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The SBS Open wants Hawaii's prodigal daughter to return. But Michelle Wie's schedule and LPGA policy are at odds as the tour's season-opening event in her hometown of Honolulu approaches.
Tournament officials, Wie's agent and father B.J. Wie have lobbied the LPGA and Commissioner Carolyn Bivens about allowing Wie a special tour exemption. She thus could play both season-opening Hawaii events without having one count toward her six exemptions. Nor would she be forced to scratch a marquee tournament from her summer schedule when she's on break from high school.
"There's a lot of people involved in trying to assist her. She's a big part of Hawaii's sports fabric, and she'd have a large impact for us," said SBS Open tournament director Ray Stosik.
"It would be a win-win situation," said Wie's father, "for SBS, local charities, the LPGA, The Golf Channel, Michelle, everybody."
Wie has accepted a spot in the inaugural Fields Open, Feb.23-25, passing on the Feb.16-18 SBS Open, where she tied for second last year. LPGA policy allows for a maximum six exemptions a year for non-members. According to spokesman Paul Rovnak, the LPGA has spoken with the Wies and others and clarified its exemption policy to them.
The LPGA recently extended a special exemption for Dakoda Dowd to play the Ginn Clubs and Resorts Open, April27-30 in Orlando. The field was increased by one to 145 players to include Dowd, a 12-year-old from Palm Harbor, Fla., whose mother is battling breast cancer and hopes to live long enough to see her daughter play an LPGA event.
"If we didn't at least ask, we wouldn't be doing our job," said Wie's agent, Ross Berlin.
Wie can use her six exemptions any way she chooses. She decided to miss the SBS Open in favor of the Fields Open at Ko Olina Golf Club, where she mostly plays and practices.
"Not supporting the new tournament would have been awkward for us," B.J. Wie said.
Tuesday is the deadline for entry into the SBS Open, said Stosik, who didn't sound hopeful.
"We're holding out for something good to happen," he said. "People in the state don't know how many more times they'll get to see her in person. As her career grows, she's likely to leave Hawaii."
Indeed, the Wies have bought a house at Big Horn Golf Club in Palm Desert, Calif., site of the Samsung World Championship, where Wie made her pro debut last year.
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