It probably shouldn't come as a surprise now, seeing how Michelle Wie's every decision beyond breakfast is so heavily debated. But you really have to wonder about those taking her to task for even pursuing a berth in the U.S. Open.

Wie — officially entry No. 01-53195 — tees off today in a qualifier in Summit, N.J., aiming to become the first female to play in the U.S. Open next week. Several LPGA Tour players, who played the ShopRite LPGA Classic at nearby Galloway Township, N.J., over the weekend while Wie was practicing at Canoe Brook Country Club, said she should be playing their tour instead.

That sentiment is reflected by 80 percent of the respondents to a USA Today survey who also said they believe Wie should stick to the women's tour and not play against men.

What people are missing here is the very title of the event. In a word: "open."

It is open to those skilled enough to earn a place through national qualifying. Those fortunate enough to survive an initial field of 8,584 entrants for fewer than 100 spots.

Apart from the 70 exempted PGA pros, the rest of the 156-player U.S. Open field qualifies through local and/or sectional qualifying.

Which is precisely what Wie is attempting to do today at Canoe Brook, along with 152 others, including Mark O'Meara and Billy Andrade in a PGA-heavy field vying for 18 spots. She earned her way this far by being the qualifying medalist last month at Turtle Bay, one of the USGA-designated local sites.

And, as the Web site explains, "the championship is open to any professional golfer and amateur golfers with a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 1.4."

It does not mention gender. It makes no note of age or whether the entrant has a high school diploma or a stuffed animal hanging on her bag.

I mean, what could be more fair more and, yes, open than that?In the past, tournaments have been ripped for granting her sponsor's exemptions, and she has been blasted for accepting them, as well as taking away the opportunities they provide from card-carrying pros. Well, this isn't one of those situations. At Canoe Brook she paddles only as far as her game takes her. Nothing else.

Of course, some will say that when the U.S. Open was first played perhaps nobody envisioned a 16-year-old girl might someday want to play. But, then, in 1895 you probably didn't see a whole lot of minorities, either. Things change for the better and Wie is a barrier-leaping example of progress.

More power to her for taking on the challenge and aiming high while chasing her dreams. Isn't that what we want our young to do?

If anything, you would think that Wie's detractors would relish in her taking part in the U.S. Open qualifying. For in a field with more than 50 players with PGA credentials, she is a long shot to make it to Winged Foot. If she doesn't make it through qualifying, here is one more opportunity to say she should go the LPGA route; to say she still hasn't won anything of note and decry the commercial entity she has become.

Until then, they might want to cut her a little slack because this is, after all, the U.S. Open.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.