Wie has struggled to make an impact on the men's tour

Teenage prodigy Wie makes her 13th start against the men at the US Tour's Sony Open in Hawaii on Thursday.

But Appleby said: "She came five years too early to try to play the men's tour - she should just let it go for now.

"She's not ready for it. She's certainly not proving anything except that she can't play with the men at her level right now."

In Wie's last four tournaments against the men, including her last place at the European Masters in Switzerland, her rounds have been 75, 77, 78, 79, 77, 81, 81 and 80.

The one cut Wie has made against men was last year in South Korea, where the opposition did not come close to what she faces this week.

Last week's winner Vijay Singh, world number two Jim Furyk, Luke Donald and Davis Love are among those trying to take the title off David Toms.