Wie sees no boundaries
Michelle Wie today warned her appearance at the Omega European Masters was not a one-off, and revealed she even harbours ambitions to play in the Ryder Cup.
Wie is playing in her 10th men’s event in Switzerland and is looking to make the halfway cut for only the second time.
But despite such limited success, the 16-year-old from Hawaii has no plans to simply concentrate on the LPGA Tour when she becomes old enough to take out full membership.
“I definitely will play more men’s events,” said Wie, who made the cut in an Asian Tour event in South Korea earlier this year after several near misses.
“That’s why I am starting out so early so I can get more used to it.
“I love playing men’s events. This is not going to be a short-term thing for me. It is long-term and I intend to do it all the way.”
As for the Ryder Cup, Wie added: “Hopefully I will be able to do it one day. That would be awesome. I think it is totally possible. Anything is possible in the future. I think players, both women and men, are getting better and we are getting stronger and are mentally tough and we can do it.”
Of course Wie simply playing in a regular tour event is never going to be universally popular.
European Tour chief executive George O’Grady previously dismissed the practice of women playing in men’s events as a “gimmick”.
The only woman to play in a European Tour event, Laura Davies, finished second-last in the 2004 ANZ Championship in Australia.
Jean Van de Velde famously demonstrated his opposition by asking for an entry form for the British Women’s Open, the Frenchman claiming he would “shave his legs and wear a kilt” if necessary.
Wie is well aware of such controversy, but offered a well-rehearsed response when asked about it in her pre-tournament press conference.
“My perspective on this is that the British Open is not called the Men’s British Open. It is the British Open,” she added.
“The PGA is the Professional Golfers’ Association. There is no Men’s Professional Golfers’ Association, whereas the LPGA is called the Ladies Professional Golfers’ Association and the British Open is called the Women’s British Open, so I think it is very clear.
“Of course there are going to be some people that aren’t happy with me playing. I am not expecting 100% support every week, but that is the way the world works. There are going to be people that support me and others that don’t but I feel people here have been very supportive and welcoming.
“I am doing it for myself and my own happiness. I love playing men’s events and the challenge. I feel an adrenalin rush when I play these events and it is a lot of fun.”
Wie admitted there is a downside to making such ‘guest’ appearances, however.
“It is very hard just playing one event. You need momentum,” she admitted. “It is like how I started on the LPGA. I missed some cuts first of all before I started making some, and then when I got used to making cuts I started getting in contention. That is just how it goes.
“I am just starting out and feel I need more experience in men’s events. My game is getting progressively better and hopefully I will feel more comfortable as I play more men’s events.”
If Wie can translate some of the form she has shown on the LPGA tour this year, she stands a good chance of making the halfway cut on a course that plays considerably shorter than its 6,857 yards, due to the altitude.
She has won almost $720,000 (€562,100) in seven events, which would have put her 14th on the money list if she was a tour member.
She closed with a 66 in at the Fields Open to finish third, fired a final-round 70 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship to miss a play-off by one stroke, and closed with a 68 in the Evian Masters to tie for second.
She also finished fifth at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, tied for third in the US Women’s Open and tied for fifth at the HSBC Women’s World Match Play.
“Obviously I want to make the cut, obviously a top-10. Obviously I want to win, but all I can do is try my hardest and see what happens,” added Wie, who played a practice round with Sergio Garcia today.
“It’s going to be a challenge. The greens are very tricky, undulating and small.”
