The blatant exploitation of Michelle Wie would be funny if we didn’t have some idea what the potential outcome of this could be. Enough tennis players have been pushed too soon and are washed up by the age of 20. Golf got its first taste of youth exploitation with Ty Tryon, who should have gone to college. Instead, his $9,058 on a full Nationwide Tour schedule this year will have him headed back to Tour school.

Thomas Bonk of the L.A. Times (Tribune affiliated paper reg. required) takes yet another interesting look at the Wie situation, with an update on her new Team Nike look (even she won’t touch their driver).

“For a hint of how Wie might be leaning, check out what she's playing this week — Nike forged blades and wedges, the new Nike One Black ball and a Nike staff bag. Wie's driver is a TaylorMade R7.

”Nike made contact with the Wie family last year to make introductions and to test any equipment she wanted, which is a departure from how some equipment manufacturers have done business in the past, by sending equipment unsolicited.”

Bonk also quotes NBC vice president Kevin Sullivan, who explains why the network is televising the seemingly meaningless Samsung event from Palm Desert: Wie and Annika Sorenstam.

"They're the ones that move the needle," said Sullivan. "Annika has been so good such a long time, and Michelle is kind of the next big thing. The combination makes good TV."

Wie opened with a 74, twelve shots behind leader Grace Park and eight strokes behind Annika Sorenstam.

The L.A. Times story ran a list of Wie’s 2002 to 2004 professional finishes: MC, MC, MC, T9, T33, T52, T39, MC, T28, 69th, T19, 4^th, T12, T13, T33, T6.

Wie did average 309 yards on her drives Thursday. Must be all that time lifting weights since they are better athletes these days.

Meanwhile The Golf Channel’s George White looks at Wie’s testy response to questions about lost youth. There is some hope since Wie points out that its more fun to be in the desert than going to school.