Women's British OpenIt was 80 degrees and sunny in Hawaii yesterday, the other end of the barometer from the old Lancashire coast, where Michelle Wie battled howling wind and horizontal rain to shoot a 75 in the first round of Women's British Open. It was an admirable effort by the American teenager in what may well be her last tournament as an amateur.
"I played in rain before, I've played in wind before, and I've played when I've been cold before. But all three at the same time? That was pretty hectic," Wie said, showing a nifty line in understatement.
Her game was not that bad either, despite having to endure a 50-minute weather delay which she and her playing partners, Catriona Matthews and Carin Koch, spent in a tournament van parked by the 11th fairway trying to get the heater to work.
In the end her three-over-par round left her seven behind the leader, Jeong Jang, whose 68 put her one shot ahead of Sweden's Sophie Gustafson and two in front of Nicole Perrot, Chile's only female touring professional.
"This is the first round I've played in the British Open and I feel like I got the whole package. I'm kind of glad I did it," Wie added.
The American, who will return to Hawaii next week in time for the new school term, might be even happier at next year's British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes, when it seems almost certain she will be playing as a professional rather than as an amateur. That change in status would enable her to take on numerous sponsorship deals said to be awaiting her signature, as well as to bank any prize money.
According to reports published in the US yesterday, the 15-year-old plans to join the professional ranks in October at the LPGA tour's World Championship, a tournament which coincides with her 16th birthday. If the speculation is confirmed, her birthday presents will include a $10 million endorsement contract with Nike, as well invitations to compete against the men in seven PGA Tour events and up to eight invitations to play against the best women players.
One unnamed company is also reported to be offering a sponsorship deal which would include 300 hours of flying time in a private jet. The sports agency IMG, which has long courted her father, BJ Wie, is reputedly in line to handle her financial affairs.
As a professional, Wie would also be able to receive appearance money for playing in tournaments in countries such as Japan and South Korea, where her parents were born, where there is a huge interest in the women's game in general, and in Wie in particular.
The player, who has long stated her desire to attend Stanford University (Tiger Woods' alma mater) and, it seems, the university authorities have indicated she will be allowed to combine academic life with a lucrative career as a professional.
All that is left is for Wie to convert her undoubted potential into a victory on the course. That seems unlikely this week, although she was unwilling to rule out an unlikely comeback. "I don't think I am that far behind with the conditions being like they are. We have three more days to go, so we're not finished yet," she said.
The same might be said of the other pre-tournament favourites, including Annika Sorenstam, who shot a one-over par 73, and Paula Creamer, who had another 75. Of the others who were expected to contend for the final major of the year, Lorena Ochoa of Mexico played herself out of the tournament with four-hole stretch of double bogey, bogey, double-bogey, bogey, which left her 12-over for the day.
Perhaps she should have with a pre-round pep talk from Jeong Jang's caddy, Jerry Woodard. "He told me I had to smile. I said 'I have to?' and he said, 'Yes, because the conditions are the same for everybody'," the South Korean said.
Wise words from a wise man.
