Michelle Wie and her father, BJ Wie, watch a ball hook into the woods at the17th hole during the U.S. Open Championship local qualifier at Turtle Bay Resort, Kahuku, Hawaii May 15, 2006. She parred the hole and advanced to the sectional qualifier.[Reuters]

The 16-year-old schoolgirl from Honolulu will compete in her 10th major championship at Newport Country Club on Rhode Island from June 29 to July 2.

Wie will then play alongside the men for the ninth time in a professional event at the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland from September 7-10.

"I am honoured to play in my first European Tour event," Wie said in a statement issued by the European Tour.

"I am very excited to play against the best professional golfers in Europe in the magnificent setting of Crans-sur-Sierre."

European Tour executive director George O'Grady added: "Michelle Wie has demonstrated her outstanding golfing skills to a global audience as both an amateur and now as a professional.

"We look forward to welcoming her to the European Masters."

Britain's Laura Davies played in the 2004 ANZ Championship at the Horizons Golf Resort in Port Stevens, Australia but missed the cut in the modified stableford event co-sanctioned by the Australasian and European tours.

Arguably the most exciting young talent in the game since Tiger Woods, Wie has accepted a special exemption for the second women's major championship of the year, along with fellow American Kelly Robins.

The pair were offered the exemptions by the women's committee of the United States Golf Association, which runs the U.S. Women's Open.

It is the second special exemption for Wie, who earned her first for the 2004 Open where she tied for 13th with compatriot Paula Creamer.

Last year, Wie made the cut at all four majors, finishing second at the McDonald's LPGA Championship and tying for third at the Women's British Open.

She held a share of the lead going into the final round of the U.S. Women's Open at Cherry Hills, but tumbled out of contention with an 82 on her way to a tie for 23rd.

With only the top 15 and ties gaining automatic exemption for the following year, Wie was relying on a special exemption or getting in via a 36-hole qualifying tournament.

She had already entered a local qualifier in Hawaii on May 15 for the 2006 U.S. Women's Open.

Wie's special exemption will not meet with the unanimous approval of her peers.

Morgan Pressel, who tied for second at Cherry Hills last June, said earlier this year Wie should have to qualify for the tournament like anyone else not already exempt.

"I don't see why she shouldn't, or why should be afraid, or expect an exemption," she said.

Although Wie has not won a title since the 2003 U.S. women's amateur public links championship at the age of 13, she has produced five top-10 finishes in nine major starts.