Honolulu, HI (Sports Network) - Michelle Wie has announced her decision to become a professional golfer.
Wie, who will turn 16 years old next Tuesday, will play her first tournament as a professional at the LPGA Tour's Samsung World Championship, which starts October 13 in Palm Desert, California.
"I'm happy to say that I'm a pro as of today," Wie said in making the announcement. "I'm really excited for everything to come and for next week, as my first tournament [as a pro]. It's all very exciting."
Wie has also inked endorsement deals with both Nike and Sony, each worth a reported $5 million a year. She will wear Nike apparel and will play the company's clubs.
Sony, of course, gave her sponsor's exemptions into the PGA Tour's Sony Open in Hawaii the past two years. She will compete against men as a professional for the first time next month at the Casio World Open in Japan.
Wie missed the cut in PGA Tour events this year at the Sony Open and John Deere Classic, but had a strong LPGA Tour campaign playing on exemptions.
In seven events, she finished no worse than tied for 23rd and was the runner- up at the LPGA Championship. She also tied for 14th at the Nabisco Championship, tied for second at the Evian Masters in France and tied for third at the Women's British Open.
Despite her success, Wie still plans to continue her education.
"My first priority is school," Wie added. "I know that I am going to graduate high school and hope to achieve my goal of graduating college."
Wie cannot officially join the LPGA Tour until she turns 18 years old, but can play as many as eight events in each of the next two years on exemptions. She is also expected to continue playing against men on PGA Tour sponsor exemptions.
She has also decided to donate $500,000 to victims of the recent hurricanes.
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