Michelle Wie to Participate in 2005 Safeway International

January 3, 2005 – Phoenix, AZ

Michelle Wie, the 15-year old amateur sensation from Hawaii, has decided to use one of her six LPGA sponsor exemptions to return to the 2005 Safeway International in Phoenix.

Wie, who will again play in the Sony Open on the PGA tour later this month, caused a sensation last year in that event when she missed the cut by one shot. Last March she tied for 19th at the Safeway International, finishing at 2 under par. The following week she tied for 4th at the first LPGA major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Wie’s list of accomplishments on the golf course is growing. At the age of 13, she became the youngest-ever winner of the US Women’s Amateur Public Links in June 2003. Last June she was a member of the victorious U.S. team in the Curtis Cup, the youngest member in team history.

Wie, who is 6’ tall, routinely drives the ball over 300 yards.

According to Tom Maletis, President of Tournament Golf Foundation, the organizers of the Safeway International, “We are fortunate to have Michelle joining us again for our tournament. She participated in the Safeway Classic in Portland in 2003 and the Safeway International in Phoenix last year. Her willingness to join us again is a testament to the tournament, the golf course and the commitment that Safeway has shown for women’s golf.”

“Michelle will showcase some of the great young talent that is out there in women’s golf, and certainly adds a level of excitement to the tournament,” Maletis added.

The Safeway International presented by Coca-Cola will be held from March 14th-20th at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club. The total purse for the tournament has been raised to $1.4 million and traditionally features over 90 of the top 100 LPGA players on tour. The 2004 event was won by Annika Sorenstam and featured record crowds at the new venue near Gold Canyon.

For more information on the tournament and tickets, call the tournament office at 602-495-GOLF or visit the website at www.safewaygolf.com.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Safeway Foundation of Phoenix for distribution to local charities in the region, including Banner Health Foundation. Last year the event raised over $750,000 for local charities. Combined with the Safeway Classic in Portland, the two Safeway LPGA events gave over $1.5 million to charity.