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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 3:16 p.m., Thursday, January 15, 2004

Wie makes impressive debut

Associated Press

Michelle Wie hardly looked out of place today at the Sony Open in Hawai'i. Give her time, and the 14-year-old might prove she belongs on the PGA Tour.

Wie, believed to be the youngest player in history on the PGA Tour, made three birdies in a respectable round of 2-over 72 that left her nine strokes behind early leader Carlos Franco and in need of her best round to make the cut.

Still, the ninth-grader from Punahou School made quite an impression.

"She hits it long enough to play any golf course," said Craig Bowden, her playing partner who posted a 70. "I looked at her today as another player."

Only when they chatted did Bowden realize this was no ordinary sponsor’s exemption.

"We don’t have a lot in common," Bowden said. "I asked her when she was going to get her driver’s license."

They were different in other areas, too.

Wie twice hit drives longer than 300 yards, and routinely knocked it some 20 yards beyond Bowden. Her only weakness was her irons. Despite length that would fit right in among the men, she rarely gave herself good birdie chances on a perfect day at Waialae Country Club.