Is the Wie story wearing thin in men's events?
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-01-18 06:59

"My goal is definitely to win in the (women's) LPGA, to win a major," she said after completing her third Sony Open and her fourth appearance in a men's PGA Tour event.

"And my goal is definitely to make the cut and to compete out here (on the PGA Tour).

"I don't think there are actually any real strict guidelines on how to do it. I think that what I'm doing might be right or might be wrong, but it's what I want to do right now.

"It makes me happy, so I intend to keep on doing it."

For Wie's swing coach David Leadbetter, it is only a matter of time before his young charge develops the winning habit.

"She's a pioneer and there's no doubt she's going to win and win a lot," he told reporters at Waialae Country Club.

Best players

"But when you're limited in how many events you play in as she is and against the best players in the world, men and women, the chances of winning are less."

Although yet to win a title at the highest level, Wie has come desperately close on the LPGA Tour where she has produced four top-10 finishes in eight major starts.

David Toms, who clinched his 12th PGA Tour title by five shots at the Sony Open on Sunday, believes the Wie story perhaps holds more interest for the media than for anyone else.

"Now it's kind of old news," he said. "You know going into tournaments that she's going to be playing and you just say 'hi' to her on the putting green and wish her luck and go tee off.

"It's not really a big story for us (the players) any more," he added.

"Sure it probably still is in the media and would be for television if she was playing on the weekend but, from a player standpoint, not really."

One thing about Wie that cannot be argued is her desire to go where no other woman golfer has gone before.

"I really want to change what everyone thinks about the women's game, make them think a little bit more outside the box," she told Reuters last year.

"I want to play on the PGA Tour as well as the LPGA Tour, and I really want to become the first woman to play in the (US) Masters at Augusta National."