Michelle Sung Wie (born October 11, 1989) is a
Korean-American professional golfer. In 2006, she
was named in a Time magazine article, "one of 100
people who shape our world."Since September 2007 she
has been a student at Stanford University.
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Korean-born parents, Wie
began playing golf at the age of four. Upon turning
professional at age 15 she said, "The first time I
grabbed a golf club, I knew that I'd do it for the
rest of my life."
In the summer of 2000, at the age of ten, she became
the youngest player ever to qualify for the Women's
U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. In 2001, at
the age of 11, she won both the Hawaii State Women’s
Stroke Play Championship and the Jennie K. Wilson
Women’s Invitational, the oldest and most
prestigious women’s amateur tournament in Hawaii.
Also at age 11, she shot a personal-best 64 from the
5,400-yard tees at the Olomana Golf Links course in
Hawaii. That year, Wie became the youngest player to
qualify for a USGA amateur championship and advanced
into match play at the Women's U.S. Amateur Public
Links Championship.
Wie, unlike almost every other professional golfer,
male or female, is not a member of any professional
tour. Prior to her 18th birthday in October 2007,
she was not eligible to attempt to join the LPGA
Tour, unless she petitioned for an exception as some
players, including Morgan Pressel and Aree Song had
done, both at age 17. After turning 18 in October
2007, she still chose not to join the LPGA Tour by
participating in the Tour's Qualifying Tournaments
or "Q-School."
As a professional but a non-LPGA member, she is
limited to playing in no more than six LPGA events
per year and only on sponsor exemptions. She can
play in an unlimited number of non-LPGA events,
including the US Women's Open and Women's British
Open, provided she qualifies for the events or is
given a special exemption by the event organizers.
Also as a non-LPGA member, her earnings do not
appear on the official ADT money list, she is not
eligible for LPGA Tour awards and her statistics do
not appear on the official list. As a professional,
she is allowed to collect prize money.
