Wie to skip PGA events next season

HONOLULU, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Michelle Wie said she won't compete in any men's golf events next season.

The 18-year-old Wie, who has played in at least one PGA Tournament ever year since 2003, said she will stick to LPGA events in 2008.

She has struggled to be competitive on either tour since she was burst on the golf scene as a prodigy. In 2000 -- at the age of 10 -- she became the youngest player to qualify for the Women's U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

For the past five years, she has played in the PGA's season-opening Sony Open in her native Hawaii after getting a sponsor's exemption, which wasn't offered for next season.

"I think she just wants to reestablish herself," her coach, David Leadbetter, told CBS Sportsline. "Her biggest goal needs to be getting her form and confidence back (and) you do that brick by brick."

While battling an ongoing wrist injury, Wie had a disastrous 2007 season when she missed three cuts, withdrew from two events, and finished in 69th place in eight LPGA events. She is also a student at Stanford University.