Wie Still Considers Playing in PGA
By Kim Jae-won
Staff Reporter
Michelle Wie has not given up her hope to compete with the ``boys.'' The 19-year-old golfer revealed her deep desire in an e-mail interview with The Korea Times.
``I look forward to playing on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), but if given another chance to play in the PGA I will consider it,'' Wie said.
Since her participation in the Sony Open in 2004, Wie has played in eight Professional Golf Assocaition (PGA) Tour events, but has never made the cut, which has drawn some criticism.
But she appears to shrug it off.
``I have no regrets over playing with the men and I have learned a lot from the experience,'' the Hawaiian native of Korean descent said. ``I always played against boys when growing up so I never thought it was strange.''
She was the youngest player ever to qualify for an adult USGA-sanctioned tournament, to qualify for an LPGA tournament, win an adult United States Golf Association (USGA)-sanctioned tournament, to make the cut in an LPGA tournament and major, and to play in a PGA Tour event.
Wie, nicknamed ``Big Wiesy,'' turned pro at the age of 15 in 2005, signing lucrative sponsorship deals with Nike and Sony.
However, she failed to shine on the professional stage, where her best achievement was a tied-second at the Evian Masters in July 2006.
``I do not think I was in a slump. I had some injuries, and especially a wrist injury that kept me from doing my best,'' Wie said. ``But I'm fully recovered now and my swing and conditioning are really good right now.''
Wie, who had played on the limited LPGA Tour events with a sponsor's exemption until last season, became a full-fledged member after finishing in a tie for seventh at qualifying school in December, and broke through for a runner-up finish at the season opener SBS Open in Hawaill in February after having Angela Stanford come from behind to win the title.
``I expect to play very well in upcoming tournaments,'' she added.
Wie put on a poor performance at the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Lotte Mart Open on Jeju Island as she finished tied for 36th with a seven-over-223, Friday.
``I am thankful to the Lotte Mart and the KLPGA for inviting me to play in the tournament,'' Wie said. But she said ``no comment'' on her withdrawal from the pro-am. She pulled out of the pro-am because the KLPGA did not allow her to be accompanied by a caddy in the special event.
According to its regulations, a caddy cannot join a golfer on the course and give advice on the holes during the tournament.
Alongside Wie, the top professional women's golf circuit hailed another big-time rookie ― Shin Ji-yai, who won the Women's British Open, the Mizuno Classic and the ADT Championship in 2008 to become the first non-card holder to claim three titles in a season.
And local media have already created rivalry between those 19-year-old golfers.
``Shin is a great player and very consistent. I don't see her as a rival,'' Wie said of Shin, who is leading the prize list with $470,895. Wie is listed at 24th after earning $116,994.
``My biggest rival is probably myself. Golf is ultimately a game against yourself,'' she continued.
Wie enrolled in Stanford University in September 2007 and her busy schedule forces her to attend only during the fall and winter semesters.
``I am not taking classes right now. It's hard to take classes during the season, but I take classes in the off-season,'' the sophomore said. ``Education is so important to me and I plan to finish school.''
Wie's family members have involved in the education field. Her father, Wie Byung-wook, is a former professor of transportation management at the University of Hawaii. Her paternal grandfather, Wie Sang-kyu, who died aged 82, last December, was an emeritus professor of mechanical aerospace engineering at Seoul National University.
``Golf is a large part of my life, but so is school,'' she said. ``I also enjoy movies and eating good food,'' Wie added.
``I like to work with different charities and give back to the community and the disadvantaged,'' she said talking about donations she makes. ``It really makes me happy to know that I can make a small difference in someone's life.''