Updated at 5:18 p.m., Monday, January 29, 2007
Wie, Kim invited to play in first major of LPGA season
Advertiser Staff
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Michelle Wie was offered a sponsor invitation to the Kraft Nabisco Championship on Monday, among seven pros and six amateurs invited to the first LPGA Tour major of the year.U.S. Women's Amateur champion Kimberly Kim, who grew up on the Big Island and now lives outside Phoenix, also received an invitation.
Tournament director Terry Wilcox said Wie will be making her fifth appearance at the Kraft Nabisco, although that was not immediately confirmed by her family.
The 17-year-old from Honolulu missed the cut at the Sony Open while playing with an injured left wrist that was tightly wrapped. She is not expected to play in either of the two LPGA Tour events in Hawai'i next month. Kim received exemptions to play in both.
Wie had a chance to win the Kraft Nabisco last year until her eagle chip went 10 feet by the cup on the par-5 18th, and she missed a birdie putt that would have put her in a playoff with Karrie Webb and Lorena Ochoa. She has played every season since 2003, when she played in the final group at age 13 and tied for ninth.
Other professionals receiving exemptions were Gwladys Nocera of France, who played on the Solheim Cup team for Europe two years ago.
