's 14-year-old U.S. Women's Public Links champion, will play a Sony Open in Hawai'i practice round with defending champion Ernie Els Tuesday morning at Waialae Country Club. There is no admission charge Monday and Tuesday. ... The final field for the Sony, released yesterday, includes Aaron Baddeley, John Cook, Fred Funk, Matt Kuchar, Tom Lehman, Davis Love III, John Morse, Jesper Parnevik, Corey Pavin, Scott Simpson and Dean Wilson. ... Approximately 100 golfers will play for four spots in Sony's Monday qualifier, which tees off at 7:10 a.m. at Pearl Country Club. The field includes Mac O'Grady, Kevin Ralbovsky, Tommy Kim, Regan Lee, Phil Chun, Parker McLachlin, Keith Clearwater, Matt Kodama, Kurt Nino, Joe Phengsavath, Beau Yokomoto, Jerry Mullen, Greg Meyer, Travis Toyama and Dave Eichelberger.