Michelle Wie has made no secret of her desire to play on the PGA tour.
But this week, after failing to qualify for the U.S. Open in a 36-hole qualifying marathon, the 16-year-old will turn her focus to the McDonald?s LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock in Havre de Grace.
“I feel like my game has gotten more consistent,” Wie said in a news conference Tuesday, reflecting on the past year. “I feel like I?ve become a more mature person out there. I just feel like I can control myself better out there.”
A year ago, Wie, then an amateur, finished second to three-time champ Annika Sorenstam in the event.
“I?m not really narrowing down on one person,” the Hawaiian said. “I don?t really think about the other players.”
Even Sorenstam?
“Obviously she placed very well here last year. She played magnificent,” Wie said. “And this year I?m just going to play my hardest and see where it takes me. I?m not going to really think about anyone else.”
Wie said her career goal has been to play on the PGA tour, whose moniker, she said, reveals nothing about including only men.
“Ever since I started playing golf, I wanted to play on the PGA Tour,” said Wie, who threw out the first pitch Tuesday at Camden Yards. “I didn?t really think that it was a men?s tour.”
Wie is also part of a youth movement on the LPGA tour has not gone unnoticed by some of the established veterans.
“All the young players are extremely talented, obviously. They?re out here at such a young age,” LPGA veteran Karrie Webb said. “I always feel like if any of them ever need any advice that Iwould be glad to give it to them.”
Webb thinks that the youngsters can compete this weekend.
“I?m sure you?ll see at least a couple of them up there,” she said. “I don?t think there?s any course or any tournament that particularly scares any of the young players. They?re ready to go.”
Kyle Siskey contributed to this article.
THURSDAY TEE TIMES
Where: Bulle Rock Golf Club in Havre de Grace
Who and When: Wie?s first round threesome, set for a 1:43 p.m. tee time at the first tee Thursday, includes Dorothy Delasin and Mhairi McKay ? Sorenstam is in a group with Morgan Pressel and Jimin Kang that heads out at 9:16 a.m. from the 10th tee ? Baltimore native Tina Barrett will start from tee No. 1 at 9:05 a.m. ? Paula Creamer starts from the 10th tee at 9:05 a.m., Karrie Webb starts from the first tee at 12:48 p.m., and Natalie Gulbis starts from the first hole at 12:59 p.m.
