Posted on: Friday, January 16, 2004
Wie proves she deserved a shot
| • | Wherever Wie goes, the crowd will follow |
| • | Ishii, Wie shine on Day 1 |
| • | 'Uncle Kevin' gladly eats humble 'pie' |
| • | Ishii, Castillo lead Hawai'i pros during first round |
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist
Reliable reports suggest The Royal and Ancient Golf Club is still standing in Scotland today.
There is no evidence that either Ben Hogan or Old Tom Morris spun in their graves overnight. And, golf balls will still come off the production line with dimples today.
One day into this most curious of Sony Opens in Hawai'i, 14-year-old Michelle Wie and the centuries-old sport of golf are both doing very well in each other's company, thank you.
Eric Risberg • Associated Press For all the doubts about whether someone so young could hold up to the level of performance and pressure of playing in the most accomplished of the six Sony fields, Round One goes to the only player that wore nail polish and skipped to a press conference.
So well did Wie acquit herself that, if not for the teddy bear teathered to her bag and pony tail that bounced with each of her three birdies, you would have had to remind yourself that this was really a Punahou School freshman out there with the big boys.
I mean, she reached 12 greens and a couple fringes in regulation and 11 of 14 fairways, battled back from consecutive bogeys and tapped home some clutch putts.
Where Annika Sorenstam left off in her breakthrough appearance at the Colonial in May as the first woman to play a PGA Tour event in 58 years, Wie has now stepped beyond.
"For her to come in here and not be bothered is amazing," said Jesper Parnevik, whose 5-under-par 65 was good for second place.
This revolution — and revelation — in golf was witnessed by galleries that sometimes stood 10 deep to watch her tee off and throngs that stretched 30 yards in front of her on some holes.
Pity Carlos Franco, the first-round leader whose 7-under 63 might as well have been played on Rabbit Island for all the attention he attracted. His post-round press conference drew, maybe, eight people. Wie's packed the interview room and spilled out onto the adjacent beach front.
One of Wie's playing partners, 35-year old Craig Bowden said, "I looked at her as just another player." But he also found, "We didn't have a lot in common." To find common ground, "I asked her when she was going to get her driver's license."
But there was nothing kiddy-like about her drives, which were said to average out at 275 yards. "It was demeaning," said Bowden after watching her "tattoo one on (hole) 12" that he was unable to match.
Wie's coming-out party had the potential of coming badly undone after she bogeyed back-to-back holes, her fourth and fifth holes of the morning. But she recovered to par the next four holes and was on the way with a wave to the gallery and an expanding smile.
The only question now is whether more history awaits her today on cutdown day. To make the cut, she'll probably need a 67 or 68 today. Her best round at Waialae is 65.
"If she would happen to make the cut (today), I think it is probably one of the biggest miracles in sports, period," Parnevik said. "I don't know if you agree, but that would be hard to explain."
After yesterday, who knows what might be possible now?
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
For all the controversy and gnashing of teeth that accompanied the awarding of a sponsor's exemption to the youngest player to attempt a PGA Tour event since records have been kept, Wie was remarkably at home at Waialae Country Club yesterday where her 2-over-par 72 put her tied or ahead of 39 players in the 143-man — and one girl — field.
Kevin Hayashi gave playing partner Michelle Wie a lei after finishing their first round of the Sony Open.
