ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michelle Wie was followed by the largest gallery in the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship at Stockbridge, Ga., yesterday.
Wie makes cut
STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. >> Michelle Wie is feeling more comfortable with her driver. She's getting used to the course. Hey, it's time to make a move in the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship.
You know how impatient these teenagers can be.
The 13-year-old from Punahou is fitting right in on the LPGA Tour, making the cut yesterday with a 2-under 142 total that left her nine strokes behind leader Karrie Webb.
A month ago, Wie finished an astonishing ninth in the first major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship. She hopes to make another serious move up the leaderboard today.
"I'm just going to be aggressive, try to catch up to the leaders as much as I can," said Wie, who was followed by the largest gallery on the course. "Try to get to the top 10, at least."
Wie completed the rain-delayed first round in the morning by playing 13 holes, finishing with an even-par 72, then went straight to No. 1 and got started on another 18.
The eighth-grader had a 70 in the afternoon -- not bad considering she arrived from Hawaii on Thursday, had time for only one practice round on an unfamiliar course, then had to get through a grueling day after rain pushed back her Friday tee time.
In all, she was on the course for 10 hours yesterday, getting started at 7:30 a.m.
"It's a new experience for me," Wie said. "I never did this before. I have been doing a lot of things I've never done before."
She was far behind Webb, who surged to the lead with bogey-free rounds of 67 and 66 in the 54-hole event south of Atlanta.
Webb, a six-time major champion, is seeking her first victory of 2002. She hasn't finished higher than ninth in four tournaments, which she blames on some uncharacteristic lapses.
Webb made virtually all of her birdies from 12 feet and closer.
Wie had a much more adventurous day. Of her 31 holes yesterday, she had nearly as many birdies (eight) and bogeys (seven) as pars.
The last hole of the day epitomized her potential and immaturity. Wie hit a monster drive at the par-5 18th, carrying 300 yards on the fly.
Wie then picked a 5-iron for the front tee placement and skidded her ball far past the cup. She wound up three-putting for par.
"I kept picking out the wrong club," Wie said. "Those kind of mistakes made me have, like, a par instead of a chance for birdie."
Earlier, Wie disregarded her father's advice to putt from the fringe at 1. She chipped about 8 feet short and failed to save par.
"I told her to putt," said B.J. Wie, who is caddying for his daughter. "I knew that was the best way. But she doesn't believe me. You know these kids."
