Wie spends recess on Kapalua course
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
KAPALUA, Maui — Michelle Wie took a short sabbatical from the eighth grade yesterday to play in the Pro-Am of the Mercedes Championships.
Eric Risberg • Associated Press
Her partner was Japan's Shigeki Maruyama, the man with the big smile and little English. Wie spoke to Maruyama through an interpreter, then joked that she should have played with K.J. Choi since she is fluent in Korean.
Michelle Wie chipped to the second green of Kapalua's Plantation Course yesterday.
How did her escape from Punahou go? Same as the two LPGA events she played in last year.
"It was fun," Wie said, again. "I learned a lot."
Wie, who played from the men's tees, had three birdies to help her team. Monday she will play in the Sony Open in Hawai'i qualifying at Pearl Country Club. She has also been asked to participate in the ConAgra Foods LPGA Skins Game Pro-Am Jan. 24 at Wailea.
SHORT PUTTS: The team of Loren Roberts, Jack Holton, Roy Sakamoto, Woody MacLaren and Tom LaGrasso won the Pro-Am, shooting 54. ... Sergio Garcia was the youngest player to win a tour event in 2002, capturing this title three days shy of his 22nd birthday. He turns 23 today. ... Garcia was one of five players younger than 25 to win last season. The others were Matt Kuchar, Charles Howell III, Jonathan Byrd and Luke Donald. ... Howell comes into Mercedes with a streak of 16 consecutive rounds in the 60s. He was 67-under par in his final four tournaments last year. ... PGA Tour Sunday debuts this weekend on USA Network with Garcia learning to surf with Gabrielle Reece and Laird Hamilton. The live hour-long show will be shown before final-round coverage and include reports, golf stories, analyses and features. ... Gates open at 8:30 a.m. each day. Play begins at 10:30 a.m. until Sunday, when it starts at 10 a.m. ... Garcia and Sony Open in Hawai'i champion Jerry Kelly play in the last group today. They tee off at 1:20 p.m. ...Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have each won Mercedes twice. Jack Nicklaus has the most Mercedes titles with five. ... David Duval set the tournament record here, shooting 26-under 266 in 1999. He did not qualify this year, going winless in 2002 for the first time since 1996.
