And 14-year-old Michelle Wie’s 5-under 67 today showed why so many believe she is the heir apparent.

Sorenstam shot a methodical 7-under 65 in the second round to take a one-stroke lead halfway through the Safeway International.

She was at 12-under 132, just ahead of Cristie Kerr, who matched her career best with a 9-under 63.

Defending champion Se Ri Pak (68) was three back at 9-under 135. First-round leader Kim Saiki shot a 73 to drop five shots back at 7-under 137.

"I’m playing really good," said Sorenstam, the ANZ Masters winner three weeks ago in Australia in her only other tournament of the year.

"I’m playing smart and giving myself good opportunities. If I hit a good drive I’m playing aggressive. If I hit it poorly off the tee I play it conservatively. And the greens are so smooth. Once I see the line and hit it right there, it seems like they go in."

The buzz through the big galleries surrounded Wie, the 6-foot teen sensation who was seven back at 5-under 139.

Wie had eight birdies and three bogeys in the 90-plus degree sunshine of the Superstition Mountain Golf club 50 miles east of downtown Phoenix.

"I don’t think I hit my shots as good as I did yesterday," Wie said, "but my putting definitely was a lot better. Those bogeys I made were pretty stupid. I felt really bad about those, but I made a lot of birdies."

She reeled off four consecutive birdies on holes six through nine and reached 6-under through 14 holes, but had bogeys on the par-4, 310-yard 15th and par-4, 412-yard 16th.

Wie reached the green in two shots twice on par-5 holes. On the 552-yard 13th, she drove it about 320 yards off the tee, easily made the green on her next shot, then barely missed a 12-foot putt for eagle before tapping in for her seventh birdie of the round.

Then in front of a big gallery on the 508-yard 18th, she made the green in two, then almost sank a 30-foot eagle putt before tapping in to finish her round. She obviously was at ease.

"I’ve played in 11 (LPGA) tournaments so far," Wie said, "so I’m not really a rookie anymore. I feel comfortable out here."

This is the first of the six LPGA events Wie plans to enter this season. She made the cut in six of seven LPGA events last year and came just one shot shy of making the cut in the PGA Tour’s Sony Open in January.

It’s the first time Wie’s father B.J. hasn’t been her caddie in an LPGA event.

"It’s actually kind of nice," Wie said with her dad laughing in the back of the room. "There’s a lot less arguing."

The par-72, 6,620-yard Prospector Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is longer than any layout on last season’s LPGA schedule. The tournament moved to the course at the foot of the Superstition Mountains this year under a three-year contract. It had been played at the Moon Valley Golf Club course in north Phoenix.

Kerr’s round of nine birdies and no bogeys was the best so far at the new venue, site of the 2001 Tradition on the Champions’ tour. She said she was ready to go head-to-head with Sorenstam.

"I’ve played a lot with Annika, especially in final rounds, and she doesn’t make a whole lot of mistakes," Kerr said. "I’m very comfortable playing with her, and I respect her very much. She’s an unbelievable player, probably the best we’ll see in the next 50 years, and I aspire to be like her."

Those who watched Wie’s graceful powerhouse swing and equally impressive short game might argue about that 50-year remark. So would the youngsters who lined up for her autographs when she’d finished her round.