Media obligations follow Wie to France
By Alan Page
Associated Press
EVIAN, France — Even before hitting a ball, Michelle Wie was working the cameras.
The 14-year-old sensation from Hawai'i arrived a week early for the $2.5 million Evian Masters that begins today, but acknowledged she hasn't spent much time checking out the course.
Wie
French media just can't seem to get enough of the young star.
Last Wednesday, it was a photo shoot with glossy weekly Paris Match. There were interviews with state-run TV networks France-2 and France-3. Sunday newspaper Journal du Dimanche published an interview.
"So, I've only played two 18-holes since I got here," Wie said yesterday.
Today, 11 a.m. Golf Channel
Now, it's back to golf in the second-richest event on the LPGA schedule, with 19 of the top-20 in the money list lining up.
ON TV
"I've had a busy summer," she said. "It's great to be in Europe. I'm having a fun time ... It's more relaxed here than in the States."
Relaxed or not, she doesn't lose sight of her goals. While the $375,000 winner's check is not for amateurs, Wie is looking for title glory.
"Every week I look to win. I try and shoot the lowest I can and go for birdie on every hole," said Wie, whose fourth-place finish at this year's Kraft Nabisco Championship was her best on the LPGA Tour.
Wie said the scenic Evian course, "isn't very long. Here, I'll just try and get my wedges real close."
