Archive for the ‘U.S. Open’ Category

How many times do you see professional golfers card quintuple bogies? Hell, we all can do that.

It happened today to 18 year old Michelle Wie on the 9th hole causing her to basically drop out of contention for even making the cut at the US women’s open.

With her wrist injuries seemingly behind her, Michelle’s confidence was high going into the tournament – if it weren’t for that darn 9th hole.

She pulled her tee shot into the right rough, then tried to hit a low approach through the trees to an elevated green. The shot came up about 30 yards short, and she bladed her wedge over the green, facing a steep, downhill chip.

She tried a flop shot, but it came up inches short of the fringe. Using a putter for her fifth shot, the ball bounced out quickly, rolled down the ridge and off the green.

Her chip reached the top of the slope, then trickled back to her feet as she turned away before it stopped rolling. Her seventh shot made it up the ridge to 5 feet behind the hole, but she missed the putt.

This round was reminiscent of a year ago when Michelle shot a 42 in her last nine holes at the Women’s Open. She then withdrew from the tournament at the half way mark of the second round.

Perhaps a blistering round of 62 on Friday will put her back in contention. Stranger things have happened. Like Rocco Mediate staying with Tiger Woods for 91 holes recently!

It was not that long ago that Michelle Wie was destined to follow in the footsteps of Tiger Woods. Turning pro at 16, Michelle was the prodigal daughter that was supposed to take the LPGA to new heights. In fact, we thought we all would see her competing against the men and making her name known on the PGA tour.

Alas, none of that has happened. In an age where Tiger Woods can win a tournament with a fractured leg, Michelle can’t seem to win one in any condition.

From heat exhaustion to an injured wrist, Michelle has had a rough time of it the last couple years.

But as the US Women’s Open begins this week, Michelle will undoubtedly be one of the favorites for fans.

What is it about Michelle that people are drawn to?

Is it that her unflappable confidence off the course just mesmerizes people into thinking that she is still a major force to contend with? Or is it her long legs and good looks and pretty swing that have us tuned in and waiting for her to win one?

Paula Creamer, Annika and Ochoa have just been going about the business of winning tournaments during all the hype. The women’s US Open should have its share of drama.

Maybe not as much as the men’s US Open recently, but drama there will be, good or bad. And if Michelle can pull off a win in the Open, she will fill the void ( at least temporarily) of an ailing Tiger. But even if she wins this one, she has a long way to go to catch up with the Big T.

Despite playing 36 holes on a humid day, Michelle Wie was still able to flash a big smile as she sat down with the media.

Qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open will do that.

Playing on two different courses, Wie carded rounds of 70 and 67 and her 137 total was the second best score on the day and more than enough to qualify her for the 2008 Open, to be played later this month at the Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn.

“I think I did pretty well. It feels good to be playing good again,” said Wie, who has struggled with her game for much of the last year. “There were a lot of shots that I left out there today with the putting and a couple of errant tee shots in the middle, but other than that I’m pretty pleased with my round and I’m really happy to be playing at the U.S. Open.”

Wie’s first 18, played at Woodmont Country Club, was an up and down one with five birdies and four bogeys. After starting out with birdies on her second and third holes, some wayward drives left her at 2-over with five holes to play, but she birdied three of the last four holes.

“I felt like in the middle of the round, my round could have gone anywhere,” said Wie. It could have gone to the bad direction, but fortunately I pulled it back together and made a couple of good shots, good putts, and I felt like I saved a lot of really great pars.”

The venue shifted a few miles away to Manor Country Club, but Wie continued to show improvement with her irons that helped lead to another strong close.

Finishing on the front nine, Wie pushed her tee shot on number seven into the trees and after chipping back into the fairway, she smoked an iron from 160 yards to within five feet, which she tapped in for par. That was followed up by a strong iron shot off the tee on a 157 yard Par-3 which she left 20 inches from the cup for a birdie. For her final act, Wie smacked an approach shot on a par-5 to within five feet for another birdie as she snagged one of the 35 spots open to the 121 players at sectional.

Wie, who was one shot behind Kelli Kuehne’s 136, is regaining her confidence. She finished in sixth place at the Ladies German Open last week.

“When you are struggling week after week, it takes a toll on your confidence,” said Wie. “Nobody really gave up on me. My managers, David (Leadbetter, her coach), my parents, my trainer, everyone, they never gave up on me. They are always telling me you are going to get through it and you are going to get better.”

Wie does not anticipate going to the U.S. Open site prior to the tournament and will return to Florida where she and Leadbetter have been working hard on her game, spending 9-12 hours a day practising. Asked if she took time to watch last week’s LPGA event, Wie said the bit of television she watched was spent watching a different sporting event.

“Actually I was kind of busy watching the NBA playoffs,” said Wie. “I’m a big fan of Kevin Garnett.”