It might be time to write another chapter.

Hawai'i's best tour player was the fourth alternate when the 144-man field was announced Friday.

Sony officials give most of the exemptions to Japanese players for marketing purposes, and there's nothing wrong with that. Not even Wilson would complain about a spot going to a fellow Hawai'i resident, 15-year-old Michelle Wie, who is responsible for any spike in ticket sales.

But there were some curious exemptions, such as Omar Uresti.

"We wanted to have him, but Sony had others on their list," tournament director Ray Stosik said. "Dean was one of those right near the top. At the time when the selections were made, it was looking like he had a good chance."

Wilson, at Castle High graduate originally from Kane'ohe, ordinarily would have made it into the Sony Open through the pecking order at the start of the year, which alternates between the top 20 on the Nationwide Tour money list and the 35 players who made it through Q-school. But a couple of late entries — such as Tom Kite, Craig Stadler and Steve Jones — knocked him down the list.

Wilson tried to qualify Monday, but shot 67 to finish one shot out of the playoff at Pearl Country Club.

Wilson, best known on tour for playing with Annika Sorenstam in the Colonial, has not had much success on the PGA Tour, but he won six times in Japan and captured two of its majors in 2001. In previous years, he never received a sponsor's exemption, only getting into the Sony Open through Monday qualifying.

Wet, windy Waialae will make it tough

The combination of rare west winds and wet grounds from recent rains toughened up the Waialae Country Club course yesterday for those playing practice rounds for tomorrow's opening round.

Corey Pavin, who has played the course for more than 20 years, winning the Hawaiian Open in 1986 and 1987, said of the brisk winds, "They don't go around too often like this."

Brad Faxon, who won the 2001 Sony Open, said, "If it blows like this it becomes a different ballgame. (Hole number) 1 becomes a par 5 and 9 a par 4."

Said Faxon: "Boy, I've never hit irons into some of some of these holes."

Michelle Wie said, "The course was really playing hard today. The winds were completely different (from normal). It wasn't even kona. It was strange wind."

In addition, Faxon said, "the course is wet from the rains and the fairways are long so the ball isn't rolling very far right now. It is playing difficult. (If it holds up) I think you'll see some high scores."

Buttons to boost Wie's chances

Five hundred "Go Michelle, Catch the Bug" buttons will be distributed at tomorrow's opening round by Ko Olina and the Hawai'i Junior Golf boosters said Greg Nichols, Ko Olina director of golf.

"It is a way to support Michelle and get some of the kids involved," Nichols said.