 Michelle Wie Golf Profile
Birthdate: October 11, 1989
Nationality: American
Turned Professional: 2005
Current Tour: LPGA
(playing by invitation only)
Background:
Michelle Wie has gained attention through her continued record breaking success as both an Amateur and a Professional. Although Wie cannot officially join the LPGA Tour until she turns eighteen, she is considered a professional, can collect prize money, enter non-PGA events when invited and can appear in the Rolex World Golf Ratings.
Wie began playing golf at the age of four. At ten, she became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship and advanced into the Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship. Her 6’1” height, young age and loping swing (to some it imitates that of Ernie Els), have continued to make her presence a sensation among the LPGA and PGA tours. Golf’s great Arnold Palmer was quoted as saying, “ she’s probably gong to influence the golfing scene as much as Tiger, or more. She’s going to attract people that even Tiger didn’t attract, young people, both boys and girls, and families.”
Professional Career Bio:
Wie’s amateur career in 2004 saw her break record after record – from becoming the youngest player to ever make the cut at an LPGA event, to her selection for the 2004 Curtis Cup team and subsequent victory. If she had played the season as a professional, she would have earned close to $250,000. Wie’s first event as a professional came in the Samsung World Championship, where she faced controversy after failing to report an infraction on her scorecard. Her second professional event came in November, 2005 at the Casio World Open, where with a score of four over par, she missed the cut. At her third attempt, she again missed the cut at the 2006 Sony Open. In February of that year, she was ranked third in the Women’s World Golf Rankings. Later, she would become the first woman to be a medalist in a local qualifier for the men’s U.S. Open, and would go on to challenge 135 professionals and 48 PGA Tour players for one of only 16 spots. Wie finished 59th – still a remarkable achievement. She continues to be a force internationally, as well – being the first woman to play in a European Tour Event (Omega European Masters).
Professional Wins:
· 2003 USGA Women's Amateur Public Links
(showing individual victories only)
As of July 16, 2006, Wie has played in a total of 40 professional events: 31 LPGA Tour events, 5 PGA TOUR events, 1 Nationwide Tour event, 1 Canadian Tour event, 1 Japan Golf Tour event, and 1 Asian Tour event. As an amateur she played in several Hawaii state and USGA national amateur events. She has no professional victories.
Golf Records
· The youngest player ever to qualify for an adult USGA-sanctioned tournament – 10 years, 9 months, 24 days (2000 Women's U.S. Amateur Public Links)
· The youngest player ever to qualify for an LPGA tournament – Age 12 (2002 LPGA Takefuji Classic)
· The youngest winner (male or female) of an adult USGA-sanctioned tournament – Age 13 (2003 Women's U.S. Amateur Public Links)
· The youngest player to make a cut in an LPGA tournament and major – Age 13 (2003 Nabisco Championship)
· The youngest player to play in a PGA Tour event – Age 14 (2004 Sony Open)
· The lowest round by a female in a PGA Tour event (also the first female to score a sub-70 round in PGA Tour history) – 68 (2004 & 2006 Sony Open)
· The youngest player to play in Curtis Cup history – Age 14 (2004)
· The youngest female to make a cut in any professional male tour event - Age 16 (2006 SK Telecom Open)
· The first female medalist in a men’s US Open qualifying tournament – Age 16 (2006 US Open Local Qualifying at Turtle Bay Hawaii)
Majors: None
Awards: None
PGA Earnings
(per year): Not officially on the money list due to her status
In 2005, she earned $181, 449 | 
Michelle Wie Golf Profile
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