Wie fires opening 73 against men in Japan (Reuters) Updated: 2005-11-24 17:08
KOCHI, Japan, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Michelle Wie salvaged a one-over-par 73 with
two superb late birdies in the first round of the men's Casio World Open in
Japan on Thursday.
Michelle Wie of the
US reacts after missing her birdie putt on the 15th hole during the first
round of the Casio World Open golf tournament on the Japanese men's tour
at Kuroshio Country Club in Kochi, southwest of Japan November 24, 2005.
[Reuters]
| The 16-year-old Hawaiian made up
shots on six and seven following bogeys on 16, two and three to move to within
five shots of leaders Toshimitsu Izawa and Yoshiaki Kimura.
"I wanted to be a little higher but considering I struggled in the middle I'm
pretty happy," said Wie, aiming to make the cut for the first time in six
attempts against the men.
"If I can make a couple more putts I think I'll be all set. It was a bit
rough in the middle and I was a little frustrated I couldn't get anything going.
"I felt urgency to make something happen. I felt I had to make a couple of
birdies. I got the feeling I could do it and I started to believe in myself
more."
Wie added: "After the sixth I felt a little bit more confident and it's a
good start for tomorrow."
Wie was making her first start since being disqualified on her professional
debut last month.
She began on the back nine at Kuroshio Country Club and dropped her first
shot by taking three putts on the par-four 16th.
The Honolulu schoolgirl missed a makeable birdie putt on 18 and had 40
minutes to dwell on it as she waited for a logjam of players at the first tee of
the $1.7 million tournament.
|