Wie ignores critics before PGA tournament

Michelle Wie is set to play against the men on the PGA TOUR again, and doesnt care that some people think its a bad idea.

Wie will compete for the eighth time on the PGA TOUR in next weeks Legends Reno-Tahoe Open. She was asked during a news conference Friday about Tour journeyman Jay Williamson saying to the Golf Channel that it was a joke when he heard Wie would play in the Reno tournament.

I dont know who he is. I dont even read that stuff, Wie said at Montreux Golf & Country Club, where the tournament starts Thursday. I wish I had no critics, but Im realistic. People will write negative things about me. The only thing I can control is myself. A good score will resolve everything.’

Wie, who is 18 and attends Stanford part time, said she was upset over her disqualification on the LPGA last weekend, but encouraged by her play.

She was a shot off the lead going into the final round of the State Farm Classic in Illinois when officials discovered that she had left the scoring area without signing her scorecard after the second round.

I went from a pretty high to a pretty low in two seconds, Wie said. It was a lesson learned. At least I learned it at 18 instead of later. Im sure other players have had learning experiences like this.

But I played really well. It was a good week, and all Im going to do is focus on the positive stuff. Im starting to feel really confident in my game, she said.

Plagued earlier by wrist injuries, Wie said she now is playing mostly pain free and thinks shes on the road to recovery.

She said she shot a couple of practice rounds at Montreux this week but didnt keep score.

Wie declined to assess her chances of making the cut for the first time on the PGA TOUR.

Im not going to focus on making the cut, she said. My goal this week is how to make less bogies and more birdies. Focus on the little things, and itll take care of itself.

I dont want to think about the future or the past. I want to focus on the right now and what I can do to become better, she added.

The Nevada tournament is one of the weakest fields on the PGA TOUR, held opposite the World Golf Championship in Ohio. Steve Flesch won the Reno-Tahoe Open last year. The Reno tournament marks her first PGA TOUR appearance this year.

Im honored to be here playing against such high-caliber competition, Wie said. Hopefully, Ill play well. I think itll be a good test of my game. Ill have to use my head to stay calm.

The only time Wie has made money playing against the men was on the Korean Tour, in 2006, at the SK Telcom Open.

Wie will play in her seventh and final LPGA event this year at the CN Canadian Womens Open in August.