2006 SK Telecom Open - Event Preview: Wie tees it up for 8th time against the men

Michelle Wie, the 16-year-old golfing sensation, is geared up for the challenge as she will tee off with the men at the US$600,000 SK Telecom Open on Thursday.

Wie will be determined to impress at the Sky 72 Golf Club in Incheon as she bids to make her first halfway cut against the men in eight tournaments.

The Hawaiian-born talent, who turned pro last year and is still in high school in Hawaii, will play in her second event in Korea after competing in the LPGA event on the Jeju Island three years ago.

“I really wish to play well and if I manage to give it my best and at the same time try to have fun, I think I will be satisfied,” said Wie.

“It is windy in Incheon and it is not a problem as it is also windy in Hawaii. The only difference is that it is warm and windy in Hawaii but here is it cold and windy,” she said.

Among the elite field of golfers also present at the SK Telecom Open include defending champion and Korean ace Choi Kyung-ju. Choi is enjoying a good spell when he achieved with his best outing so far on the US PGA Tour when he was placed sixth at the Shell Houston Open recently.

Wie, the teenage powerhouse who stands at six feet tall and consistently strikes her drive to 300 yards, is set to tee off together with local talent Kim Dae-sub, who was last year’s KPGA Championship winner, and Australia’s Terry Pilkadaris.

“I have never played with Wie before and there is slight pressure being on the same flight as her with all the attention from the media, but I will go out there and try my best,” said Kim, the two-time Korean Open winner and is also known for his solid lengthy drives.

“The course is slightly tricky and good long drives is important here but I think my short game has to be spot on as well if I want a good overall result,” he said.

Pilkadaris, meanwhile, is confident of a strong showing in Korea and is enthusiastic after a fine run in China last week.

“I feel good about my game especially after finishing with a 65 in the final round during the BMW Asian Open last week,” said Pilkadaris.

It’s a good setting with good company, so I will go out there and enjoy myself tomorrow,” he said.

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit leader, is also tipped to be among the frontrunners with his success at the Volvo China Open last month.

“The course has a great layout and the scoring is going to be low,” said Singh.

“I’m going to focus on my game and am looking forward as I have worked slightly on my swing. My main focus here is to play four good rounds so I hope to achieve consistency,” he said.

SK Telecom raised the total prize money by US$100,000 this year and it is the 12th leg of the Asian Tour this season.

May 3, 2006