She came close to becoming the first female to qualify for the men's U.S. Open and has said one goal is to play in the Masters. She describes herself as a freelancer.

She is two years too young to qualify for membership to the LPGA, and though she could petition for a special exception she has chosen not to. Instead, she is invited by sponsors to play in tournaments.

"I love this freelancing. I'm playing a lot of tours. I'm playing the Japanese Tour, the PGA, the LPGA, it's awesome. But obviously I would like to play in the PGA later on, be a member there," she said. "I don't like being stuck in one place."

LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens said Wie could benefit from sustained competition against LPGA veterans. At the momen she can only play a maximum of eight tournaments a year.

"I do believe Michelle needs to be put in a situation where she learns how to win," Bivens told Reuters.

"By the time Tiger Woods turned professional he had won 38 tournaments. Whether you are behind by two or three shots or whether you are ahead, no matter how great your technical ability, there is a head game, there's a psychology: what do you have to do to win," she said.

"It's a lot more than 300-yard drives. It's a lot more than just technical capabilities," she added. "Michelle will win...but it's not as easy as she might have thought it was going to be."