Michelle Wie is seen on the 16th hole during the first round of the LPGA Championship at Bulle Rocke in Havre de Grace, Md. She birdied this par-4 hole. PAT CROWE II | Associated Press

In perhaps the most scrutinized round of her career, the former Punahou School student recovered from a sloppy start with three birdies in a four-hole stretch and a couple of important par saves toward the end today to leave herself in decent shape of playing all four days at the LPGA Championship.

Former U.S. Women's Open champion Birdie Kim came to life with a 5-under 67, leaving her atop the leaderboard at Bulle Rock with rookie Angela Park and Kim Saiki-Maloney.

Morgan Pressel got off to a good start in her bid for the second leg of the Grand Slam with a 68, joining seven-time major champion Karrie Webb and Laura Davies, who could qualify for the Hall of Fame with a victory in this major. Another Hawaii golfer, Kimberly Kim, shot a 1-over 73.

But the focus was on Wie, who has come under intense criticism for withdrawing after 16 holes last week at the Ginn Tribute citing a wrist injury, showing up at Bulle Rock two days later to hit balls, and getting sassy with Annika Sorenstam and LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens over her conduct.

"I don't think I need to apologize for anything," Wie said earlier this week.

There was no need to apologize for her score.

Some thought she might withdraw again when she summoned a rules official on her sixth hole, the par-5 15th, to ask permission for her therapist to work on her wrist. Wie had just hit three shots out of deep rough in her previous four full swings, and said it hurt.

She played on, swinging at what coach David Leadbetter estimated at 80 percent speed, and she never took driver out of the bag.

Wie has played in the final group at majors and come close to qualifying for the men's U.S. Open. Considering the soap opera over the last week, the pressure was never greater.

"I built a lot of confidence over this round," said Wie, who was in a tie for 47th. "I hit a lot of good putts, and I'm just going to think positively. It's a work in progress. Hopefully, it's going to get better and better."

Se Ri Pak also shot 73, and her smile was never brighter.

The defending champion officially logged her 10th tournament of the year, marking her 10th season on the LPGA Tour, and that was all she needed to be eligible for the Hall of Fame. At 29, Pak will be the youngest member when she's inducted in November.

Several players from South Korea lined the back of the interview room, a fitting tribute to their pioneer. The McDonald's LPGA Championship was her first LPGA victory in 1998, and she went on to 23 victories and five majors.

"I don't think I can ask for anything more at this moment," Pak said. "I'm a very lucky person."

Sorenstam, in her second tournament since neck and back problems forced her out of competition for two months, opened with a 70. Lorena Ochoa was in the group at 71.

Sorenstam fueled the Wie criticism earlier this week by saying the teenager showed a lack of class and respect by pulling out of the Ginn — where Sorenstam was the tournament host — and coming to the next tournament to hit balls.

There also was speculation Wie withdrew to avoid shooting 88, which would ban her from the LPGA Tour the rest of the year because of a policy for non-tour members.

Bivens said the LPGA did not recommend to the Wie camp that she withdraw to avoid "Rule 88," although she confirmed she spoke to Wie's father and agent about conduct she would not disclose.

And she backed Sorenstam's criticism.

"I think that leaving the tournament and coming to practice when one had pulled out with a wrist injury was not very respectful, and that's what Annika and what some of the other members are responding to," Bivens said.

"Every person who tees it up on the LPGA signs a registration form that says they are bound by the rules and regulations of the LPGA," Bivens added. "It's a privilege, and it is not a right."

Wie teed off about 30 minutes later, and while it was the first time she failed to break par at Bulle Rock, there were few complaints.

"It was great today," she said. "It's definitely not where I want to be. I hit some great shots out there today."

Even without the driver, she only hit five fairways and 11 greens in regulation.

She was 2 over through five holes when it got ugly.

Her 3-wood missed the fairway some 40 yards to the right, in wispy grass up to her knees. Wie slashed out to the rough framing the right side of the fairway, then hacked that one over a small ravine to the fairway, eventually making double bogey to go 4 over.

That's when she summoned Leanne Quinn, her trainer and therapist, to massage her wrist. Quinn wound up working on her a half-dozen times, later in the 5›-hour round massaging the right wrist.

Swing coach David Leadbetter stuck around for the opening round, and said there was a reason Wie didn't hit driver.

"The longer the club, the more stress on the wrist," Leadbetter said. "She's trying to swing 80 percent, and that's easier to do with the 3-wood. I don't know how much strength she has lost, but it's got to be 20 percent. The club is like 10 minutes behind. It's a neuromuscular thing. You think the club is square, and it's not.

"She's hitting shots I've never seen her hit."

But she finally made a few putts, and they were key.