Wie fires opening 73 against men in Japan (Reuters) Updated: 2005-11-24 17:08
UNSCHEDULED WAIT
The unscheduled wait appeared to unsettle Wie as bogeyed the second and third
holes.
Wie's putting let her down as she produced a wonderful chip from the fringe
on the 225-yard par-three second, only to miss a three-foot putt for par.
The huge gallery following Wie groaned in amazement as her short par-putt on
the par-four third then lipped out.
"It's the first time I've had to wait 40 minutes between holes," said Wie.
"Then I missed a couple of bad putts. It's not like something was terribly
wrong. I missed a couple of bad putts...they just slipped out of my hand."
But Wie hit back beautifully with back-to-back birdies, lofting a sand wedge
from 100 yards to four feet at the sixth and pitching to within three feet on
the long par-five seventh.
Wie's first professional start was a chastening experience when she was
disqualified after falling foul of a drop violation at the Women's World
Championship in Palm Desert, California.
Sweden's Sophie Gustafson missed the cut at the 2003 Casio World Open, the
only other time and a woman has played in a JGTO Tour event.
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