Regularly described as "the next big thing" in golf, 16-year-old Michelle Wie is guaranteed attention wherever she goes. At a baseball game in her parents' native South Korea, the teen prodigy was getting plenty of that when she took to the playing field surrounded by huge cartoon characters.
Haiwaii-born Michelle, who'd been invited to kick off the proceedings, melted into fits of giggles as she received instructions from her helpful assistants. The pretty American was watched by thousands of spectators in the western city of Incheon as she stepped up to bat the first ceremonial ball.
With Michelle's easy charm and striking looks - she's six foot tall - it's not hard to work out why sponsors have fallen over themselves to back the wunderkind. She's already bagged endorsement deals with Nike and Sony worth $10 million a year.
And the player, who hits golf balls harder than most men, is making waves on the professional circuit, which she joined just six days short of her 16th birthday last October. "Michelle's an amazing player. There's no doubt about it," said one veteran of the women's game. "She's going to give us a lot of challenges and make us work harder."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
