Michelle Wie continues to struggle at the LPGA British Open today.  Tied for 44^th place going into Friday’s round, Michelle picked up a 2 stroke penalty for violating rule 13-4c on the 14^th hole. She apparantly hit a piece of moss in her backswing in the greenside bunker at the 14th hole.  She did not learn of the infraction until after the round.  Here is the official definition of rule 13-4c:

Except as provided in the Rules, before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard) or that, having been lifted from a hazard, may be dropped or placed in the hazard, the player must not:
(a) Test the condition of the hazard or any similar hazard;(b) Touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his hand or a club; or(c) Touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard.

Exceptions:
1.  Provided nothing is done that constitutes testing the condition of the hazard or improves the lie of the ball, there is no penalty if the player (a) touches the ground in any hazard or water in a water hazard as a result of or to prevent falling, in removing an obstruction, in measuring or in retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule or (b) places his clubs in a hazard 2.  After making the stroke, the player or his caddie may smooth sand or soil in the hazard, provided that, if the ball is still in the hazard or has been lifted from the hazard and may be dropped or placed in the hazard, nothing is done that improves the lie of the ball or assists the player in his subsequent play of the hole.

"It’s not good after you play you find out you add two more shots in the end," Wie said. "The par saves I made on 17 and 18 feel as though they count for nothing in the end."

After two penalties in the last year, Michelle still has no plans to read the rule book of golf.  She chalked it up as a “learning experience” and gave herself a break since she is “only 16”.  Now tied for 36^th place going into round 3, Michelle would have to shoot miracle rounds on Saturday and Sunday to even think of being in contention.

Juli Inkster leads the tournament at -6, 3 shots in the lead.  At 46, Juli could become the oldest woman to win a major tournament if she can hold off the others until Sunday.  Think about this:  Juli was 30 years old when Michelle Wie was born!  The best scenario would be to have Michelle and Juli paired up for a Sunday at a major.  Youth against experience.  Now that would draw in the ratings.  Almost like a Jack Nicklaus/Tiger Woods pairing.  Nice thought, but not this weekend.

The drama continues…After 9 holes of play on Friday at the John Deere Classic, Michelle Wie was taken to the hospital to be treated for possible heat exhaustion.  (And www.pga.com was there to cover it on the home page again, of course)  Michelle suffered from a  number of different symptoms apparently – stomach pains, nausea, and breathing problems to name just a few.  She had just finished playing the 9^th hole when she told her parents she could not play anymore.  She was 2 over at the time.  Lots of things could be said on this one but one has to give the benefit of the doubt to Michelle – it was pretty damn hot.  (Although, coincidently, none of the men suffered from the same malady, even those that were not going to make the cut.)  Chalk it up as another chapter in the quest  to compete against the men.  Its getting harder and harder to stay with the drama however.  “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”, goes the old saying.  Not sure if it applies here or not – you be the judge.