American schoolgirl Michelle Wie, golf's most celebrated teenager since Tiger Woods, announced her long-awaited decision to turn professional in Honolulu on Wednesday.
The 15-year-old, who has set her sights on becoming the first woman to play in a men's major, made the announcement at a news conference at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel near Waialae Country Club.
"I'm turning pro as of today," said a smiling Wie, who was due to attend her regular classes at Punahou High School within an hour of the news conference.
"I'm very excited and I want to try to become the best golfer in the world.
"But my first priority is school and hopefully I'll be able to graduate from high school in the future."
Wie plans to stay in high school for two more years while combining a limited playing schedule in professional golf.
After her last two years at school, she intends to go on to college.
Already one of the biggest attractions in the game, Wie is set to make her debut as a professional in the Samsung World Championship at Palm Desert, California, on October 13, two days after her 16th birthday.
According to several media sources, she has signed endorsement deals with Nike and Sony worth $10 million a year, making her golf's richest female and one of the highest paid athletes in women's sport.
World number one Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, who has won nine career majors, earns around $6 million a year in endorsements.
The only female athletes believed to earn more than $10 million a year are tennis players Maria Sharapova of Russia (around $16.6 million) and American Serena Williams (roughly $11.5 million).
