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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, July 28, 2005

Wie says she's not the best — yet

By ROBERT MILLWARD
Associated Press

Michelle Wie talks with swing coach David Leadbetter, top left, and her father and caddie, BJ Wie, during a practice round.

Matt dunham | Associated Press

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SOUTHPORT, England — If Michelle Wie had been collecting paychecks, she'd have more than half a million dollars in the bank by now. Yet, she's still only a 15-year-old amateur getting ready for 11th grade.

"If you think about how old I am right now it's a little too much money for me," Wie said Wednesday. "I'm having too much fun as an amateur, just going to tournaments, not having that much pressure money-wise and stuff like that. It's really fun."

The adventure continues today when Wie makes her Women's British Open debut in a top-class field at Royal Birkdale that also features fellow teenage star Paula Creamer — winner of last week's Evian Masters by eight strokes — and nine-time major champion Annika Sorenstam.

"When I play, my mind-set is that I can beat everyone," Wie said. "(But) I don't really think I'm the best yet."

That mantle is still held by Sorenstam, who is going for her third major of the year and eighth in five seasons. The 34-year-old Swede has career earnings of almost $17.4 million.

Sorenstam's hopes of a Grand Slam ended at the U.S. Open when she finished tied for 23rd.

"It's totally out of my system," she said yesterday. "To win all four majors is very, very difficult. So, if I set such a lofty goal, I have got to be able to take the consequences."

Wie is going into her last tournament before she returns to Honolulu for high school. She has three second-place finishes in six tournaments this season. She would have won $530,000 and been No. 13 on the money list.

"It's just that I've been so close all year long," Wie said. "I'm so close to being a success. I'm content in some ways and not content in some ways."

Although Wie and her parents pick and choose the events she plays in, she has given herself a demanding mix of men's and women's tour events.

This week, Wie faces Sorenstam, Juli Inkster, Meg Mallon, Laura Davies, Se Ri Pak and three-time British Open winner Karrie Webb. She says she has no interest in dropping back to amateur or junior events she knows she can win.

"You can learn the art of winning out here too," she said. "And that's what I'm trying to do."

Wie knows she still has things to improve.

"Basically I would say lots of short game, lots of putting," she said. "The John Deere and the strokeplay at the Public Links made me realize how important the last five, six holes are and you can't really take anything for granted."

Wie, who fired Irish caddy Brian Smallwood after a 3-over-par 75 in the first round of the Evian Masters, has her father, BJ, caddying for her at the British Open.

Michelle Wie was to tee off in the first round of the Weetabix Women's British Open yesterday at 8:25 p.m. Hawai'i time. Her tee time for the second round tomorrow is 1:15 a.m. Hawai'i time.

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