Michelle Wie will not compete in any men's tournaments in the near future, according to her coach.

David Leadbetter does not necessarily think it was a bad idea for the 17-year-old to play a couple of men's events, but acknowledges that enough is enough.

He said: "She's going to commit herself to the LPGA and play a number of events, and next year she'll probably take up membership."

Leadbetter, speaking during a visit to the Wachovia Championship to work with his stable of players, is delighted that Wie will focus on beating members of the same gender, at least for the time being.

"She just needs to get her confidence going and just go play," he said.

"Now is the time to establish herself. My feelings are that if she plays week in and week out on the LPGA, she would win eight or nine times a year.

"She has the potential to be that good, so why not, if you want to fulfil your potential."

Wie was only 13 when she made her men's debut at the PGA Tour's 2004 Sony Open in Hawaii, her hometown event. She came within a stroke of making the cut, but has since mainly struggled in subsequent appearances against the men.

The teenager did make the cut in an event in Korea last year but last September finished near last in back-to-back tournaments in Switzerland and Pennsylvania, and also struggled at the Sony Open this January.

"Playing the 84 Lumber (in Pennsylvania) was just crazy," Leadbetter continued.

"The course was 7,500 yards and wet. Talk about horses for courses. If I was a horse, I would have withdrawn.

"The thing I've tried to explain (to Wie and her parents) is that you have to work your way up the ladder. It's all well and good to play a couple of (men's) events as a novelty, now let's look at a long-term plan."

Wie, who has not played since January due to a wrist injury, is scheduled to resume at the LPGA's Ginn Tribute in South Carolina in four weeks' time. Leadbetter just hopes her recent performances against the men have not damaged her psyche.

"She's young and young players tend to blow off (bad performances), but having said that, it's human nature, you don't want to be beaten up the whole time," he said.

"She's the greatest talent I've ever seen at 16, boy or girl. If she can keep going in that direction, and keep injury-free, we'll have an exciting time ahead."