[rockingham]

She sells tickets, improves ratings and makes the sponsors happy. She doesn't necessarily take the spot of some undeserving fringe player anyway -- the tourney can just send an extra group off if they please.

My guess is Nike, her other sponsors, her family, and Michelle want to play so that is fine. Johnny Miller said that Annika Sorenstam (which I agree with) could maintain a PGA tour card if she played regularly, so I'm sure in a few years Michelle will be good enough to do that. She should have probably waited untill she was a little more experienced to play on the PGA tour, but I think that goes back to her sponsors, who want to get their money's worth by keeping Michelle in the news.