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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Fans coming from far, wide to see Wie

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

For a decade, car dealer Randy Allison has beseeched relatives in rural Kentucky to make the 568-mile journey to visit him in the Quad Cities Illinois-Iowa area.

But not until this summer did they, out of the blue, suddenly agree to take him up on the offer.

The reason, they said: Michelle Wie was coming and, now, so were they.

Wie is playing in next week's PGA Tournament, the John Deere Classic, in Silvis, Ill., and Allison's family, from an 82-year-old grandmother on down, want to see the 15-year-old from Hawai'i.

"My grandmother doesn't have a phone, but she found one and called me to say they were all coming as soon as they heard Michelle Wie was going to be here," Allison said.

Nor is "granny" alone in the Wie Boom. Undeterred by Wie's final-round collapse in the U.S. Women's Open on Sunday, tournaments on the Wie Summer Tour say they are bracing for larger crowds and selling more sponsorships and tickets because of her presence.

"The usual radius of people coming to our tournament is about two or three hours (drive)," said Clair Peterson, John Deere Classic tournament director. "We figure for this one, with the Fourth of July week, it is probably gonna be five to six hours — maybe more. She's only played in a PGA tournament there in Hawai'i and, now, this is a chance to see her in one on the Mainland."

The John Deere Classic hasn't been a first-tier PGA tournament even among the non-majors, but since it extended a sponsor's exemption to Wie in April, its profile has risen.

"The interest in our tournament has dramatically increased really from the day it was announced she had accepted," Peterson said. "The phones are still ringing off the hook and we're still selling corporate sponsorships and hospitality packages even into this week, something that has been unprecedented."

Never mind that the tournament has defending British Open champion Todd Hamilton, Wie's forthcoming appearance is what has been driving the attention.

"Obviously, she is an exciting young talent and people are intrigued about what she might do and where she might go in the world of golf," Peterson said. "Now that she's coming here, a lot of people want to see her first-hand, up close."

At Cherry Hills Country Club outside Denver, officials reported the largest crowds ever for a U.S. Women's Open and NBC announced its highest ratings in eight years. "Michelle and Annika (Sorenstam), from their practice rounds on, were the big draws," said Clayton Cole, head pro.

Honolulu's Michelle Wie is expected to attract a large gallery for next week's PGA John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill.

Chris Carlson • Associated Press

At the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, where Wie is the first female to qualify for the adult "male" tournament, July 11 to 16, and admission is free, organizers at the Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio, said the first hour of their four-hour meeting was devoted almost solely to contending with issues brought on by Wie's appearance: more spectators, more demand for parking, security and media.

Even more than the thump of her driver striking the ball, the prevailing sound wherever Wie plays is the kaching of cash registers. Everywhere, she is helping to fill galleries and hotel rooms.

Though Wie is, for the moment, still an amateur and unable to cash in on her expanding following, she has a lot riding on the upcoming tournaments, too. Besides putting the disappointment of the meltdown at Cherry Hills behind her there is more to shoot for.

The winner of the John Deere Classic has qualified for the Masters and the top non-exempted finisher in the field qualifies for the British Open. The winner of the Publinx has historically been invited to play in the Masters, heretofore a men's-only event that Wie has made it a goal to play in.

When the John Deere Classic awarded Wie an exemption, it came with some criticism. But following Wie's qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Public Links, her second-place finish to Sorenstam in the McDonald's LPGA Championship and her sharing of the lead after three rounds in the U.S. Women's Open, the public's embrace of Wie tells the John Deere Classic it has struck gold.

"I can tell you the lion's share of the feedback now has been overwhelmingly positive," Peterson said.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.