Wie Files for Spot in Public Links

Michelle Wie, the 14-year-old from Hawaii who received a special exemption Monday from the USGA into the U.S. Women’s Open, also has filed an entry to play against men in qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

Wie, who missed the cut by one shot at the Sony Open on the PGA Tour in January, will try to qualify June 18 for the Public Links at Manada Golf Club in Hershey, Pa.

The winner of the Public Links, which will be played July 12-17 at Rush Creek Golf Club in Maple Grove, Minn., receives an automatic invitation to the 2005 Masters.

No woman has qualified to play the Public Links championship. As with all USGA championship events, there is one set of tees, but Wie’s father said that is nothing new to her.

“Michelle started practicing from the back tees at the age of 10 in anticipation of playing in the Masters someday,” B.J. Wie said.

Wie qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open and tied for 39th last year at Pumpkin Ridge at 15-over 289, 16 shots off the winning score.

“Michelle was extremely happy with the USGA’s special invitation,” said the elder Wie.

She is the first amateur to receive a special exemption to the U.S. Women’s Open, which will be played July 1-4 at the Orchards Golf Club at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass.

When she competes for the U.S. at the Curtis Cup, June 12-13, at Formby Golf Club in Merseyside, England, Wie will be the youngest to ever play in the matches.

Wie’s first national USGA event was when she qualified for the 2000 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship at 10 and was the youngest to qualify.