American schoolgirl Michelle Wie [Images], golf's most celebrated teenager since Tiger Woods [Images], announced her long-awaited decision to turn professional 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 can finally say I'm a pro today," said a smiling Wie before attending her regular classes at Punahou High School within an hour of the news conference. "It's really neat to say that.

"I'm very excited. I want to work hard to become the best golfer in the world.

"I realise there will be high expectations but it will be super exciting. Being a pro, everything will be at a higher stake, and so much more fun. I'm really looking forward to it.

"I've been thinking about this for a long time but now it's the right time," added Wie about her decision to join the paid ranks before her 16th birthday.

"But my first priority is school and hopefully I'll be able to graduate from high school in the future."

Wie plans to stay on at Punahou High School for two more years while combining a limited playing schedule in professional golf.

SPONSOR'S EXEMPTIONS

She has already said she will not challenge the LPGA Tour's policy that members be 18 years old and instead intends to play the 2006 season on sponsor's exemptions.

After her last two years at school, she plans to go on to college.

"Once you turn pro, it's a change in status," added Wie, clad in a bright pink top and striped brown slacks. "Nothing will really change about me."

Well, almost nothing. Wie's new sponsorships made it possible for her to donate $500,000 to the U.S. Golf Hurricane Relief Fund on Wednesday.

"Turning pro has so many benefits," she said. "I'm so grateful to be in a position to finally help people."

Also Read Amateur prodigy is back to school Future looms large for schoolgirl Wie Schoolgirl makes golf history Battle of sexes becoming bore

Already one of the biggest attractions in the game, Wie will 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 [Images] of Russia [Images] (around $16.6 million) and American Serena Williams [Images] (roughly $11.5 million).

HIGHEST LEVEL

A veteran of 23 LPGA events, Wie is yet to win a title at the highest level but has come desperately close this year with three runner-up finishes and a tie for third at the Women's British Open in July.

Having made her women's tour debut aged 12, in January 2004 she became only the fourth female, and the youngest in history, to play on the men's U.S. PGA Tour when she missed the cut by one stroke at the Sony Open in her native Hawaii.

She will become the second female to take on the men on Japan's [Images] JGTO Tour when she plays in the Casio World Open from November 24-27.

Wie has made no secret of her desire to go where no woman golfer has gone before.

"I really want to change what everyone thinks about the women's game, make them think a little bit more outside the box," she told Reuters earlier this year.