Wie opts out of qualification for British Open

RANCHO MIRAGE, California, Mar 29 (Reuters) Hawaiian golf prodigy Michelle Wie has confirmed she will not attempt to qualify for this year's British Open.

For the first time, women will be able to enter regional qualifying for the major which will be staged at Royal Liverpool from July 20-23.

Wie, who is yet to make the cut in seven attempts at a men's event, had been expected to try to qualify but said yesterday she would not.

''I would love to qualify for the British Open, but I won't find the time to fit (the qualifying) into my schedule this year,'' she said.

''But I think it's great that the R&A have changed the rules and I definitely would love to play in the Championship one day.'' Instead the 16-year-old has accepted an invitation to play in the HSBC Women's World Matchplay Championship in New Jersey at the start of July.

British Open organisers, the Royal&Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, changed the rules last October to allow women to take part with the top five from each major gaining entry to the regional qualifying.

Wie meets the criteria because of her third-place finish at last year's women's British Open REUTERS PM DS1107