Wie the headline act at John Deere Classic

CHICAGO, July 12 (Reuters) With most of the game's leading players already in Europe preparing for next week's British Open, Michelle Wie is the headline act at the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois.

The 16-year-old Hawaiian, arguably the most exciting young talent since Tiger Woods, will take on the men for the ninth time in a professional event when she tees off in tomorrow's opening round.

Although she finally made the cut in a men's tournament at the Asian Tour's SK Telecom Open in May, she has set her sights on qualifying for the weekend on the world's most competitive tour.

''My goals are to win on the LPGA Tour, to win a major and definitely to make the cut on the PGA Tour,'' Wie said after finishing 12 strokes behind Prom Meesawat of Thailand in the South Korean event.

''In all the practice rounds and tournament rounds that I play with the men, I learn so much. It helps me to become a better player overall.'' After enjoying a practice round with John Deere champion Sean O'Hair on Tuesday, Wie played down her bid to become the first woman to make a PGA Tour cut since Babe Zaharias in 1945.

''A lot of people have expectations of me and I have my own expectations of what I want to do or accomplish,'' she told reporters.

''I'm not going to think about the cut this year. I really want to play well and maybe go to the British Open. If I go to the British Open, then I've made the cut.'' The leading player at this week's John Deere Classic not yet exempt for the British Open will gain an automatic spot in the field at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, north-west England.

Wie, who missed the cut by two strokes at last year's John Deere Classic after rounds of 70 and 71, believes she is better equipped for this week.

MORE CONFIDENT ''I feel better about my game and I feel like I'm progressing,'' said the Honolulu schoolgirl who regularly powers her drives over 300 yards. ''I'm a little more confident and I feel really comfortable on this golf course.

''It's not really that long and the fairways are pretty forgiving,'' Wie added of the par-71 7,193-yard layout at the TPC at Deere Run.

''But all that matters is how I have hit the shots come Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully it'll be a good one.'' American O'Hair, the 2005 PGA Tour rookie of the year, said: ''I think she'll make the cut this week. It will be great for the Tour because, if you watch the ratings this week, they're going to go sky-high.'' O'Hair, who celebrated his 24th birthday on Tuesday, likes his chances of mounting a successful title defence.

''The goal for me this week is just not to put the pressure on myself to try and make something happen,'' he said.

''I'm playing so well and I'm hitting the ball so well. My game is about as good as it's been all year.'' With most of the game's top guns already in Britain, American Chris DiMarco, the world number 22, is the highest-ranked player in the field.

REUTERS DH KP0942