Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Michelle Wie
June 1, 2004
Atlanta -- Hawaii's Michelle Wie, 14, Monday accepted a special exemption into the U.S. Women's Open, July 1-4 at the Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, Mass. The gesture by the United States Golf Association, which eased Wie's busy travel schedule, immediately created another opportunity -- one with far-reaching possibilities. Wie also has filed an application to qualify for the U.S. (Men's)
Public Links, July 12-17 at Maple Grove, Minn., and has chosen the 36-hole sectional qualifier June 18 at Manada Golf Club in Hershey, Pa. The significance? If she secures a spot, it's a tournament that sends its winner to the Masters. While it's certainly a longshot, the teenager has mentioned repeatedly her dream to compete as the first woman in the Masters. Wie was practicing with her Curtis Cup team members this week at the Sea Island Golf Club in Sea Island, Ga. It was the first time an amateur has been given a special exemption to the U.S. Women's Open, for which Wie qualified last year and tied for 39th. With the exemption, the USGA already has guaranteed Wie's presence in three of its main summer events. She will playing in
the Curtis Cup matches in Merseyside, England, June 12-13, then will defend her title June 22-27 at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links in Williamsburg, Va. Prior to being awarded the U.S. Women's Open spot, Wie's father, B.J., said last week that her travel schedule, which then had to include a qualifier for the Women's Open, was too tight to attempt qualifying for the men's Public Links.
Custom clubs
Atlanta -- Hawaii's Michelle Wie, 14, Monday accepted a special exemption into the U.S. Women's Open, July 1-4 at the Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, Mass. The gesture by the United States Golf Association, which eased Wie's busy travel schedule, immediately created another opportunity -- one with far-reaching possibilities. Wie also has filed an application to qualify for the U.S. (Men's)
Public Links, July 12-17 at Maple Grove, Minn., and has chosen the 36-hole sectional qualifier June 18 at Manada Golf Club in Hershey, Pa. The significance? If she secures a spot, it's a tournament that sends its winner to the Masters. While it's certainly a longshot, the teenager has mentioned repeatedly her dream to compete as the first woman in the Masters. Wie was practicing with her Curtis Cup team members this week at the Sea Island Golf Club in Sea Island, Ga. It was the first time an amateur has been given a special exemption to the U.S. Women's Open, for which Wie qualified last year and tied for 39th. With the exemption, the USGA already has guaranteed Wie's presence in three of its main summer events. She will playing in
the Curtis Cup matches in Merseyside, England, June 12-13, then will defend her title June 22-27 at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links in Williamsburg, Va. Prior to being awarded the U.S. Women's Open spot, Wie's father, B.J., said last week that her travel schedule, which then had to include a qualifier for the Women's Open, was too tight to attempt qualifying for the men's Public Links.
Custom clubs
