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Grandfather's town no longer passes hat to fund Wie
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-10 10:10
HIGH FEES
While some say the Asian country's golfing infrastructure is hardly suited
for fostering talent because of the prohibitively high green fees, South Korea
continues to produce world-class players.
 One of them is this year's Women's British Open winner Jang Jeong, probably
the shortest player on the tour at 1.50 metres tall and who may suffer from neck
strain looking up at the 1.83-metre Wie.
South Korean Pak Se-ri became the most famous female golfer in her native
country by capturing two majors in her rookie season of 1998, sparking a golf
boom among Korean women.
Wie, a veteran of 23 LPGA events, has yet to win a title at the highest level
but has come desperately close this year with three runner-up finishes and a tie
for third at the Women's British Open in July.
Wie is attracting as much attention in Japan as she is in South Korea -- both
golf-crazy countries.
The deal with Sony will surely translate into major exposure in the world's
second-biggest economy, Japan, where several major companies were among the
first to sign Woods to endorsement deals.
Wie will become the second female to take on the men on Japan's JGTO Tour
when she plays in the Casio World Open from November 24-27.
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