Wie fires 72 for fast start in Nabisco LPGA major
By Tim Dahlberg
Associated Press
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Like many 13-year-olds, Michelle Wie is self-conscious about her braces and ill at ease when talking to adults.
Associated Press
When it comes to hitting the golf ball, though, Wie seems all grown up.
Michelle Wie consistently hit her drives past playing partners Natalie Gulbis and Christina Kim.
The Honolulu teenager with the big swing drew gasps from the galleries at the Kraft Nabisco tournament yesterday, pounding the ball more than 300 yards off the tee on some holes.
The rest of her game wasn't too bad, either, as Wie shot an even-par 72 in the first round of the LPGA Tour major championship. She is tied with 12 others for 16th in the 99-player field.
"It was OK," said Wie, a Punahou School eighth-grader. "I can take it."
The 6-foot Wie consistently hit the ball well past playing partners Natalie Gulbis and Christina Kim, but it may have been her calm demeanor that was most impressive about her major championship debut.
Even missing short birdie putts on the 16th and 17th holes didn't get her down.
"Tee to green was perfect," she said. "Green to hole wasn't as good."
Wie wasted no time showing off her long game, knocking her drive on the first hole 30 yards past Kim. On the second hole, a par-5 playing 504 yards, she was 50 yards past Kim and had only 185 yards to the green for her second shot.
Wie is well on her way to her goal for the week — making the cut for the first time in an LPGA tournament.
"Just play even par or a little under par," she said. "I don't want to be at the top, it puts too much pressure on myself."
Associated Press
Wie played in three LPGA events last year, missing the cut in all three. She will play in six tournaments this year, the most allowed under a new LPGA regulation designed to keep too many young players from taking tournament spots.
B.J. Wie, who caddied for daughter Michelle, said: "She was nervous but being nervous helps her ... because she can concentrate more."
Though she won't be eligible to play as a pro until 2008, Wie's hitting prowess is well known among the women players.
"Wow, she's got some swing," Se Ri Pak said. "It looks like she's got some game, too. I can't say exactly, but I can see that she's going to be a really good player."
Wie's father, B.J. Wie, caddied for her as he usually does.
"She was nervous but being nervous helps her most of the time because she can concentrate more," B.J. Wie said.
The elder Wie rejected the suggestion that perhaps his daughter was doing too much at too young an age.
"I don't think so. This is a great opportunity," he said. "Why not take the opportunity?"
