Michelle Wie may try men's U.S. Open next
By Doug Ferguson
Associated Press
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. — Michelle Wie doesn't need a special exemption for the next U.S. Women's Open because she finished in the top 20 at Orchards Golf Club.
That doesn't mean she won't experience U.S. Open qualifying.
Wie
BJ Wie said his daughter likely will enter the 18-hole local qualifier for the men's U.S. Open, part of the plan for the 14-year-old from Hawai'i to compete more against the men next summer.
Wie, who tied for 13th at the U.S. Women's Open this past weekend with 17-year-old Paula Creamer, tried to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Public Links and missed by one shot. It was her fourth time playing against the men. She previously missed the cut on the Canadian, Nationwide and PGA Tour, although her 68 at the Sony Open in Hawai'i to miss by one shot turned heads.
Next year, she is expected to play in the Western Amateur and try the Publinx qualifying again.
"She learns a lot when she plays against the men," said BJ Wie, as he prepared for a 10-day break away from golf while visiting family in Los Angeles. "The only thing she wants is to get better than she was the year before."
The USGA took some heat for giving Wie an exemption instead of having her go through 36 holes of sectional qualifying like Creamer, Erica Blasberg and the rest of the Curtis Cup team.
What would have happened had Wie finished outside the top 20?
She might have received another exemption next year, anyway.
"The slate is wiped clean from this moment forward," USGA executive director David Fay said Sunday as Wie was about to start her final round. "I hope we are in a situation where we have amateurs that, by their play, earn consideration for a special exemption."
