Golf: Michelle Wie Plays in Sony Open at 14

If Michelle Wie is not the most talented sporting teenager on the planet then she is definitely in the front row of the group photo. Aged all of 14 years, she can drive a golf ball 290 yards and hit seven-irons with the kind of precision that makes heroes out of brain surgeons. In the past year she has finished in the top 10 of an LPGA major and won one of America's most prestigious adult amateur titles, the USGA Women's Public Links. Davis Love describes her swing as "one of the best I have ever seen, period" and Annika Sorenstam gushes like the schoolgirl she's describing: "Potentially, she can be anything she wants to be."

Well, thanks for the insight, Annika, but all references to Wie's potential are off limits, for the next two days at least. It's reality time. Today, as her classmates at Punahou High School, Honolulu, sit down to take a geometry exam, the most vaunted golfing prodigy since Tiger Woods will step on to the first tee of the 2004 Sony Open. In doing so she will become the youngest person ever to play in a men's PGA tour event.

"I am going to cherish this moment because this is the tournament I have always wanted to play in," Wie says of her appearance at the Waialae Country Club - a remark which might sound ridiculously corporate were it not coming from the mouth of one so young, innocent and still registered as an amateur. It also happens to be the truth.

The teenager, whose parents are both Korean, grew up in Honolulu and in large part learned how to play golf on the Waialae course. She became a local legend in the process, hammering both the boys and girls in her age group before moving on to the adults and hammering them too. It's only in the past year that her reputation has made the journey across the Pacific to mainland America, where she has been feted by fans and media, although rather less so by many pros, among them Woods, who believe she might be better off playing (and winning) among golfers her own age.

"I think it's neat that she's playing, but you need to play and learn the art of winning. If you can instil that early on then you are going to have more of a successful career," Woods says.

Too late. Wie has already played in eight professional tournaments, including two minor men's events. This week, with Love, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els in the Sony field, represents a huge step up in class. Her appearance is courtesy of a grateful sponsor which hasn't had this much positive publicity in the US since it invented the Walkman.

As is the protocol with sponsors' invitees, Wie will not play with any of the big names in the first two rounds. Instead she has been paired with Craig Bowden and Kevin Hayashi. No offence to either man, both of whom are probably quite well known in their own households, but they represent quite a comedown for Wie, who played her practice round here on Tuesday with Els.

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, swept along by parochial pride, billed the warm-up as the main event: the Big Easy versus the Big Wiesy. Not quite. Though Wie described it as one of the best days of her golfing life, the Big Easy tends to take his nickname literally on practice days. Nevertheless he was interested enough to notice that his partner was pretty special.

"She's a true phenomenon. I was lucky enough to be around when Tiger Woods came out; I saw him when he was an amateur, and a lot of what I saw from Michelle reminds of what Tiger used to do. I don't think I have ever seen a lady golfer who swings the club as well as she does," Els said. "She's got all of the talent in the world. It's only going to be a matter of time before she really hits her stride and then the golfing world will really have to watch out."

Els was not merely being kind either. On this evidence, Wie the golfer easily matches Wie the hype, and surpasses it in one crucial aspect. Some judges have said she is not a very good putter. Sure, like Thom Yorke is not a very good singer. For the record, she rolled in three lengthy birdie putts on the back nine - that's two more than Els. Off the tee, the South African knocked it 30 yards past her but at 6ft 3in and 15 stone he is three inches taller and significantly heavier.

Her father BJ Wie, who was on hand with video camera to record the day for the family album, estimated her score at two under par. Whether she can produce that kind of scoring under tournament conditions is open to question. In any case it might not even be enough to make the cut, given Waialae's benign layout.

"I've practised here five times a week every week since November. The way I'm playing right now I think I have got a good chance," Wie says.

As is often the case with likeable but precocious teenagers, any negative attention the 14-year-old has generated has been focused on her parents, especially her father. BJ Wie, a professor of transportation policy at the University of Hawaii, has been accused of everything from being overly pushy to being one of the worst caddies in the history of golf. The latter charge stems from an incident in the US Women's Open last year during which another player accused him of being ignorant of the rules and etiquette of the game.

Wie responded by firing himself and handing over the responsibility for bag-carrying to Bobby Verwey, who as well as having a full-time job as a caddie for Gary Player also appears to have the proper perspective on what lies ahead for his young charge.

"I'd heard she was a great player but what I've seen of Michelle's play far exceeds anything I expected," he says. "Let's hope she can play as well in the tournament, though the main thing is that she should just enjoy herself."

The Korean conveyor belt

Grace Park

Became a first-time winner in the Kathy Ireland in 2001 but finished as runner-up in the rookie of the year race behind Dorothy Delasin. Four times a tournament winner. Aged 24.

Hee-Won Han

Rookie of the year in 2001 after four top-20 finishes, the first non-exempt player to win the honour since 1997. Captured second win of 2003 at Wendy's event. First came at the Sybase Big Apple Classic. Aged 25.

Jeong Jang

In 2000, shot a career-low 65 at the Michelob Classic. Joint sixth at last year's US Open. Aged 23.

Se Ri Pak

Pak won first major as a tour pro with the 1998 LPGA championship, becoming the first rookie since Liselotte Neumann to make a major a first win. At her second became the youngest to win the US Open. Twenty-one wins, four of them majors. Aged 26.

Gloria Park

In 2001, became the third of four-consecutive first-time winners with her victory at the Williams event and recorded first career hole-in-one during the LPGA championship. Twice a tour winner. Aged 23.

Young Kim

Tied sixth at the 2003 LPGA, ninth at the British Open, with two more two more top 10s. From 1998-2001, played on the Korea LPGA tour, winning twice. Aged 23.