SONY NOTEBOOK
ESPN TV ratings a Wie-bit lower
By Ferd Lewis and Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writers
Horrible weather in the Eastern United States, picturesque vistas from Hawai'i and Michelle Wie making history would seem to have assured the Sony Open in Hawai'i a television ratings spike for Thursday's opening round, right?
Wrong, at least for the opening round, according to the cable network.
An ESPN spokesman said Nielsen ratings for Thursday's first round were down from the two previous years.
Part of the reason could be that Wie finished her round just as ESPN went on the air Thursday.
Thursday attracted a .67 share or about 591,000 households compared with 2003 when the first round did a .76 or 662,000 households. In 2002 the tournament opened with a .69 and 596,000 homes.
Ratings for Friday through Sunday won't be available until next week, ESPN said.
Wie is on the button: Another Michelle Wie booster button surfaced at Waialae yesterday sending collectors scurrying to collect a three-button set.
On the heels of the "Michelle, No Ka Oi" buttons that greeted her first round Thursday, yesterday there were "Go Michelle" buttons distributed by Ko Olina Golf Club pro Greg Nichols. Another one, "Wie Go!" also made the rounds.
Wie's parents, BJ and Bo, wore the complete set in following their daughter yesterday.
The buttons follow a trend begun in May when Hawai'i pro Dean Wilson wore one — "Go Annika" — in support of Annika Sorenstam at the Colonial. Sorenstam was the first woman in 58 years to play a PGA Tour event.
Food for thought: Clearly Michelle Wie has golf on the brain, but food isn't far behind. Twice during yesterday's Sony Open press conference she brought the conversation around to eating.
"The course is just awesome, it was in very good shape," Wie said when asked to describe her experience. "And the greens were really fast, so that was good. My playing partners were really nice to me. I think everyone out here was very nice to me. The food was great, too."
Wie expects to play next in the Hawai'i Pearl Open, Feb. 6-8 at Pearl Country Club. In March she will play two LPGA tournaments on the Mainland, including Kraft Nabisco — the year's first major. She tied for ninth there last year, and ate a lot.
"The food is really great there," Wie said. "They have a really good ice cream bar."
When it was over, she spoke of being famished and headed out the door for dinner.
Perfect pairing for Wie: Despite the mob scene and endless cameras, Wie's group was 8-under par yesterday.
While she battled back to shoot 68, Hilo's Kevin Hayashi rallied from a disappointing first round and endless putting woes to come in with a 70. The man now known as "Uncle Kevin," thanks to Wie's repeated references Thursday, missed the cut by six.
Craig Bowden, a Nationwide alumnus from Indiana, joined the Hawai'i players the first two days and warmed to all the attention. He shot 6-under 64 yesterday to leap into a tie for 13th.
Then, he lamented Wie's weekend absence.
"It's unfortunate for this game, for her and for this tournament that she didn't make the cut," Bowden said.
Hayashi, the teaching pro at Mauna Kea Resort, called himself a "Michelle Wie supporter" from the start. He has always encouraged her to find new challenges. He, too, was disappointed the "close-knit" Hawai'i golf family won't have Wie to watch this weekend.
Hayashi was also gallant in defeat.
"She's good enough to beat a lot of people," he said. "I shouldn't feel shamed. She's a star in the making."
Can you top that? Harrison Frazar is one out of the lead despite hitting a shot every hacker could appreciate. He birdied the 18th hole after a suspicious looking second shot, off an awkward downhill lie, that "scooted up" the left side.
"Actually, I think I almost topped it," Frazar said. "I might have topped it. If it wasn't for the (4-wood's) loft, it would have been a top. It went about ... well, I had 250 (yards) to the hole and about 120 after that."
Frazar ran the numbers and grinned: "That was a top. To be quite honest with you, I got about halfway through my downswing and realized the shot was way above my skill level now."
SHORT PUTTS
First-round leader Carlos Franco had a 72 yesterday and is six back. ... Ernie Els has shot in the 60s all 14 rounds he's played at Sony, finishing in the top five the previous three years. ... Craig Stadler and Dave Eichelberger missed the cut yesterday, but received a nice parting gift. Both are playing in the MasterCard Championship next week at Hualalai Golf Club. The season-opening Champions Tour event starts Friday. ... Frank Lickliter also shot a 62 yesterday to tie the tournament record set by John Cook and Charles Howell III in 2002. ... Davis Love III set the course record when he shot 60 in 1994. The course played to a par-72 until 1999. ... Rory Sabbatini withdrew after shooting 78 Thursday. ... PGA Champion Shaun Micheel started yesterday by holing a wedge shot for eagle on the 10th hole. He followed with an 11-foot birdie putt, then chipped in for birdie on the 12th. ... Among those who missed the cut are Hawaiian Open champions Jim Furyk, John Morse and Gene Sauers, 1999 Sony Open winner Jeff Sluman, and Stuart Appleby, who won last week's Mercedes Championships.
