Wie’s putter still off the mark at U.S. Open
The buzz wasn’t quite the same. The gallery was significantly smaller. About the only similarity between Michelle Wie trying to qualify for the U.S. Open and the Hawaii teenager at the LPGA Championship in Havre de Grace, Md., was her putting.
Whether it’s Canoe Brook or Bulle Rock, the hole still looks awfully small.
Three days after her putter doomed her hopes of a U.S. Open berth, Wie missed six putts inside 12 feet on the first eight holes Thursday. She was toward the bottom of the pack until birdies on three of the final four holes gave her a 1-under 71, leaving her seven shots behind Nicole Castrale.
“I think my putting is getting better,” she said.
Castrale used a late string of birdies on the closing holes for a different result. It helped her post a career-low 64, giving her a two-shot lead over Cristie Kerr and Pat Hurst.
Only about 750 people trudged over the hilly terrain of Bulle Rock to watch the 16-year-old Wie, much smaller than the estimated 3,500 who showed up at Canoe Brook in northern New Jersey for the U.S. Open sectional qualifier.
“What happened on Monday, you can’t really see anywhere else,” Wie said. “The crowds were very supportive today, even though it was not quite as huge as Monday. But they stayed until the end, so I was very happy.”
About the same amount watched Annika Sorenstam earlier in the day as the three-time defending champion struggled at times off the tee and around the green for a 71 that included four birdies.
“It kind of summarized my year a little bit, so I’m not surprised,” said Sorenstam, who hasn’t won since her 2006 debut.
Sorenstam and Wie were among those tied for 41st on a day when 24 players shot in the 60s.
The group at 67 included South Korean rookie Seon Hwa Lee, coming off her first LPGA Tour victory last week at the ShopRite Classic, and Dorothy Delasin, who played with Wie.
Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., opened with a 69. Rathdrum’s Tracy Hanson carded a 73.
PGA Tour
Adam Scott left his putter in the bag on a couple of holes, then turned it loose on the soggy Westchester Country Club course at Harrison, N.Y.
The 25-year-old Australian holed out twice from off the green and made long birdie putts on the final two holes for a 6-under 65 and a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Barclays Classic.
David Howell and Billy Andrade were tied for second, Fredrik Jacobson opened with a 67 and U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman, David Toms, Rocco Mediate, Arron Oberholser, Joey Sindelar and Daisuke Maruyama shot 68s. Masters champion Phil Mickelson, preparing for the U.S. Open next week at nearby Winged Foot, was at 70.