Wie to play men at Omega European Masters
IN: News | European PGA | Omega European Masters (2006) | General | 17 May 2006
Michelle Wie has been extended an invitation to play in the 2006 Omega European Masters on The European Tour International Schedule at Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans Montana, Switzerland, from September 7-10, 2006. Wie will become the second woman golfer to compete on The European Tour International Schedule. England's Laura Davies competed in the 2004 ANZ Championship at Port Horizons Golf Resort, Port Stephens, in Australia.
Wie, who turned professional last year on October 5, six days before her 16th birthday, said: "I am honoured to play in my first European Tour event. I am very happy that Omega has extended this invitation and I am very excited to play against the best professional golfers in Europe in the magnificent setting of Crans-sur-Sierre."
George O'Grady, Executive Director of The European Tour, said: "Michelle Wie has demonstrated her outstanding golfing skills to a global audience as both an amateur and now as a professional, and we look forward to welcoming her to the Omega European Masters.
"The European Masters, formerly the Swiss Open, one of the most venerable events on The European Tour with a history going back to 1923, together with Omega, the highly respected title sponsors of the tournament since 2001 and now embarking on a new five year commitment, together made a formal request for Michelle to play."
Stephen Urquhart, President of Omega, said: "As a new member of the Omega family, Michelle is joining the ranks of some of the world's top golfers including Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia, who are recent winners of the Omega European Masters. By taking part in our tournament, Michelle will be able to match her golfing skills with many great players in the unique setting of Crans Montana."
Gaston Barras, President of the Organising Committee of the Omega European Masters, said: "This year marks the centenary anniversary of the Golf Club Crans-sur-Sierre, and it will also be the 60th tournament played on the course. These two milestones make it a special year for us and we are delighted to have Michelle Wie among the entries for 2006. We are working with Omega to improve the tournament every year, and we are sure Michelle Wie's inclusion will further raise the profile of the Omega European Masters."
Wie was born in Honolulu on October 11, 1989. She began playing golf at the age of four. At the age of ten, she became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship when she made the field for the USGA Women's Amateur Public Links Championship. At the 2002 LPGA Takefuji Classic, Wie became the youngest golfer to Monday qualify for an LPGA Tour event. In 2002 she became the youngest ever winner of the US Women's Amateur Public Links Championship.
In her last two professional events on the LPGA Tour, Wie has finished in third place at the Fields Open in Hawaii and in a tie for third place at the Kraft Nabisco Championship - the first LPGA Major Championship of the Year.
Recently on the Asian Tour, Wie became the first woman since 1945 to make the cut in a top-tier mens international Tour event when she qualified for final round play in the 2006 SK Telekom Open in Korea. Wie also recently announced she will attempt to become the first women to play in the U.S. Open.
Source - European Tour
