Woods backing for Wie

Tiger Woods believes Michelle Wie has the talent to make a success of turning professional just before her 16th birthday.

Wie is expected to announce this week she is joining the paid ranks, although she will not be leaving school to play full-time and is also not expected to challenge the American women’s tour rule that members must be 18.

The 15-year-old from Hawaii will continue to compete on invitations – she has already accepted one to compete against the men in the Casio World Open in Japan - from which she would have earned around £350,000 from a mere seven events this year if she had been allowed to take the cash.

Such sums will be dwarfed by the reported 10million US dollar sponsorship deal Wie will sign this week, but Woods believes the teenage phenomenon – who turns 16 next Tuesday – has the ability to back up the hype.

“She obviously has the talent,” Woods said as he prepared for this week’s American Express Championship in San Francisco.

“If she does what she did this year she will be fine. I don’t see any reason why she can’t.

“When I was 16 I wasn’t event thinking about turning pro. I was only thinking about getting into college. But she looks good enough to make a giant step like that.

“At 16 I was just excited about getting my driving licence.”

Wie had previously said she would like to follow Woods to Stanford University - just half an hour from San Francisco – and Woods admitted she would be missing out by not attending.

“The things I learnt at Stanford and the people I met influenced my life so dramatically,” the world number one added.