Michelle Wie is looking forward to making her professional debut at the Women's World Championship at Bighorn in California on Thursday. Speaking to reporters on her 16th birthday on Tuesday, Wie said: "I'm really excited and feel ready to play as a professional.
"I don't think there is any extra pressure, it's an extra incentive."
The schoolgirl from Hawaii turned professional last week and has already signed sponsorship deals worth $10m.
Wie, whose only significant win is the 2003 Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, has also reiterated her desire to compete against men and ultimately qualify for the Masters.
"My immediate focus as a professional is to win more tournaments but the PGA Tour is still my dream," she said.
"Going to the PGA Tour qualifying school is definitely a possibility in the future. If I practise hard, then maybe in the next couple of years or so."
 |  I don't think I'll be any more nervous on Thursday morning |
Still with two years of high school to complete in Honolulu, Wie insists she still intends to go to college, with Stanford University in California - Tiger Woods' alma mater - her top choice. Next season, she is likely to repeat this year's schedule of playing six LPGA tournaments, through sponsor's invites, plus the US and British women's Opens and some men's tournaments.
As an amateur Wie played in 24 LPGA tournaments, making the cut in the last 16. She has never missed the cut in eight majors, and first hit the headlines when she tied for ninth as a 13-year-old in the 2003 Kraft Nabisco Championship.
This year, she was second behind Annika Sorenstam in the LPGA Championship and tied for third in the Women's British Open. She played in seven LPGA tournaments and would have won $640,870 - good enough for 14th place on the money list.
In the Women's World Championship - an elite-field event limited to 20 players - last year she tied for 13th but this year she intends to do much better.
"I've grown up a lot since last year and my game is much more consistent," she said.
"I don't think I'll be any more nervous on Thursday morning."
Driving licence
Wie will make her professional debut playing alongside American Cristie Kerr.
World number one Annika Sorenstam, a four-time winner, is the defending champion.
Given a cake by the Bighorn Club on Tuesday, Wie said she had also received lots of gadgets for her birthday and next week hopes to get her driving licence.
Even filling in her first tax form made her happy.
"I know it's not something you should get excited about, but it's pretty cool for me," she said.
MMIX
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