Michelle Wie plans to announce Wednesday she is turning professional, six days before her 16th birthday, ending an amateur career in which she spent most of her time playing against the pros.
Two sources involved with her decision, both speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Wie would make the morning announcement in Honolulu at the Kahala Mandarin Hotel near Waialae Country Club, where she has twice played in the Sony Open.
The time was set at 8 a.m. so Wie could get to class at Punahou School. The idea was to allow her to stick to her routine, although she'll be the only junior already a millionaire.
Her father, B.J. Wie, had said she would not turn pro until endorsement deals were final.
One of the deals is with Nike, which one source said would pay her about $4 million to $5 million a year.
Nike prefers its athletes to have a clean look with no other logos, meaning Wie would have the swoosh on her cap and clothing. She has been using its equipment the last few years, and wearing shirts with the Nike logo.
The other major endorsement is with Sony, which is believed to be worth close to the Nike deal.
Sony officials got to know Wie during her two appearances at the Sony Open. As a 14-year-old, she shot 68 in the second round - the lowest score ever by a female competing on a men's tour - and missed the cut by one shot. She returned this year and shot 75-74 in the wind to miss the cut by seven shots.
One executive from Sony walked all 18 holes of her second round in 2004.
Wie will make her professional debut at the Samsung World Championship in Palm Desert, Calif., where she received a sponsor's exemption. The 18-player event starts Oct. 13, right after she turns 16.
She also will play the Casio World Open in Japan the week of Thanksgiving, her first tournament overseas against the men. Wie is unlikely to play any other tournaments this year.
Her father declined comment on the Wednesday announcement, but he did say his daughter's routine would not change despite her status as a professional and the amount of money she will earn.
B.J. Wie said he would stay at the University of Hawaii, where he is a professor, and that Michelle would spend her final two years at Punahou School before going to college.
And while she is turning pro, Wie will not challenge the LPGA Tour's policy that members be 18 years old. Instead, she will take sponsor's exemptions - a maximum of six on the LPGA Tour, excluding the U.S. Women's Open or the Women's British Open. She can take up to seven on the PGA Tour, although it is not likely she will accept that many.