Wie returns to men's tour

In the wake of her scorecard blunder at the State Farm Classic, Michelle Wie has decided to once again square off with the men.

Wie will play in the Reno-Tahoe Open next week, tournament organisers announced on Monday.

This will be the eighth time Wie has lined up on the PGA Tour, and the first this season.

She has never made the cut.

Wie has struggled mightily in her last four appearances against the men, but considered this latest opportunity to good to pass up.

"It's not every day that a woman is given the opportunity to play on the greatest tour in the world," she said.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for me to learn from these great players and take those lessons to the LPGA. This is another step in the process of making me a better player."

Held the same week as the World Golf Championship, the Reno-Tahoe Open will have a relatively weak field when it begins July 31 at Montreux Golf & Country Club.

Attendance should be boosted by the presence of Wie.

"This will be a great experience for the community to see a player like Michelle in this setting," tournament director Michael Stearns said.

"Michelle is getting her game together, she's getting back in the swing of things and we have no problem extending her this opportunity."

Wie, 18, has also never won on the LPGA Tour.

She spoiled a great chance over the weekend, as she was disqualified from the State Farm Classic in Illinois because she left the scoring area without signing her scorecard following Friday's second round.

LPGA officials could not act on the rules violation until after the third round, when Wie closed within a shot of the lead.

It was a costly mistake for Wie, as a high finish would have given her enough money to finish within the top 80 players in the LPGA, making her an automatic member of next year's tour.

Wie has one sponsor's exemption left on the LPGA Tour, which she is expected to use at the Canadian Women's Open in August.

She will need to finish within the top three in order to gain her tour card or be relegated to qualifying.