Well it seems that the hottest debate on the LPGA tour is whether Michelle Wie should be exempted from qualifying for the US Women’s Open. In 2004, Ms Wie was extended a special invite to the US Women’s Open because she earned the equivalent of the top 35 earners on the LPGA official money list. Since she is underage for the LPGA, Wie’s earnings cannot be added to the LPGA official money list.

If you were to ask a group of the veteran member of the LPGA, many of them would shout a resounding, “Yes!” Many of them were completely against Wie receiving her special invite to the Women’s Open in 2004. According to player Morgan Pressel, “I don’t think she needs an exemption. I’ve been through qualifying. Everybody who doesn’t make it on the money list, other amateurs, other professionals that aren’t members of the tour, they all have to go through qualifying, too. I don’t see why she shouldn’t, or why she should be afraid, or expect an exemption,” Pressel stated.

Regardless of what side of the fence you’re sitting on regarding this debate, another question springs to mind – if she does not receive an exemption, would she be able to qualify? For example during the 2004 Women’s Open, Wie tied for 13th which qualifies a player to return. It might have been possible for her to win last year when she was tied for the lead before entering the last round. However, she did not end up in the top 20 to qualify for an exemption.

So as it stands, no one is sure if Wie will receive a special invite to play again or will have to qualify. But at the moment she is not exempt. Many of the golf veterans have stated that in order for her to have a chance at qualifying, Wie will have to win on tour with her best bets being either the Kraft Nabisco Championship or the Fields Open. It will be quite interesting to see how this all ends…