Michelle Wie still major attraction
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-28 10:48
NEWPORT, Rhode Island, June 27 - Harriet Manice craned her neck for a
glimpse of Michelle Wie as the teenager teed up on the first hole of a practice
round in the Women's U.S. Open.
 |
|
| Michelle Wie of the U.S. hits out of the sand onto the fourth green
during a practice round at the U.S. Women's Open golf championship in
Newport, Rhode Island June 27, 2006. [Reuters] |
| The
16-year-old from Hawaii did what she does best, powering a man-sized drive down
the fairway that blazed past her rivals and brought thunderous applause from the
crowd.
"She's so amazing," said Manice, a 17-year-old from Rhode Island who just
starting playing golf. "She's an inspiration."
The 6-foot Wie has $10 million in endorsement deals from Sony and Nike, a
model's good looks and has been featured on CBS's news show "60 Minutes". She
also set a record as the youngest player to qualify for a LPGA tournament and
made the cut in a men's tournament in South Korea.
Since turning professional she has yet to win a major, however, often
finishing just a few strokes behind players double her age.
Her only victory came at the age of 13 in the Women's Amateur Public Links,
when she became the youngest champion in the history of United States Golf
Association adult championships.
"When the time is right it will happen," Wie told reporters. "I'm just not
going to force it. You can't force anything."
This year, Wie has shot an average 69.55 in 11 rounds of three LPGA tour
events, finishing twice in the top three and grabbing third place in the world
rankings behind Annika Sorenstam and Paula Creamer.
She described Newport Country Club, a links-style course where the U.S. Open
begins on Thursday, as "awesome" and said she felt "very comfortable" about her
putting, which has come in for criticism.
YOUTHFUL APPROACH
Adding to the buzz surrounding Wie are her forays in testing her skills
against men and her youthful approach to golf fashion. On Tuesday she sported a
blue mini-skirt with a wide stripe down the side and surfer-style paisley
patterns.
|
