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Michelle Wie will make her first LPGA Tour start of the year this week when she tackles the inaugural Fields Open here in her home state.
The 16-year-old, who turned professional last October, will play on a sponsor's exemption in the 1.1 million-dollar event, one of eight expected LPGA appearances this season.
Not only will the precocious pro have high expectations to live up to, she now boasts a lofty world ranking.
Swedish superstar Annika Sorenstam, who isn't entered this week, was the resounding number one in the first women's world rankings released Tuesday and has been the top player on tour for years.
However, Wie came in at number three, behind only Sorenstam and Paula Creamer, who won four times worldwide last season on her way to LPGA Rookie of the Year honors.
Wie's first attempt to live up to her ranking will come at Ko Olina Golf Club against a field that includes Creamer, Natalie Gulbis, fellow teenaged pro Morgan Pressel and South Korea's Joo Mi Kim.
Kim will be shooting for an island sweep after posting her first career victory at last week's SBS Open at Turtle Bay.
Kim birdied both playoff holes to outlast compatriot Soo Young Moon and Mexico's Lorena Ochoa for the title.
Pressel, the youngest fully fledged LPGA tour member at 17, tied for fifth last week with Miriam Nagl and Gulbis.
The fiery rookie will undoubtedly be motivated by Wie's presence and ranking.
Pressel has not been shy in expressing her views of Wie's multi-million-dollar endorsement deals and exemptions into major championships. Now she will get to put her clubs where her mouth is in the first of what looks to be a long line of professional matchups between the young phenoms.
The 54-hole event will be played on the 6,519-yard, par-72 course at Ko Olina Golf Club.
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Golf-USLPGA
AFP 222313 GMT 02 06
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