Wie one place off bottom in men's golf tournament in Japan

0 Comments | AFP, November, 2006

KOCHI, Japan (AFP) — Michelle Wie has bogeyed nine holes in the first round of the Casio World Open and looked set to miss another cut in the men's game. The 17-year-old Korean-American high school girl from Hawaii squandered all her five birdie chances to finish 101st in a 102-strong field with a nine-over-par 81.

"My swing didn't feel that bad. I just have to get my confidence back on my driver and hit the ball like I always do. And I'll be fine," said Wie on Thursday, making her 12th attempt in a men's national or international tournament. She also failed to make the half-way cut by one stroke last year here at one of Japan's richest events. Indian Jeev Milka Singh shared the first-round lead of 66 with Japan's Tetsuya Haraguchi and Azuma Yano in light rain. Hideki Kase...