Wie trying to make history at U.S. Open
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-05 20:24
Michelle Wire takes on 152 male golfers Monday at Canoe Brook Country Club in
an effort to become the first woman to qualify for U.S. Open.
Michelle Wie putts as her father, B.J. Wie,
watches, during a practice round at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit,
N.J., Thursday, June 1, 2006. Wie, 16, made her first appearance at Canoe
Brook on Thursday as she prepared for Monday's U.S. Open sectional
qualifier. Wie is attempting to become the first female to qualify for a
men's major tournament. [AP] |
Wie has never made the cut -- top 70 and ties -- on the PGA Tour. The closest
she came was in 2004 at the Sony Open, when she missed by one shot after
shooting 68 in the second round. The score remains the best by a woman in a PGA
event.
For the first eight holes of her final practice round, the drives were
straight, the iron approaches were close to the designated pin positions and the
putts ran true.
History seemed within her grasp.
Wie then played the 601-yard, No. 18 on the club's North Course on Sunday,
and she looked very much like an average 16-year-old. She pulled her drive far
left. After barely advancing the second shot out of the rough, the kid from
Hawaii dropped another ball and hit a tree limb, with the ball dropping straight
down. It was ugly.
If Wie has a couple of holes like that in the U.S. Open sectional qualifier
here Monday, she can forget about playing in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot in
Mamaroneck, N.Y., in two weeks.
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