10 WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE:
Michelle Wie
ASSOCIATED PRESS Young golfer made mark
in adult, men’s eventsTEN OF TEN PARTS
For all Michelle Wie accomplished this year, you might wonder what the 14-year-old golf phenom plans to do for an encore in 2004.
The Punahou School freshman won't have to wait too long for the curtain call. Not only is she playing in the Mercedes Championships Pro-Am next week on Maui, the following week Wie will be one of the premiere acts for the Sony Open in Hawaii.
The Star-Bulletin is spotlighting 10 people who have made a difference in the community during 2003. This year's 10 is a diverse group but all have one thing in common: Each had a devotion to their cause and made a profound impact on Hawaii.
With some help from Gov. Linda Lingle, Wie received a sponsor's exemption earlier this year to play against the men in the first full-field event on the PGA Tour. A few of the tour members questioned this strategy, but thanks to Annika Sorenstam and her well-publicized venture at The Colonial last May in Texas, it shouldn't raise as many eyebrows.
Not that Wie is any stranger to national publicity. This past year, Wie played in nine professional tournaments. Her best finish was at the LPGA Tour's first major, where she placed ninth. She was in the final group with Sorenstam and Patricia Meunier-Lebouc.
Wie also competed against the men at the Nationwide Tour's Boise Open and the Canadian Tour's Bay Mills Open Players Championship. She missed the cut at both events, which on the surface doesn't bode well for the Sony Open.
But her familiarity with the Waialae Country Club course, one of the shorter venues on the PGA Tour, could help her survive the first 36 holes and allow her to play over the weekend.
Wie also became the youngest player to win a USGA title for adults at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links. She made the cut at the U.S. Women's Open, as well. But it wasn't all fairways and greens for the teen sensation.
She and her father, B.J. Wie, who caddies for his daughter, were involved in a controversy at the U.S. Women's Open. B.J. Wie claimed golfer Danielle Ammaccapane bumped Wie during the first round and yelled at her for lack of etiquette on the course. He later softened his stance a bit about the incident, but did decide not to caddy in all her events to avoid further problems.
