As we told you a few days ago, Michelle Wie has received a sponsor exemption into the Samsung World Championship this coming October.

The Newark Star-Ledger, covering the LPGA Sybase Classic this week, says many LPGA Tour players aren't happy about that. Brittany Lincicome went on the record:

On many levels, this is an understandable reaction. But it's wrongheaded, and shortsighted, for two reasons:

1. As long as sponsor exemptions exist, golfers such as Michelle Wie are going to get them. So if you think Wie shouldn't get a sponsor exemption, you are arguing de facto for the elimination of sponsor exemptions.

But a large majority of both LPGA Tour and PGA Tour pros would oppose such an elimination, because many of them have received - or will need - such an exemption at some point.

Sponsor exemptions exist for a very important reason: to keep the sponsors happy. Title sponsors put up millions of dollars to help bankroll these tournaments and their large purses. And when that sponsor is also a major multinational brand such as Samsung, it's even more important for the tour to keep that sponsor happy and involved in promoting its sport.

And what makes sponsors happy? More attention given to their tournament, and therefore to their brand.

Sure, sponsor exemptions are loopholes, but they are loopholes that exist for a reason: to keep the sponsors happy. And nothing makes an LPGA sponsor happier than having Michelle Wie in its tournament.

2. Why is that? Because if you measure stardom by a golfer's ability to attract attention to tournaments he or she is playing - and that's one way to measure stardom - then Michelle Wie is, without a doubt, the biggest star in women's golf. And arguably the second biggest star in all of golf, behind only Tiger Woods.

You can argue that at this point she's a Paris Hilton (or Natalie Gulbis) kind of star - famous for being famous - rather than a Tiger Woods kind of star (famous for being great). But the truth remains, she's the big fish in the pond of women's golf right now.

Wie is the only female golfer who makes a big impact on attendance and TV ratings. Maybe Annika Sorenstam, too, but not to the same level as Wie. Paula Creamer? Morgan Pressel, Gulbis, Lincicome? Nope. The only thing on the LPGA Tour comparable to Wie's impact on a tournament's bottom line is the two times a year that Lorena Ochoa plays in Mexico.

So why would LPGA Tour players object to Wie being in the field? Sponsor exemptions exist specifically for this reason. Samsung gets to add one player of its choosing to the Samsung World Championship field specifically for this reason. To increase the attention given to the tournament. Which increases the attention given to all the players in that tournament.

So Lincicome's reaction - again, while understandable on many levels - is shortsighted because Wie is the one player who can raise everyone's profile. Rather than bashing exemptions when Wie gets one, LPGA players should be using the announcements as opportunities to recruit Wie. Call her up, say, "Hey Michelle, great to have you in the field, sure would be nice if you'd get out here full-time. More attention and money for all of us!"

Wie can make everyone a lot of money. Yes, there's a lot of Wie fatigue at the moment. But all that will disappear as soon as she starts winning (which will happen soon, and then often).

Sponsor exemptions are good in general. They're even better when they can be used to get Wie into a field, but they are good no matter who gets them.

And as we pointed out above, many, many players have gotten them. Players like - what do you know - Brittany Lincicome. Lincicome got into the 2004 State Farm Classic via a sponsor exemption. What had she done at that point to earn it? A whole lot less than Wie, that's for sure. But she was an exciting young player whom the sponsor believed could generate some extra attention. So they made the offer, and she accepted. And she didn't complain once about sponsor exemptions.