Wie makes U.S. Open cut

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Michelle Wie will tee off at 5:48 a.m. (HST) today. Associated Press

Playing partner Danielle Ammaccapane allegedly pushed Wie, 13, and later berated her over a breach of etiquette on Thursday, Wie and her father said yesterday.

Wie, one of 14 teenagers at Pumpkin Ridge, recovered from a 40 on the front nine to finish with her second straight 73 yesterday, which assured her of making the cut (149) at 4-over 146. Wie is believed to be the youngest to make the U.S. Women's Open cut, according to USGA officials, who told The Advertiser some of their records are incomplete. Mhairi McKay, 28, shot 70 for a four-stroke lead at 136.

Wie's second round included consecutive bogeys on the par-4 3rd hole and the par-5 4th hole and a double bogey on the par-4 8th hole to make the turn at 4-over.

"When I was like 6-over (for the tournament) I thought I was going to miss the cut," Wie said at a news conference. "But then I finally found my swing on the 9th hole, I hit a pretty good drive there and I was putting well. The back nine is pretty like easier because some holes are pretty short. So I thought to myself, just make three birdies and you're good."

She rallied with birdies on the par-5 11th and par-4 13th, and missed two close birdie putts on the 16th and 18th.

Wie hit 12 of 18 greens in regulation, but had 32 putts in the second round.

"Every part of my game was pretty good ... just had a few shaky holes," Wie said. "I'm still happy with my score."

Wie was one of eight (of 21) amateurs who made the cut yesterday. She is paired today with England's Kirsty Taylor, who also shot 146.

BJ Wie, who caddies for his daughter, said the incident with Ammaccapane came on the 14th hole (their 5th of the day) of Thursday's first round. Wie played with Ammaccapane and Tracy Hanson.

The young golfer said Ammaccapane, a 16-year veteran on the LPGA Tour, was upset that Wie had walked in her line as she prepared to putt. Wie said she was trying to go behind Ammaccapane to get to her own putt.

The father claimed Ammaccapane bumped, pushed or brushed his daughter on the green.

In the scoring tent after the first round, Michelle Wie said Ammaccapane, 37, had words with her, although the teen wouldn't disclose what was said.

"I was really surprised, because I guess I've always played with really nice people," Wie said.

BJ Wie would only say the exchange was "nasty," although he wasn't in the scoring tent at the time.

"She's young," BJ Wie said of his daughter. "Danielle is 40, so Michelle is like a daughter. How can she treat a little girl like that?"

Ammaccapane, who has seven LPGA Tour victories and was playing in her 17th Open, wouldn't talk about the matter after her round yesterday. She finished at 148 to also make the cut.

"I don't have any comments about playing, or etiquette or anything else," she told The Associated Press as she left the course. She and Wie did not speak or shake hands after the round.

Hanson also had no comment.

Wie, who has been hailed as the future of women's golf, has grabbed attention with her 300-yard drives.

Two weeks ago Wie became the youngest player to win a USGA title for adults at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links. Earlier this year, she played in the final group of an LPGA major at the Nabisco Championship.

USGA spokesman Marty Parkes walked with the group Thursday and noticed tension rising. He said on the 8th hole, Wie hit out of turn and Ammaccapane followed with a poor shot from the bunker.

He also said that the Wies had a tendency to walk up too quickly to their ball, and Hanson at times told them to stop and back up.

"Down the stretch it was a little frosty," Parkes said.

BJ Wie said he complained to the USGA on Thursday night, asking that Ammaccapane not speak directly to Michelle and instead go through rules officials.

Krendra Graham, senior director of rules and competition for the U.S. Women's Open, would not discuss details about the alleged conflict or BJ Wie's request.

"From what I understand there was some discussion and some effort was made today," said Graham, who met with Ammaccapane in the scoring area to discuss the matter after her round yesterday.

"I think it's between Danielle and Michelle," Graham said, refusing to say whether any further action would be taken concerning the matter.

"He's entitled to what he has to say," Ammaccapane said of BJ Wie. "If he wants to bad mouth me, he can bad mouth me."

After their round yesterday, Ammaccapane left the green before Wie made her final putt.

BJ Wie suggested Ammaccapane and Hanson should have cut him and his daughter some slack.

"They play golf for a living, they know the etiquette," he said. "We don't know, we are still learning."

His daughter got the message.

"It was a good learning experience, I guess," she said. "Now I won't do that anymore."

Wie said today she will follow the same game plan today she has used when she makes a cut.

"I'm going to play more aggressively," Wie said "And I think I found my swing, I'm more comfortable with my game. So I think I can shoot lower tomorrow."