HONG KONG, Oct. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- American superstar
Michelle Wie added her voice to a campaign by the United Nations'
children's charity UNICEF for universal primary education in Asia,
during a brief stop in Hong Kong.
(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2011/10/17/20111017201154119409.html
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(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2011/10/17/20111017201334327588.html
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Wie was speaking at the annual HSBC Champions Charity Golf Day
at Hong Kong's Clear Water Bay Golf & Country Club, which
raises awareness and funds for UNICEF's campaign.
"I believe everyone should have the opportunity to get, at
least, a primary education," declared the 22-year-old.
"I've learned so much about myself going to college, not just
from studies but about myself in general: moving away from my
parents, having to do everything for myself, having to manage
everything, I met some amazing people and I think everyone deserves
that opportunity. Hopefully I'll graduate in March. Getting my
education, obviously, I believe very strongly in that＃ and I think
it aligns very strongly with this day," added Wie, who was en route
from last week's LPGA event in Malaysia to Stanford University in
California where she is finishing her fifth and final year of a
degree in communications.
The Honolulu-born Wie, who as a 12-year old became the youngest
qualifier for an LPGA tournament, was making only her second trip
to Hong Kong. Her first, a family holiday 12 years ago, was ruined
by a typhoon.
She cited "YE" Yang Yong-Eun's achievement in becoming Asia's
first male Major champion and the current domination of Taiwan's
current world number one Yani Tseng in the women's game as proof of
what Asians can achieve when they're given the chance.
"She's an amazing golfer. I've competed against her since I was
14 and the way she has improved is very inspiring. She's a very
strong force out there whenever she is in contention, which I think
is very impressive and it makes me want to become a better player
because I'm kind of in her situation. There are so many players on
tour from different places; you have the American players but you
have Yani, Shanshan (Feng of China) and all the Korean players and
players from Asia where opportunities may not be as available but
when one is given the opportunity it's amazing what they can do
with it: that's so important. It's just giving people the
opportunity and seeing what they can do. If they aren't given the
opportunity you never know what might have happened. You might have
the next genius, but they can't get into primary education; it's
important to give people a chance."
Wie also took to the golf course as part of the event, which was
the culmination of HSBC charity days across Asia that had already
raised HK$ 1.5m for the UNICEF Child-Friendly Schools programme in
over 20 countries. The events are part of the bank's build up to
next month's WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai; the continent's
highest-ranked men's tournament.
Wie singled that tournament out as an example of what Asia has
been able to achieve once it got the chance to host top-quality
golf. The HSBC Champions has been a World Golf Championship event
since 2009. Meanwhile the women continue their "autumn swing"
playing the inaugural Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship this week
and the Mizuno Classic in Japan in two weeks time. They'll return
to Asia in February for the "spring swing" which normally includes
the Honda LPGA Thailand and the HSBC Women's Champions in
Singapore.
"I think over the last few years the women's tour has become
very global, but watching the men's tour on TV it's also become
very global as well. I think HSBC does a fantastic job of making
world-class events and in Singapore and Shanghai you can see the
results of that. Players love coming over here. It's always a fun
time. I love coming back to Singapore every year," Wie said.
SOURCE HSBC Charity Golf Day