Forget the sleep-overs, movies and trips to hang out at the mall, 13-year-old Michelle Wie has bigger plans this year -- competing against the best female golfers in the world. Wie adds 2 LPGA events
to reach her limit of 6Associated Press
Wie has accepted invitations to play in two more LPGA Tour events, giving her a total of six this year, the maximum allowed under a rule implemented this season. The previous limit for amateurs was four LPGA tournaments during a calendar year.
The Punahou eighth-grader accepted exemptions to the Safeway Classic in September and the Sports Today CJ Nine Bridges Classic in October, her family said yesterday.
The Safeway is played in Portland, Ore., while the Sports Today tournament is in Jeju, South Korea, the native country of Wie's parents.
Wie earlier accepted exemptions to play in the Kraft Nabisco Championship next month (Rancho Mirage, Calif.), the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship in April (Stockbridge, Ga.), the ShopRite Classic in June (Galloway, N.J.), and the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic in August (Sylvania, Ohio).
By the time Wie is allowed to join the tour full-time, she might be considered a seasoned pro. LPGA rules prevent anyone from playing on tour full-time until their 18th birthday, however, Wie plans to attend college before turning pro.
"She still wants to go to college first, definitely, no question about it," her father, B.J. Wie, said. "Even when she graduates high school and if she receives endorsement deals, that's not going to change her mind."
Last year Wie played in three LPGA Tour events and missed the cut each time.
Ladies Professional Golf Association