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Updated at 3:13 p.m., Friday, August 24, 2007

Wie shoots 7-over 79 at LPGA's Safeway Classic

Advertiser Staff and News Services

PORTLAND, Ore. — Michelle Wie opened the Safeway Classic with a 7-over 79 today, putting her in danger of missing the cut at the LPGA Tour event.

Wie double-bogeyed two holes on the back nine at Columbia Edgewater Country Club, didn't card a birdie until the par-3 16th, and lost that stroke with a bogey on 18.

Wie, who begins classes at Stanford on Sept. 24, said the wrist that has bothered her for sometime was sore, but said it didn't account for her poor round.

"I just couldn't get anything going," she said. "A lot of putts that should have gone in didn't go in. Every single putt was right on the lip."

Wie got into trouble on 10th, hitting her second shot into a fairway bunker. She hit her next shot fat and it flew into a greenside bunker. After fluffing a shot that didn't get out of the trap, she lost her composure, kicking some sand before switching wedges. She put the next shot on the green and two-putted for double-bogey.

She hit her tee shot into the water on the 155-yard 13th hole, and doubled that hole too.

Wie rolled in a 22-foot putt for birdie on 16, a lone bright spot in the round.

"Truthfully it's not the easiest thing when you are out there and struggling," she said. "Obviously I am not happy when I don't perform."

The 17-year-old has missed the cut in three LPGA events this year and withdrew from two others. Her best finish was 69th at last month's Evian Masters in France.