Dad as caddie works in Wie's round of 70
Advertiser News Services
Patrick Gardin | Associated Press
EVIAN, France — Perhaps having her father back as caddie put Honolulu's Michelle Wie more in a comfort zone in the second round of the LPGA's Evian Masters.
BJ Wie took over caddie duties for daughter, Michelle, yesterday. Michelle Wie said the chemistry with caddie Brian Smallwood "didn't really work."
Wie rebounded from a poor first round, shooting a 2-under-par 70 yesterday, but remained nine strokes behind second-round leaders Paula Creamer and Christina Kim. Annika Sorenstam shot a 6-under 66 to climb into contention, two strokes behind the leaders.
(Wie's third round began at 10:53 last night Hawai'i time. See www.honoluluadvertiser.com for results.)
On Wednesday, Wie, 15, was 2-over after just four holes and finished with a 3-over 75.
She had her father BJ on the bag yesterday, having parted from experienced Irish caddie Brian Smallwood.
"Brian was with me Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but the chemistry didn't really work," Wie said.
She said her father would caddy for her during next week's British Open at Royal Birkdale.
Teeing off in the morning, Wie yesterday recorded birdies on the par-4 No. 3 and the par-5 No. 9. She bogeyed the par-3 No. 8. Wie made the turn after nine holes at 1-under 35, four strokes better than she shot Wednesday.
The Punahou student then birdied the par-4 No. 10 to go 2-under for the day.
She then parred the final eight holes.
Her two-round total is 1-over-par 145, tied for 23rd. She was in 45th place after the first round of this 78-player, 72-hole tournament. Unlike most four-round tournaments, there is no cut after the second round.
Creamer and Kim each shot 4-under 68s and share the lead at 8-under 136. Sorenstam shot a 66 stood alone in second at 6 under, with Laura Davies and Carin Koch another stroke back.
Wie hit 10 of 14 fairways and got her driver under control, a big improvement after hitting just two during the first round.
"I played great but all my putts, strangely, didn't drop," Wie said.
"I played so much better than yesterday. I could have finished at 9 under," she added.
Wie dropped only one shot and had three birdies, all from under 12 feet. At No. 9, her bunker shot for eagle rattled the flagstick but didn't drop.
Wie has gone through several caddies during her short career.
"My caddie's not available," Sorenstam joked.
"It's important to have a regular caddie," the Swede added. "I've been lucky to have only two in 11 years. A caddie has to learn to adjust to you.
"If he only gets 24 hours to do it, that's pretty hard."
Sorenstam had seven birdies — her longest putt was 11 feet — and dropped only one shot when she was caught between clubs and hit a pitching wedge into a greenside bunker at the 10th.
"Yesterday I walked off feeling I'd left some shots out there," Sorenstam said. "Today I felt I converted most of them."
The 18-year-old Creamer made seven birdies and had three bogeys, while Kim had five birdies. Both are hoping to qualify for the U.S. Solheim Cup squad, which will be picked on Aug. 28. Ten players qualify on points, and two are captain's picks.
Kim is fifth in the points standings and Creamer is 13th.
"I've wanted to be in the Solheim from before I hit my first ball as a pro," Creamer said.
Japanese star Ai Miyazato seldom got close to the pin, holing her only birdie on the 18th for a 76 to trail by 12.
