EVIAN, France — Michelle Wie hopes to have better luck competing against women this week at the Evian Masters.

The Hawai'i teenager lost in the quarterfinals last week in the men's U.S. Amateur Public Links in Lebanon, Ohio, falling short in her bid to become the first female to get an invitation to the Masters. But starting this morning (late last night Hawai'i time), the 15-year-old goes against familiar competition — including two-time champion Annika Sorenstam.

"I was really sad to lose in the quarters," Wie said yesterday. "But it wasn't like I played horrible the last day. I learn so much playing with men. I just pick small things up subconsciously."

Wie missed the cut in two PGA Tour events she has played in — narrowly falling short in the John Deere Classic — and was tied for the third-round lead in this year's U.S. Women's Open.

"I've just been so close all year long," Wie said. "So close to it. I just have to get over that last big step to win. It's hard."

In the $2.5 million Evian Masters, Sorenstam will be the favorite — again. The Swede won the first two majors of the year before struggling at the U.S. Women's Open.

"I have had two weeks off and I'm rested," said Sorenstam, who last week won the ESPY award as female athlete of the year.

"To be selected among all the sports — I believe Maria Sharapova was nominated — to beat her, obviously a crowd favorite and very popular athlete, well it means a lot," Sorenstam said.

Sorenstam then visited the Playboy Mansion for a party hosted by Hugh Hefner.

"It was a fun get together," she said. "I thought, 'Why not go have a look? That was the first time for me.' "

Defending champion Wendy Doolan, who shot a final-round 65 last year to edge Sorenstam, is also in the tournament, along with U.S. Women's Open champion Birdie Kim, Cristie Kerr, Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, Juli Inkster and Mi Hyun Kim.

Wie, who tied for 33rd at last year's Evian event, knows that Sorenstam will be the player to beat.

"Annika has the type of game I want to work on," Wie said. "She's just so consistent. Hopefully I'll be like that one day."

Both players will compete in the Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale next week. Wie will then return to high school and miss the U.S. Women's Amateur.

"The schedule was just too tight," Wie said.

Looking to the future, Wie said her goal is to win the Grand Slam.

"It's great to dream big like that," she said. "Hopefully that will come for me down the road."

Sorenstam, meanwhile, is trying to keep pace with Tiger Woods.

When Sorenstam won the LPGA Championship in June, she sent Woods a phone text message pointing out that she was tied with him with nine major titles. Woods won the British Open at St. Andrews on Sunday and sent Sorenstam a reply.

"He wrote that he won 10 now," she said. "I have not sent anything back. I have my chance next week."