Wie Invited to Play in Men’s Event
Annika Sorenstam are Suzy Whaley aren’t the only female golfers who will be playing in men’s tournaments this year. Michelle Wie, a 13-year-old from Hawaii, accepted a sponsor’s exemption to play a Canadian Tour event Aug. 21-24 in Bay Mills, Mich.
Wie recently tried to qualify for the PGA Tour’s Sony Open in her home state, but she shot one-over-par 73 and tied for 47th in a field of 96 men.
On Monday, she also accepted a sponsor’s exemption to the LPGA’s Chick-fil-A Charity Championship on April 25-27 at Stockbridge, Ga.
Wie also has accepted sponsor’s exemptions to play in the Nabisco Championship on March 27-30 in Rancho Mirage and the Shop Rite Classic on June 27-29 at Galloway, N.J.
Non-tour members are allowed to play in a maximum of four LPGA events a year.
Sorenstam has accepted an invitation to play the PGA Tour’s Bank of America Colonial in May. Connecticut club professional Whaley will also play a men’s event; she qualified for the PGA Tour’s Greater Hartford Open.
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The annual PGA Tour Awards presentation took place Wednesday night at Torrey Pines. Tiger Woods was honored as player of the year for the fourth consecutive year. Jonathan Byrd was named rookie of the year and Gene Sauers comeback player of the year.
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Poor weather seems to have induced an epidemic at the Buick Invitational. Since Monday, 10 players have withdrawn from the PGA Tour tournament at Torrey Pines, where heavy rains fell most of the day Wednesday.
John Daly, Steve Elkington, Jesper Parnevik and Rocco Mediate are among those who pulled out. Alternates David Frost, Jay Don Blake, Woody Austin and Brett Quigley were among the beneficiaries.
A new tour rule this year allows players to withdraw without citing a reason.
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The National Golf Assn. Hooters Tour will visit Southern California for the first time this summer.
The Hooters Tour, the third largest men’s tour in the United States, will play a 12-tournament series in the Palm Springs area from June through September.
Lee Janzen, John Daly, Tom Lehman, Jim Furyk, David Toms and Stewart Cink are alumni of the Hooters Tour, which has traditionally played its entire schedule in the southeastern United States.
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Tickets are on sale for the Office Depot Championship, hosted by Amy Alcott April 4-7 at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana. Se Ri Pak is the defending champion of the LPGA tournament. Tickets are $15 a day or $30 for a three-day pass. Admission to the two-day pro-am April 2-3 is free. Tickets: (213) 480-3232 or www.ticketmaster.com.
Thomas Bonk’s golf column will return next week.