Michelle Wie getting used to Majors

Fifteen-year-old Michelle Wie is already a veteran of the opening major of the women's season, the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

The Hawaiian teenager, making her third appearance in the Championship as an invited amateur, appreciates that it will be tough to improve on her tie for ninth on her debut two years ago and fourth place 12 months ago.

"My goal is to hopefully finish higher than last year," said Wie, who is playing in her third LPGA event of the season.

She was joint second in the SBS Open in Hawaii and tied 12th at the Safeway International in Phoenix on Sunday.

"My game has definitely got better since last year," Wie said. "I'm more consistent and my short game improves all the time. There's been a lot of rain here over the winter, so the course is playing a little longer.

"But obviously I've played well here in the past and I hope to do the same this week."

While much speculation surrounds the timing of Wie's transition to the professional ranks, she continued to play her cards close to her chest.

"Next year is my junior year at High School and that's when I apply to college," she said. "I've always said I want to go to Stanford and that's still the plan."

Wie finished four shots behind winner Grace Park last year and her outright fourth place was the best ever by an amateur in the tournament.

As a 13-year-old, she shot 66 in the third round and played in the last group on the final day alongside Annika Sorenstam and eventual winner Patricia Meunier-Lebouc.

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