Youngster shows she can play with best

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Columnist

A 14-year-old girl had put aside her school books for an amazing week in which she had come within four feet — the difference between a birdie and eagle on the final hole — of making the cut in the Sony Open in Hawai'i.

But the history that narrowly eluded Wie in becoming the first female since 1945 years to make the cut in a PGA Tournament hardly lessened the magnitude of her considerable breakthrough as the first of her gender to shoot an under-par round on the circuit and what it seems sure to portend.

Wie's 2-under-par 68 gave her an even-par 140 for 36 holes, a beyond eye-opening accomplishment for the Punahou School ninth grader.

Consider, for instance, that among those who joined Wie in barely missing the cut yesterday were Jim Furyk, a U.S. Open champion, Chad Campbell, PGA Tour champion, and British Open champion Ben Curtis.

For the better part of her four hours on the course yesterday where she one-putted on 12 of 14 greens, the question on everybody's lips was: "How is Michelle doing?"

So gripping would the drama become that ESPN extended its live coverage of the tournament for an hour before picking up the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings in progress.

What some had derided before the tournament as a "sideshow" had become the main event of this tournament, overshadowing Steve Allan's ascent to the lead.

If Annika Sorenstam opened a new chapter in golf in May when she became the first woman since 1945 years to play a PGA Tour event, Wie wrote another one.

One in which the boundaries have been expanded to previously unimagined frontiers for women in general, and youth in particular.

"Annika was the present; Michelle is the future," said Mark Rolfing, an NBC commentator.

Sorenstam, the best LPGA player today, fell five strokes short of par at the Colonial, and vowed to, "Go back to my (LPGA) Tour, where I belong."

Wie, however, promised to come back again and make her first PGA cut before she gets her driver's license.

Few in the growing galleries that followed her tour into previously uncharted territory would doubt it.

In making two birdies on the final three holes, and making two birdie putts of 50 feet or more overall, Wie showed not only the talent to play at this level, but the resolve and composure to grow.

When it was over, Wie didn't have to say I-told-you-so to those who had questioned whether she deserved a sponsor's exemption into the tournament. Her game had spoken for her.

But she did, anyway, saying, "I don't think I would say I don't belong here. I do belong here. I belong on the LPGA. I belong on the PGA."

After this week, there is no doubt.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.