The day before Michelle Wie makes her European Tour debut, Sergio Garcia has raised doubts about the 16-year-old prodigy's chances of ever winning a men's event, saying it is unlikely any woman would win on the men's circuit.

"Never say never," Garcia said at a news conference before beginning the defence of his European Masters title. "But I think there is a big chance it may not happen.

"The way I see it, the normal courses we play, when they (women) play, it is like a US Open course," he explained. "On a US Open course you play really well and shoot five-under. You don't shoot 14, 18-under, 20-under.

"For a woman to shoot that kind of score, unless something unbelievable comes around, on our courses, where even our short courses are long for them, it is pretty difficult."

The Spaniard, who practised with the American teenager on Tuesday, added that Wie's chances at the high Crans-sur-Sierre course are hampered by the way she hits the ball .

"I feel her ball flight, with the altitude, coming into the greens, might be too low," he said. "If she had a higher ball flight she would be hitting 15 or 20 yards longer. The important thing here is to get the ball in the air so it stays in the air as much as possible.

"I think she might struggle unless it rains."

Garcia believes Wie's participation is good for the men's game, however. "I think anything that helps the game is good for golf, anything, no matter what.

"It might not help the guy she has taken the (playing) spot from this week but it might help him in the future."

The Spaniard said he was not looking upon Wie, who has yet to win a women's event, let alone a men's, as a "novelty" entry this week.  "I don't see them as a female player, I see them as golfers," he insisted.

Wie will play the first two rounds with another Spaniard, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Briton Nick Dougherty.

On hearing the draw, Dougherty told reporters: "It is a privilege in many ways, a burden in others as there is the added pressure of, if she beats me, I have to shake her hand and say 'well done; play well at the weekend'.

"There are probably mixed emotions among the players but for me it is no big deal. She is arguably the biggest young talent in the game and deserves the opportunity."