Winning a major part of Wie's game plan
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — When you are young and in love with golf, and immensely talented, your options seem infinite. The number of people telling you what you should do next is also infinite.
Paul Connors • Associated Press
As 15-year-old Michelle Wie prepares to tee off in her 20th LPGA event this morning, she appears to have few plans beyond playing well in the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the year's first major.
Michelle Wie, who begins play in the Kraft Nabisco Championship today, says she'd like "to win at least one tournament this year."
"Definitely the top thing on my list is to win at least one tournament this year," Wie said. "But, you know, the main thing is just to have fun and play well. It's pretty much the same."
All around, people make plans for Wie. The Punahou School sophomore and her parents, BJ and Bo, listen and learn, but keep their plans private.
"They don't understand our family values," BJ says of the outside advisers. "There are so many factors to take into consideration. Finances aren't really a part. If finances were most important, she could have turned pro a year ago."
Many wonder why she hasn't. Agents predict endorsement deals in the millions and last year Wie turned down more than $250,000 in winnings to keep her amateur status. In two events this year, her winnings would have exceeded $100,000.
Some believe she will petition the LPGA for membership when she turns 16 later this year because the older she gets, the less novel she will be. Since the tour instituted its 18-and-older membership rule nearly 30 years ago, Aree Song is the only "under-age" golfer to petition.
Commissioner Ty Votaw granted it to Song, who finished second to Grace Park here last year. Votaw said yesterday his reasons for accepting Song included the fact she had graduated from high school, made the cut in 11 of 14 LPGA events, and showed a high level of maturity. She was also within two months of turning 18.
"Whether those same exact things will be applicable to the next person remains to be seen," said Votaw, who wouldn't speculate on a Wie petition. "There are no hard and fast rules. If someone hasn't graduated from high school, for example, what is that person's playing record or maturity level? What are their short-term goals in relation to amateur golf, or potential? That may trump some other things."
Wie has made 16 LPGA cuts and finished in the top 10 at this major twice. She also has a U.S. Women's Public Links championship and came within a shot of making the cut against the guys at last year's Sony Open in Hawai'i.
But she insists petitioning for membership "isn't really on my mind right now." She "definitely wants to go to college," specifically Stanford, and says she is planning to apply next year.
Some think she will turn pro if she wins an LPGA event. Tour regulations allow an amateur younger than 18 the option of petitioning the commissioner for early entrance if she wins. If permission is granted, she gets non-exempt status the rest of the season and exempt status the year after, along with an invitation to the Tournament of Champions.
Wie came within a few shots of winning in February when she and Cristie Kerr tied for second, behind Jennifer Rosales, at the SBS Open at Turtle Bay.
"Michelle had a great tournament," Kerr said then. "She's a veteran at 15 if you can be called that. She's got an amazing game and she's a real sweet girl. I'm glad she's doing well. She's going to be really, really good for our tour. I hope our tour is ready for her."
Wie also feels "at home" here, in her third year on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club. She finished ninth in her first pass — playing in the final group Sunday as a 13-year-old — and took fourth last year. This limited (98 players) field is always one of the year's best. Her performances have been beyond precocious.
"I really look forward to the day I win," Wie said, "but I don't know what's going to happen after that."
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Another of the "many options" the Wies are weighing could be turning pro, but not becoming an LPGA member. Wie could still receive six sponsor exemptions a year, as she has the last three years. She would also be eligible for the U.S. and British Women's Opens. And, she could play men's events on sponsor exemptions and receive appearance fees to play overseas without having to worry about LPGA regulations that limit playing other events with conflicting dates.
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Along with endorsements, that should cover two more years of Punahou tuition and any bills Stanford sent her way.
With all that to ponder, Wie's only worry this week remains her game. She is searching for her first win since that 2003 Publinx championship, and focusing on finding the consistency that has allowed Annika Sorenstam to overwhelm this tour the past few years.
Sorenstam became the first LPGA player to cross the $16 million mark in career earnings with her fourth straight win last week. That total would put her 16th on the PGA Tour's career earnings list. A win here would be her 59th and tie the record Nancy Lopez set as a rookie in 1978 when she captured five consecutive events.
Wie characterizes Sorenstam's game as "flawless."
Her father finds it fascinating.
"We want to be more consistent," BJ said while he watched Michelle putt yesterday. "We have learned a lot from Annika. She is SO consistent."
She also is the only golfer out here who can grab galleries anywhere near the size of Wie's. Hawai'i's phenomenal 15-year-old has had a huge impact here, and nearly everywhere else. Now the question is, what will be her next major move?
NOTES
Park's back: Defending Kraft Nabisco champion Grace Park's sore back improved enough that she could play in yesterday's Pro-Am. If she had been forced to withdraw from her third Pro-Am this year, she would have been disqualified from starting this morning because of an LPGA rule.
Park said she was swinging at "about 60 percent." She also said she plans to take the next month off.
Pursuing paradise: Outgoing commissioner Ty Votaw said the LPGA is discussing bringing additional events to Hawai'i. The inaugural SBS Open at Turtle Bay in February was the first LPGA tournament to be played in the Islands since the 2002 Takefuji Classic.
"We've had discussions with a couple different interested parties in Hawai'i," Votaw said. "There may be two other events there, but we're still in the preliminary stages. There is nothing definitive. We'd like to add at least one event in 2006 or 2007."
Popular pairing: Japanese star Ai Miyazato, 19, will play with Michelle Wie for the first time today. Wie is hoping the pairing will help her with the Japanese tests she has to take when she returns to Punahou from spring break. Miyazato is wondering about Wie's age. "She does look a little bit older than I do," Miyazato joked yesterday.
Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.
