Last week, 16-year-old Michelle Wie teed up at the Samsung World Championship in Palm Desert, Calif., for the first time as a professional.

Her debut was a success until Sunday night when the tournament was in the books and Annika Sorenstam had collected her ninth trophy this year.

Wie had finished in second place for the week, but was unfairly disqualified for a rules infraction taking place on Saturday. A cameraman caught Wie taking a drop for a penalty due to an un-playable lie. The rule is two-club lengths from the nearest point of relief not going any closer to the hole.

When Wie dropped the ball, it had moved about an inch closer to the hole. The cameraman did not say anything to Wie until after the round. However, Wie had by then signed her score card, which would have been incorrect due to an illegal drop.

The issue was then taken to the LPGA officials on Sunday night when the tournament had proceeded.

After watching the tape, LPGA officials decided disqualification was the fate for the young star for not reporting a mistake. This means she was not able to cash a check for her high finish.

Not only is it embarrassing to the major companies that she represents, such as Nike, Sony and IMG, who are paying her over $10 million a year, but it also embarrasses Wie and her family.

It is sad to see Wie get disqualified for such a small infraction and for the cameraman to mention the infraction so late. Why didn’t the cameraman bring this problem to Wie as it happened?

In my opinion, this is a case of jealously dropped down on an innocent 16-year-old girl. I believe if the cameraman knew about this infraction, he should have brought it to Wie immediately, not wait until she had signed an incorrect score card.

A girl of her talent doesn’t need to be an inch closer to make a miraculous shot. I guess rulings like this are a result of stardom at a young age.

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