Wie eager for shot at Open
By Jim Pignatiello
Special to The Advertiser
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. — The changing of the guards may be coming quickly in women's golf, as amateurs Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer lead a pack of 16 teenagers playing in the 2004 U.S. Women's Open at the Orchards Golf Club.
Associated Press
Wie, the 14-year-old from Honolulu, is the most recognizable of the bunch.
"I think it's good in a way that I lost the (U.S. Public Links) tournament," says Michelle Wie. "I feel I'm more ready for this one."
Her galleries have been among the biggest in the first two days of practice rounds.
After losing a four-shot lead early in Sunday's U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club in Williamsburg, Va., the youngest player in the Open field is hoping to bounce back this week.
"I think it's good in a way that I lost the tournament," said Wie, who admitted that she had been crushed by the loss at the time. "You want to win the next tournament more; you have that anticipation. It's the kind of thing where you feel you have to win the next one.
"And I'm kind of feeling that, and if I won that tournament I would get a little bit lazy, just like rest Monday, and I wouldn't really care. But since I didn't win that tournament, I feel I'm more ready for this one."
Wie hasn't relaxed this week, playing 18-hole practice rounds on each of the first two days and taking her time to read all the nuances of the Donald Ross-designed course.
WHERE: South Hadley, Mass. WHEN: Tomorrow to Sunday COURSE: Orchards Golf Club (6,473 yards, par 71). Tomorrow on TV: ESPN, 8 a.m. to noon).
"I think the course is really good. I love it," she said. "The fairways are wide and the greens are pretty small, which you need really accurate irons. I think if you're in the right part of the fairway, the right part of the greens and make the putts you'll shoot low. Well, that's true in every course, but I think it's really true in this course. The greens are a little bit tricky, so the best putter is going to win. Your putting has to be really good this week."
U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN
Wie defended the special exemption that kept her from having to qualify for the Open.
"I feel like I deserved it because I earned my way here," said Wie, who became the first amateur to earn such an exemption. "There's a lot of ways to qualify for this tournament. And one way is to qualify, another way is to get exempt by money ranking, and another way is to get an exemption. And I believe I got exempt because I played in three LPGA tournaments, I (would have) got 28th in the money list, so I would be exempt for this tournament."
Wie is one of 16 amateurs in the field that also includes the 17-year-old Creamer, who teamed with Wie at the Curtis Cup in England, where the pair became pals while helping the U.S. team down the British, 10-8.
"We're very good friends," said Creamer, who finished second at the ShopRite LPGA Classic June 20. "We know each other very well now."
Associated Press
Wie said she was rooting for Creamer at ShopRite.
Although she got an exemption to the U.S. Women's Open, Michelle Wie felt she "earned my way here."
"I really wanted her to win," Wie said. "I didn't see her play, because the (men's) U.S. Open was that week. But it was really good for her."
Both danced around the idea of a budding rivalry.
"Who wants to talk about one of your friends?" said Creamer, who had downplayed Wie at last year's U.S. Open. "I'm sure we'll be on-course rivals for the rest of our lives. That's just the way it's going to be."
Said Wie: "I don't know how my game really measures up to her. I don't really like measure myself against anyone."
Wie will begin U.S. Open play at 1:22 a.m. Hawai'i time tomorrow. She's playing in a threesome with Candie Kung and Jill McGill. Hilo's Amanda Wilson will tee off at 8:27 a.m. Hawai'i time.
Notes: Annika Sorenstam played her first practice round yesterday after taking Monday off. ... Dottie Pepper pulled out of the Open late Monday night with a neck injury. Jennifer Greggain, who plays in the Futures Tour, will take Pepper's spot.
