Questions about finances irritate BJ Wie, especially when they're about his daughter Michelle, the phenomenal teenage golfer who so far this season has played events conducted by the PGA Tour, the LPGA and the U.S. Golf Association.

This week she's in France for the LPGA's Evian Masters, where the junior-to-be at Punahou School opened with a 3-over-par 75 in yesterday's first round. Next week, she'll be in England for the Weetabix Women's British Open. Last week, she was in Ohio for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. Two weeks ago, she was in Illinois for the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic.

Remember, she's 15 years old, and her home is in Hawai'i, which is not an inexpensive flight to anywhere.

Last weekend, just minutes before boarding a flight for Europe, BJ Wie said in a brief telephone conversation that he follows the rules of amateur status outlined by the U.S. Golf Association, noting that he's a professor at the University of Hawai'i working under a nine-month contract that allows him free time in the summer to travel with Michelle.

"I pay all expenses," he said, "except those we are allowed to take. Sometimes we stay in a host family house. Sometimes we get courtesy cars."

The questions about Michelle will continue, just as they were asked of Earl Woods and his son, Tiger, in the 1990s. Woods is the only player to approach Wie's status at a similar age, but Tony Zirpoli, who has spent 26 years with the USGA, says no player really has had as many issues as Wie. "Michelle plays in more professional tournaments than Tiger played when he was 15 or 16," says Zirpoli, the USGA's senior director of amateur status. "She's much more advanced than Tiger was at 15."

Wie has won just one USGA championship, the 2003 Women's Public Links, but she generates interest everywhere she plays. She's the first female to qualify for a men's USGA championship, the Amateur Public Links. Last week, when she advanced to the final eight before losing to eventual champion Clay Ogden, the USGA had 80 media badges printed, and all were taken.

David Fay, the USGA's executive director, traveled to Hawai'i last winter to meet with the Wies and discuss the rules of amateur status. Zirpoli says he talks with BJ Wie by phone to answer other questions that come up.

"We're not a policing agency," Zirpoli says. "I don't ask BJ who pays for what, when or where."

Zirpoli answers questions Wie has, and he described Wie as "very intelligent," and a man who gets the gist of the amateur rules "very quickly."

In amateur events, the Wies can accept help as long as it doesn't come from a company that could use her for promotions. A golf organization could pay her expenses; a golf equipment company could not. In professional events, the Wies must pay their expenses, except for things that are provided for each player in the field. That could include airfare if it is a charter flight for all players, or courtesy cars, a common perk on most pro tours.

In 2003, BJ Wie told USA Today that he spent $50,000 for his daughter to play in '02, and he estimated he would spent $70,000 in '03.

By the end of this season Michelle will have played eight LPGA events, including the U.S. Women's Open and the Women's British Open, two PGA Tour events, plus the Amateur Public Links. The bill this year could approach $100,000.

Eventually she will turn pro, and that could be before she finishes high school. The trend among young female golfers is to bypass college. Last year, Paula Creamer turned pro at 18 and this spring she won an LPGA event a week before graduating from high school.

Recently, Morgan Pressel, 17, petitioned the LPGA to enter its qualifying school this fall with the intent of playing the tour after she turns 18 in the spring.

Phil Mickelson, who won a PGA Tour event as an amateur in 1991, says Wie is a phenomenal talent, but he doesn't approve of the trend of female golfers jumping from junior golf to the pros.

"They do not value the education the way I was brought up to value it," he said. "I think a college education is important no matter what you do in life. It just seems the focal point has changed."

Wie will certainly remain the focal point, and the questions about her will continue.

"People might have had questions about Mozart," Zirpoli said. "He wasn't a normal child."