SILVIS, Ill. — Michelle Wie, who attracted large galleries at the John Deere Classic this week, has done things that even Tiger Woods didn't do at her age.

So says Joe Ogilvie, the second-round leader in the tournament.

"She's extremely good, and she's going to be good for a long time," Ogilvie said. "She's better than Tiger was at 16. I played with Tiger, and Tiger wasn't this good."

The 16-year-old Wie, whose attempt to become the first woman to make a PGA Tour cut since 1945 ended prematurely with her withdrawal because of heat exhaustion yesterday, is one of the top women in the world.

She has finished in the top five in all four women events she's played this season. She won't be old enough to join the LPGA tour full-time for almost two years.

But along with her long drives, crisp irons and a versatile short game has come criticism, especially for playing in men's events. As far as Ogilvie, who leads the tournament at 10-under 65-67—132, is concerned, those critics don't know what they are talking about.

Ogilvie doesn't see anything wrong with giving Wie a sponsor's exemption. Exemptions are spots in the field given out by the sponsor for any number of reasons. The Western Open gave Woods a sponsor's exemption when he was an amateur. If the exempted player can sell tickets, all the better.

"If someone has a problem with Michelle Wie getting a sponsor's exemption, they don't understand what we're about," Ogilvie said. "Our job is to entertain. That's why we're out here. We're playing golf, but at the same time, it's entertainment. Sports is to entertain the public. We're not curing cancer; we're just putting the ball in the hole."

Though Wie wasn't on top of her game this week at Deere Run, Ogilvie has no doubts about her talents. Critics who complain she has yet to win a professional tournament need to have patience, he said. The victories will come soon and in bunches.

"She's going to win on the LPGA Tour," he said. "She's 16. Chill out. Once she gets to winning, you'll get sick of her winning."