[ U.S. CURTIS CUP ]
USA team members Michelle Wie and Erica Blasberg watched the match draw to a close at the Curtis Cup in England.
Leadbetter’s pointers help
Wie in Curtis Cup
MERSEYSIDE, England» Michelle Wie's spectacular final round at the Curtis Cup yesterday wasn't something that happened by chance.
Wie spent three days with coach David Leadbetter after a Curtis Cup practice in Georgia to work on hitting shots suitable for the windy links course. Wie's parents, B.J. and Bo, agreed that Wie would not have done as well without his tutoring.
"Without David's help, Michelle cannot perform like this," B.J. Wie said. "She has played in a completely different way than on American courses.
"He taught her how to hit low shots. Low fade, low draw, it's very nice. She took this tournament very seriously."
Forget the champagne: The youngest Curtis Cup squad team had to get creative as they prepared to give U.S. captain Martha Kirouac the post win drenching.
With only two players over the age of 21, Wie and high schoolers Paula Creamer and Jane Park went for the sparkling water instead. Kirouac nearly avoided the dousing but the eight girls chased her down.
Just the eight of us: Wie's first experience having teammates was one the only child truly enjoyed. While foursomes' play might have been a bit frustrating at times, Wie wouldn't have traded the experience of being on a team.
"I made so many new friends here," Wie said. "It was a really fun week playing as a team and playing on a links style golf course.
"I'm really glad that there wasn't a lot of pressure on me. It was all eight of us."
For all the talk of Wie's high-profile stealing the attention from her teammates, it was clear that the 14-year-old had no problems with her teammates as she was engulfed in individual and group hugs as the girls left the course yesterday.
B.J. Wie said his daughter enjoyed the team atmosphere of the Curtis Cup.
"She's playing for the country," B.J. Wie said. 'Michelle' does not exist in this competition. It was never 'Michelle' here. It is always USA."
Like the Beatles: The buzz about Wie never wavered the whole weekend as spectators drove between 40 minutes and five hours to catch their first glimpse of Wie in action. She left many amazed by her gifted game.
Wie was featured in many of Great Britain's daily papers and several stations including the BBC did interviews with her.
