Michelle Wie is like reality TV, in that little about her life is real. If Wie was grounded in reality, she would be playing this weekend in the Thunderbird International Junior at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale. Winning the prestigious American Junior Golf Association event, which takes place Saturday through Monday, would be a feather in Wie’s almost-featherless cap. The field of 12- to 18-year-olds, of which the 15-year-old Wie would fit in quite nicely, is the best golf for its age in the country.

Granted, its not the LPGA or the PGA Tour. But the Thunderbird International has a rich, albeit brief, history. It includes such past champions as Ryan Moore (2001), Casey Wittenberg (‘02), Brittnany Lang (’02) and Virada Nirapathpongporn (2000).

It would be wonderful to see Wie win this type of tournament, because she needs a “W’’ in the worst way. What else can you say about someone who is young, vulnerable and stuck in the muck of LPGA top-10s and 20s?

AND, you have B.J. Wie as your father.

Unbelievably, the elder Wie had the audacity to recently say this about his daughter’s future: “Michelle has made it clear she wants to be a full-time PGA Tour player. Her impression of Annika is that she has extraordinary concentration. But she is not interested in being another Annika Sorenstam on the LPGA Tour. She has been watching Tiger.’’

Does anyone else feel ill? If B.J. Wie is trying to set his talented daughter up for failure, then go ahead and chase Tiger. Go ahead and play in men’s U.S. Open sectional quailfiers, like Michelle did recently to no avail. Like there is something wrong with being Annika Sorenstam, the greatest female golfer ever?

Of course, there is precedent. In fact, it’s Woods, whose father Earl was as out of control as B.J. Wie when Tiger was Michelle’s age. Or have we forgotten that Earl Woods once proclaimed his son as the “Second Coming,’’ as well as the game’s “Messiah.’’

“Tiger is the first black intuitive golfer ever raised in the United States,’’ Earl Woods once said, sounding a lot like the fathers of former teen sensations Jennifer Capriati and Todd Marinovich, whom both experienced meltdowns in later life.

“Other golfers want to win. Tiger expects to win. And he doesn’t accept second because second (stinks).’’

Biblical and good sportsmanship references aside, Tiger has exceeded everyone’s expectations. But if you look closely at his growth chart, his best years (2000, 2001) were achieved after Earl was eliminated from the scene (1998) by IMG, Tiger’s agency.

Tom Cunningham, the executive director of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona, a state-wide league removed from the pro-like atmosphere of the AJGA, just shakes his head when the subject of overbearing parents pops up. And when someone like B.J. Wie pops off, Cunningham frowns.

“It’s sad, because Michelle Wie doesn’t even have a chance to be a kid with those kinds of statements,’’ Cunningham said. “How do we really know good she is? She doesn’t have a resume, because all she does is play in LPGA and PGA events.’’

Cunningham is correct, as the only tournament of significance that Wie has won in the past three years is the 2004 U.S. Women’s Public Links. He also points out that Michelle, being Asian, has to bear more than others her age.

“For whatever reason, Asian parents, particularly dads, tend to be more domineering,’’ he said. “Evidently, it’s part of the culture.’’ But it’s a serious matter with the JGAA, Cunningham added. “We limit parents to just a few events, and we monitor them closely. If they get too close, we make them go in. We’ve sent more than a few back to the clubhouse.’’

The JGAA also sends parents a book entitled “Golf Parent For The Future,’’ which was written by noted instructors Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson.

“Basically, it’s a great book on how not to communicate with kids,’’ he reported. “Instead of asking them, ‘What did you shoot?’ or “Why did you make that double bogey?’ you ask them, ‘What did you learn today?’ or ‘Tell me your best experience of the round?’ ’’

Kids grow up so quickly, it’s true. And girls grow up faster than boys, with 18-year-old Paula Creamer winning last week’s LPGA tournament being the classic example.

B.J. Wie is not going to change, but Michelle will -- hopefully for the best. In the mean time, parents can take cue from B.J. on how not to communicate with their kids.

“The most important part of being a parent of a junior golfer is to make sure they get the opportunities, and that they have fun,’’ Cunningham said. “If the child becomes competitive, stand back and allow him or her to flourish on their own.’’