Michelle Wie Blog

Michelle Wie is coming back to Hampton Roads.

Wie, who has yet to win a professional tournament but still is one of the most popular golfers in the world, has accepted a sponsor’s exemption to play in the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill in May, according to Wednesday’s press release from primary sponsor Anheuser-Busch.

The tournament will be held at the River Course May 8-11.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Michelle join us for this year’s Michelob Ultra Open,” said Wayne Nooe, tournament director at Kingsmill.

Wie has seven top-10 finishes in LPGA majors, including a runner-up finish in the 2005 LPGA Championship. But she has struggled recently on the LPGA after several attempts to make the cut in men’s tournaments.

Wie has competed in one event this year, the Fields Open in Kapolei, Hawaii, on Feb. 23. She finished 20 strokes behind winner Paula Creamer and tied for last among the 74 players who made the cut.

Wie, now an 18-year-old freshman at Stanford, competed in the Michelob Ultra as a 14-year-old in 2004.

She finished tied for 12th and drew large galleries all week.

“I was pleased with my performance on the River Course when I was there a few years ago and look forward to another great competition at the Michelob Ultra Open,” Wie said.

Wie will be part of one of the strongest fields during the LPGA season.

The event, known as the Tour’s “fifth major” and voted among the most popular tournaments by the players, already has commitments from 45 of the top 50 players in the world.

The addition of Wie certainly will be a boost to the tournament.

She is one of the longest hitters on the LPGA Tour, and all five winners of the event — Grace Park, Se Ri Pak, Christie Kerr, Karrie Webb and Suzann Pettersen — have been long hitters.

“Her game matches up very well with the course,” Nooe said, “and we’re looking forward to seeing what she can do here.”

Michelob Ultra Open

WHEN: May 8-11.

WHERE: Kingsmill’s River Course in Williamsburg.

DEFENDING CHAMP: Suzann Pettersen.