Sony, Round One: Ow-Wie!
Posted January 14th, 2005 by Erik J. Barzeski
Let us be the first to say it: Wetterich got beat by a girl. How did the rest of the field compare to Wie?
The PGA.com title nailed it: Ow-Wie! Amateur teen sensation Michelle Wie was anything but sensational in her 5-over opening round 75. Her round, which featured only one birdie, had one up side. "At least I'm not in last place," Wie joked. True: at least a dozen PGA Tour players finished worse than +5.
In other words, Wie's efforts to make the cut will, most likely, keep her short of her goal. Wie remains optimistic, however, saying "I think if I shoot under par tomorrow, if I end up at like 1-over-par, maybe I'll make it."
Waialae Country Club played tough in Thursday's round with winds gusting up to 25 MPH. The breezy conditions frustrated some of the game's best: Ernie Els shot his first above-par round (71) in 17 rounds at Waialae. Vijay Singh finished with a bogey on the par-5 18th to shoot -1 69. Singh, who made some comments last year regarding Wie, snuck out this year by saying only "It's tough for the boys over here, you know? Going to be tough for a girl here, too."
Wie shot 72-68 last year to miss the cut by one at even par. Wie's playing partners - Matt Davidson and Brett Wetterich - finished at 77 and 70, respectively. Let us be the first to say it: Matt Davidson got beat by a girl. Neener neener. Wie's round, according to ShotLink, included some interesting moments:
The hole's the other way, Michelle!*
Sharing the first round lead at -4 (66) are a quintent of players: Stewart Cink, Brett Quigley, Tom Byrum, and Hank Kuehne (whom I was this close to taking in fantasy golf this week).
* Yes, we're fairly certain this is a ShotLink gaffe, not a horribly misread putt on Michelle's part.
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Posted 14 Jan 2005 at 2:42pm #
Players Michelle beat include Paul Casey, Fred Funk, Scott Simpson, Thomas Levet, Matt Gogel, Zach Johnson, John Rollins, and Len Mattiace.
Posted 15 Jan 2005 at 6:39pm #
Where I come from a 70, even par, beats a 75, 5 over par. Or am I missing something?
I swear I have never been a blonde. So what am I missing here?
Did you mean... neener, neener Davidson got beat by a girl?
On Friday Wettrich got beat by a girl by one stroke.
Posted 15 Jan 2005 at 8:25pm #
I did mean Davidson, and I've since corrected it. Thank you for pointing it out.
Posted 16 Mar 2005 at 10:26am #
Annika Sorenstam, already on top of the 2005 ADT Official Money list, defends her title this week at Superstition Mountain.
Posted 10 May 2005 at 11:22am #
Should teenage phenom Michelle Wie be playing in PGA Tour events without qualifying?