Superstar golfer Michelle Wie could generate billions of yen in economic effect through her play in a men's event in Japan.

The Japanese daily Sankei Shimbun on Wednesday said Wie has a good chance of making the cut in the Casio World Open opening Thursday at Kuroshio Country Club in Kochi Prefecture.

Kochi's Tourism Convention Association says her advance past the preliminary round will generate between one billion to two billion yen over a nine-day period, including promotion of the prefecture.

Around 180 reporters reporters in Japan and abroad will cover the event, and the gallery audience is expected to soar from the original estimate of 20,000 to 35,000.