An Early Departure for Michelle Wie, Another Lead for Angela Park

Jun 30, 07:05 PM

Current Headlines: By DOUG FERGUSON

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (AP) - Michelle Wie left early again. Everyone else at this U.S. Women's Open is working overtime.

Angela Park continued to set the pace at Pine Needles on Saturday, completing her second round in the storm-delayed tournament with a 2-under 69 that she held together with two big par saves at the end, giving her a two-shot lead and a couple of hours to rest before starting the third round in the early evening.

Park was at 5-under 137 through two rounds, and among those who faced the longest day.

Janice Moodie only had to tap in a 3-inch bogey putt Saturday morning to complete her second round, then didn't have to hit another shot until nine hours later, when she started her third round with defending champion Annika Sorenstam and Laura Davies.

Wie had a shorter day than she imagined.

The 17-year-old from Hawaii, her career in a state of chaos, withdrew after a 42 on her first nine holes, putting her 17 over par for the tournament, no chance of making the cut. She said she felt soreness in her left wrist when she woke up, began to wince after hitting out of the rough, and was wiping away tears when she walked in.

"There's good days and bad days," she said. "And obviously, today was not a good day. I just have to reevaluate, make some smart choices and see how it works out."

She left the course not knowing when she would return.

Park was the first-round leader three weeks ago at the LPGA Championship, and at this major managed to be in the lead for the first two rounds. The 18-year-old rookie was feeling rested and letting her putter do most of the work.

And the Brazilian-born, California-raised teen already was feeling vibes from what happened two weeks ago at Oakmont, where Angel Cabrera of Argentina won the U.S. Open.

"His name is Angel without an 'a,' so it would be kind of funny to have an Angela win it," she said.

But there wasn't anyone like Tiger Woods or Jim Furyk on her heels.

Jiyai Shin and Amy Hung each shot 69 and were two shots behind at 139, both of them without an LPGA Tour victory. Also at 139 was Julieta Granada of Paraguay, who shot 69. She won the ADT Championship last year for the US$1 million payoff, the richest in women's golf.

Some of the bigger names were lurking.

Morgan Pressel, who was 13 when she made her U.S. Women's Open debut at Pine Needles six years ago, dropped two shots over the final four holes while challenging for the lead and still shot 70 to head into the third round only four shots behind.

Pressel became the youngest major champion in LPGA history three months ago at the Kraft Nabisco, playing the final 24 holes without a bogey, the kind of golf that would go a long way at this tournament.

But she was kicking herself for the finish.

She opted for 3-wood for her second shot on the par-5 15th, but it carried too far into a bunker. That left her an 80-yard sand shot to the green, one of the toughest shots in golf, and she wound up with a bogey. She also missed the fairway on the 18th to take bogey and fall another shot behind.

"I shouldn't have been in that bunker in the first place," she said of her mistake on the 15th.

Losing shots can jangle the nerves at the Women's Open on a Saturday afternoon, but the 19-year-old Pressel was wise enough to realize the tournament was only halfway over.

"I'm still right there," she said.

Casting an even larger presence was Lorena Ochoa, the No. 1 player in the world still seeking her first major. She showed signs of being too eager to capture a major when her swing got a little quick to start her second round Saturday morning, and the 25-year-old Mexican had three bogeys on her first seven holes.

"I was a little upset, but at the same time, I knew we had a lot of holes left, and that the other nine (front nine) was playing a little bit easier," Ochoa said.

She picked up birdies on the 17th and 18th, two of the toughest at Pine Needles, then steadied herself the rest of the way. She added another birdie on the easy eighth hole for her second straight 71.

That put her only five shots behind Park, a player still picking up experience as she goes.

"I'm just going to do my game, not to worry about the leaders," Ochoa said. "I think that I'm close enough. Hopefully, my name means something on the leaderboard, and I'm ready to play a good round."

Sorenstam was still alive, but barely.

She is trying to maintain a streak at Pine Needles - the last two winners here were defending champions. Sorenstam played three shots Saturday morning to limit the damage to a 77, leaving her 10 shots behind. But she has played enough of these majors to know that the leaders can move backward as often as players make a charge.

"I've been around long enough to know you have to be patient," she said.