Wie relaxed about debut in paid ranks

Michelle Wie shrugged off the hype and admitted she was just “really excited” about making her professional debut in the Samsung World Championship, starting at Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, California, tomorrow.

Celebrating her 16th birthday yesterday – less than a week since she turned professional and signed contracts with Nike and Sony worth an estimated $10m (€8.35m) – the Hawaiian youngster insisted she wasn’t feeling any extra pressure.