Wie's opening round halted by darkness

By Anthony Rhoads
Special to The Advertiser

Michelle Wie tees off on the 12th hole during the first round of the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship. Associated Press

But fans who came to see the 13-year-old from Honolulu for the first time still left impressed.

Dozens flocked to the driving range to see Wie practice before her tee time. Some were in awe as she smashed shots off the practice tee.

"It's phenomenal," said Bruce Jones, a local high school baseball coach and occasional golfer. "I would just about kill for a swing like that. If I had just one drive like that, I would quit. She'll make more money in one tournament than I ever will in my lifetime."

The tournament was delayed by five hours yesterday because of rain and Wie finally teed off at about 6:20 p.m. on the 10th hole.

Wie birdied the 14th hole, her final of the day, to get to 1-under, nearly holing out a 72-yard lob wedge.

"I kind of started to get the grip of it," she said. "But now I have to wait again."

She is scheduled to return to the course early this morning to complete the opening round along with 71 other players.

Sophie Gustafson finished with a 6-under-par 66 yesterday to claim the lead.

Wie played five holes after lounging around most of the day. She slept until 10:30 a.m., came to the course for some practice, then went back to the house to watch TV and eat "half a dinner."

"I'm going to eat the other half now," she said with a smile.

The course was drenched with 1.72 inches of rain overnight, which cast doubt on whether the first round would even be held yesterday.

While some parts of the rough were still flooded, the fairways and greens were in pretty good shape. The players were allowed to lift-and-clean their golf balls, as well.

"They did the best they could do," said Cristie Kerr, who was two shots off the lead after shooting 68. "The greens are fine, just a little bumpy in spots."

Denise Killeen also shot 68, while 11 players were at 69. Of those who started late, Karrie Webb and Deb Richard were both at 4-under. Webb had played 10 holes, Richard nine.

Wie carried only two woods in her bag, but she never pulled out the driver. She even stuck with the 4-wood at the 515-yard 13th, the longest hole on the course.

"I just didn't feel comfortable with the driver on the range," Wie said.

But she looked just fine on her next-to-last shot of the day at 14. After driving about 270 yards with the 4-wood, she took a half-swing with the lob wedge from the middle of the fairway.

The ball stuck within a foot of the cup. Wie didn't even need to mark it, tapping in for her first birdie after beginning with four straight pars.

"I feel more comfortable now," she said.

Wie didn't get a chance to build on that momentum. The horn sounded, ending play as darkness approached.

In just five starts as an amateur in the LPGA, Wie has impressed fans, media, players and tour officials.

"She's a unique individual," LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw said. "I have a 9-year-old who I can't imagine four years from now him doing anything close to what Michelle is doing now."

Wie is playing in a limited number of LPGA events. She is also slated to play in a Canadian PGA events as well.

Earlier this year, she got a taste of the PGA Tour when she tried to qualify for the PGA Tour Sony Open but missed qualifying by six strokes.

"I didn't really put a thought into it (playing against men)," she said. "It's kind of natural for me. When I was really young, when I was 5, I was the only girl on the boys' baseball team, so it came natural for me. I just wanted to play."

Associated Press contributed to this report.