Golf notes: Michelle Wie returns to action after Open victory

Michelle Wie has enjoyed a week full of celebration and national attention since finally winning her first major championship in the U.S. Women’s Open.

The most recognizable name in women’s golf danced with her trophy and appeared on the morning television circuit, taking in the rewards after beating top-ranked Stacy Lewis by a stroke Sunday at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina.

“It feels great, but I don’t know how people in showbiz do it,” Wie said about the attention.

Wie received congratulatory messages from Arnold Palmer and Condoleezza Rice, among others, as well as flowers from Adam Sandler.

“I feel like that’s the biggest prize in golf, getting flowers from Happy Gilmore,” Wie joked.

Celebration aside, Wie will return to play today in the NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers, Arkansas. And she’ll do it in former Arkansas star Lewis’ backyard at Pinnacle Country Club.

Lewis, a two-time winner who also has four runner-up finishes, nearly chased down Wie during the final round last week. She shot a 66, bolstered by eight birdies, before congratulating Wie, her training and practice partner, on the 18th green.

Senior Players Championship

Joe Durant, David Frost and Doug Garwood sprinted to the early lead at the Senior Players Championship, shooting 6-under 64 on Thursday at defenseless Fox Chapel in Pittsburgh.

Still drying out after days of steady rain, the par-70 layout in suburban Pittsburgh offered little resistance. Frost and Garwood breezed through their rounds without making a bogey, and Durant offset his lone bogey with seven birdies.

Bernhard Langer, Corey Pavin, Larry Mize, Steve Pate, Olin Browne, Bart Bryant, Peter Fowler and Wes Short Jr. shot 65. Colin Montgomerie, the Senior PGA winner last month, opened with a 5-under 30 on the front nine before fading to a 69.

Defending champion Kenny Perry shot an even-par 70, as did former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett, to sit in a tie for 40th.