Michelle Wie

Michelle Wie is perhaps the most sensational golfer to hit the world golf scene since Tiger Woods. She’s been a focus of attention since at age ten she became youngest person to ever qualify for the USGA amateur championship. She ultimately turned pro while still just fifteen years old. 

Wie’s talent was obvious at an early age, starting in her home state of Honolulu. In 2001, at the age of eleven, she won two amateur tournaments in Hawaii, and the next year won the women’s division in the Hawaii State Open, by a remarkable thirteen shots. In 2003, at the age of thirteen, she became the youngest player to ever make the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open. 

After high school, Wie enrolled at Stanford University, though is unable to play for the golf team there due to her professional status.  Like Annika Sorenstam in tennis before her, Wie has perhaps made more of an impact due to her sexuality and stunning physical presence, as opposed to her wins and performance. She has only won two professional events as of April 2011, and since 2007 has had an insignificant presence in major events.

Wie is good enough to play in men’s events … though unfortunately she has not proven to be good enough to do very well in these events. Wie has received these invitations via sponsor’s exemption, where a sponsor of a tournament is allowed to invite a handful of players who do not qualify for the event, generally with the intent of increasing ticket sales. Wie has only made the cut in one men’s event, as of April 2011, though has claimed that playing in the Masters is her “ultimate goal.”

Wie is a fan favorite, and as such has inked several millions of dollars in endorsement deals since rising to fame, including McDonalds, Kia, Nike, and Sony.