Wie accepts exemption to play in European Tour event May 15, 2006 GolfWeb Wire Services NEWPORT, Rhode Island -- Michelle Wie accepted her first exemption to a European Tour men's event and received another exemption to the U.S. Women's Open on Monday. The 16-year-old phenom also faced the first stage of U.S. Open men's qualifying in Hawaii. Wie will play from Sept. 7-10 in the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland, her first time competing on the European Tour. Wie has competed eight times against the men on five tours, making the cut for the first time on May 5 in the SK Telecom Open in South Korea. "Michelle Wie has demonstrated her outstanding golfing skills to a global audience as both an amateur and now as a professional, and we look forward to welcoming her to the Omega European Masters," said George O'Grady, executive director of the European Tour. Wie, who has an endorsement contract with Omega, will be the second woman to compete on the European Tour. Laura Davies finished next to last in ANZ Championship in Australia two years ago. The European invitation gives Wie, who was still in high school in Honolulu, Hawaii, a global schedule against men and women. Her 2006 schedule now includes 14 tournaments -- eight on the LPGA Tour, three on the PGA TOUR and one each on the Asian and European tours and Japanese PGA Tour. The special exemption to the U.S. Women's Open was hardly a surprise. U.S. Golf Association executive director David Fay had said this year that officials would consider where Wie would be ranked on the U.S. LPGA Tour money list. She does not appear on the official money list because she is not a U.S. LPGA member. Wie finished third in the Fields Open and tied for third at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, both times missing a playoff by one shot. She has earned $181,449, which would place her 16th on the money list. The top 35 players are eligible for the U.S. Women's Open. "I think she clearly has enough experience to play," defending U.S. Women's Open champion Birdie Kim said on Monday at the Newport Country Club. "I think even if she goes through qualifying, she'd make it through." Wie was tied for the lead going into the final round of the U.S. Women's Open last year at Cherry Hills, but posted a 82 and wound up tied for 23rd. The top 15 and ties are exempt the following year, meaning she either needed a special exemption or would have had to go through 36-hole qualifying. Her second special exemption -- Wie also received one to the U.S. Women's Open in 2004 -- is sure to rankle some women. Morgan Pressel, who tied for second at Cherry Hills, said this year she felt Wie should have to qualify like any other player. "I don't see why she shouldn't, or why she should be afraid, or expect an exemption," Pressel said. Wie has not missed the cut on the LPGA Tour since she was 13 in 2003, and she has five top-fives in the majors, including a runner-up finish in the LPGA Championship and a tie for third in the Women's British Open last year. American Kelly Robbins also received a special exemption to the U.S. Women's Open. She lost in a three-way playoff in 2003 and finished third in 2004, but withdrew from the Open last year with a back injury which kept her out most of the season.