Wie a boost for men's game, insists Garcia

SERGIO Garcia believes Michelle Wie's appearance in the Omega European Masters in Switzerland is "good for the game".

European Tour chief executive George O'Grady has previously described women playing in men's events as a "gimmick," and to date the only woman to play in a European Tour event, England's Laura Davies, finished second last in the 2004 ANZ Championship in Australia.

Some members of the tour's rank and file dislike Wie taking the place of a player who could be struggling to retain their card for next season, where the money they could earn this week might make all the difference.

But Garcia, defending his title at Crans-sur-Sierre, can see the bigger picture and realises anything which increases interest in the game will keep sponsors happy - the kind of sponsors who put up this week's £1.4 million prize money.

"Anything that helps the game of golf is good, no matter what," said Garcia, who played a practice round with Wie on Tuesday. "It might not help the guy she takes the spot from this week, but it might help him in the future. When I see Michelle or Annika Sorenstam playing on a golf course I don't see them as a female player, I see them as golfers."

Wie has made just one cut in nine previous outings in men's events - in Korea earlier this year - and Garcia admits she will find it tough again this week.

"She might struggle a bit if it doesn't rain because some of these greens are really difficult to hit," he said. "If we are struggling to hold the greens with nine irons, you can imagine what it's going to be like with longer clubs."