It might be ironic, but the more you think about it, Kapalua Resort made an inspired choice in signing Morgan Pressel to a three-year agreement as its LPGA touring professional.

Sure, Pressel has this ongoing thing with Michelle Wie, as local golf fans know. But Pressel, who became the youngest major champion in LPGA history after winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship, has already established herself as one of the brightest young stars on the women's tour at age 19.

"We're excited about Morgan," said Gary Planos, Kapalua's senior vice president of resort operations. "We enjoy her youth and vitality. I think Morgan will be a great ambassador for us, representing the resort and promoting Kapalua on the LPGA Tour."

Pressel will be wearing Kapalua's distinctive butterfly logo on her clothing apparel starting today at the Evian Masters in France. And guess what? She's paired with Wie.

The choice of Pressel is in keeping with the LPGA's youth movement, according to Planos. And, he said, it's a perfect fit with the resort's five-year commitment to host an LPGA tournament starting next October.

Why Pressel, not Wie, Planos was asked.

"Michelle's covered. She's got something going with Ko Olina and Big Horn. Michelle's fantastic, but she's going to school (Stanford). It's better for us to have an ambassador on the LPGA Tour at this time. Morgan will be actually promoting us in around 25 tournaments this year. That's the exposure we want on the LPGA Tour," Planos said.

Besides, Planos added, it was really Pressel's idea.

"She visited the resort with her grandparents the week before playing Turtle Bay (SBS Open in February). She played the Plantation and Bay (courses) and practiced to get ready for Turtle Bay. She loved Maui," Planos said.

"In her thank you note, she said, 'If you want a touring pro, I'm available.' "

Since he was already working toward an LPGA event to revive a golf lull on Maui in the fall, Planos said signing Pressel was an ideal match.

Inspired and ironic as well.

GRAND SLAM MIGHT BE TIGER-LESS THIS YEAR

What if they hold a golf party and the greatest golfer in the world doesn't show up?

Or doesn't even get invited?

You can bet that PGA of America officials, who host of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, are squeezing right now that Tiger Woods might not qualify for their event.

Three 2007 majors are over and still no victory for Woods. And only major champions get to play in the PGA Grand Slam. An alternate is named if Zach Johnson (Masters), Angel Cabrera (U.S. Open) or Padraig Harrington (British Open) wins the PGA Championship, the final major of the year.

Golf fans in Hawai'i would be squeezing, too, if the event hadn't moved to Bermuda, ending a 13-year run at Po'ipu Bay Golf Course on Kaua'i. But out of sight, out of mind. It's the first time in its 25-year history that the showcase event will be held outside the United States

Of course, Woods can still bail out the PGA of America by successfully defending his title in the PGA Championship at the Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., Aug. 9 to 12. He's a good repeater, having won back-to-back PGA Championships in 1999 and 2000.

By the way, not even Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson or Sam Snead won it in consecutive years. As for Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, the PGA Championship is the only major title missing in their illustrious resumes.

The odds are still with Woods, who has won seven majors in his career, to make the PGA Grand Slam party at the Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda. If he doesn't win, though, it'll be the first time since 2004 that Woods won't win a major. He also was winless in the 2003 majors.

Woods has been a "Tiger" in the PGA Grand Slam. Except 1997, when he finished runner-up to Ernie Els, Woods has won every time he has shown up. He has been the life of the party.

No wonder the PGA of America honchos have every reason to be anxious. They've got to be rooting for Tiger in the PGA Championship. Heck with the idea that there's no cheering in the press room.