Wie's presence bolsters PGA's John Deere Classic

With most of the world's best players resting for the British Open, the event lifted its profile by inviting the 15-year-old girl.

SILVIS, Ill. -- Sorry defending champion Mark Hensby, Nick Price, David Toms and everyone else here, it's not about you this week.

The star of the John Deere Classic has a ponytail, dangly earrings and a monster game. Michelle Wie may only be 15 and a visitor on the PGA Tour, but she's already got major player status, right down to the Tiger-esque gallery following her for Wednesday's pro-am.

"Michelle Wie is the story this week, and that's fine," said Hensby, who got his first career victory here last year. "If Tiger is playing, it doesn't really matter if you're the defending champ or not. That's just the way golf is, and that's just the way it should be.

"It actually helps me this week," Hensby added. "I don't have to do as much as someone would probably normally have to do."

Wie's presence at the Deere Classic isn't causing anywhere near the frenzy Annika Sorenstam created when she became the first woman to play on the PGA Tour in 58 years at the 2003 Colonial. Sorenstam was openly criticized by some players, and millions of fans the world over watched closely to see how she'd fare.

But attitudes have softened over the last two years. Since then, Suzy Whaley has played the Greater Hartford Open, and Wie played the Sony Open the last two years.

None made the cut, though Wie did come within a stroke at the 2004 Sony Open.

Even some of the players who were critical of Sorenstam have come around with Wie.

"We've seen this trend now, and my hat's off to her," said Price, who said in 2003 that Sorenstam's appearance at the Colonial "reeks of publicity."

"If she wants to try and play out here, then she's welcome to," Price said. "The PGA Tour, one of the greatest things is if you've got clubs in the bag and you can play, you can get out here."

Toms, who likened Sorenstam's appearance at the Colonial to "a featherweight going against a heavyweight," said playing with the men could help Wie's game.

"It's a good opportunity for her," Toms said. "She's going to learn a lot from this week every time that she plays against us. It'll probably help her career."

And there's no denying that Wie helps this tournament.

Because the Deere Classic falls the week before a major -- and one overseas, at that -- most of the top players are nowhere to be seen. Toms is the only one in the field currently ranked in the top 10, and Price is probably the most-recognizable name here.

"She'll add a buzz to this tournament that otherwise wouldn't be here," Toms said.