Wie Revels in Her Independence Days

July 12, 2006— -- For all of her amazing ability, Michelle Wie does at times operate in an aura of myth. She hits the ball a long way, but it's not that long when compared to the male professionals she will face this week at the John Deere Classic, where she was given a sponsor's exemption for the second straight year.

It is often said that Wie hits the ball as far as the men, which simply is not true. For most of the 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier last month, she was behind her playing partners, one of whom was a club pro. Even on the LPGA Tour, where Wie plays a limited schedule, she is long, but not the longest.

A case in point came Saturday in the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship, where Wie was defeated in the quarterfinals by 20-year-old Brittany Lincicome, who led the tour in driving distance last year and is second this year. Lincicome routinely knocked it by Wie, to the surprise of many.

"I think they got a reality check," Lincicome said. "She doesn't drive it as far as people think she does."

Lincicome defeated Wie 4 and 3, so she has the right to talk. And she made it clear the idea of competing in a men's event is not necessarily what Wie should be doing.

"If you can't beat Annika [Sorenstam], you don't need to go play on another tour," said Lincicome, who captured her first LPGA title at the Match Play. "If you're not No. 1 on this tour, you don't need to go to another tour."

This will always be the argument against Wie's path to professional golf, so long as there is a goose egg in the victory column.

But unlike a few years ago, when playing in men's tournaments seemed so much like a gimmick, it really no longer is. Of course, she is maximizing exposure for the various sponsors who are now paying her millions, but Wie is a legitimate attraction for a tournament such as the John Deere, which last year had more buzz than it could have ever dreamed possible, considering its role as the final event before the British Open.

Given Wie's non-member status on the LPGA, it is the perfect opportunity to step out and test her game against the best. Sure, it would be nice if she were dominating LPGA events and supporting that tour on a full-time basis, but she is not a member. If she applied, the tour would be faced with an interesting dilemma: the minimum age requirement is 18, and Wie is just 16. It took a special waiver to allow Morgan Pressel to play just a few months before her 18th birthday. How could they change the rules for Wie?