Sony gives Wie another chance to make men's cut

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

HONOLULU -- She's only 16, a junior in high school fresh off semester exams and preparing to take her driver's license test next Tuesday.

Michelle Wie also is playing her first PGA Tour event as a professional. And trying to make her first paycheck against men or women.

"Whatever happens, I think it will be a successful week," Wie said Tuesday after a practice round with Sean O'Hair and Justin Rose that drew a gallery close to 100. "How you get there is the most important thing. Playing with the men will make me a lot better player."

Wie makes her third appearance in the Sony Open and seventh overall against male pros Thursday at Waialae Country Club. She'll be paired with Chris Couch and Camilo Villegas, players promoted from the Nationwide Tour, and tee off at 8:40 a.m. (1:40 ET) on No.10.

Wie has yet to make a cut in a men's tournament, missing by one stroke in her Sony Open debut in 2004. She was seven strokes from the cut last year, but finished ahead of 14 players.

"This year, I'm trying to take it easy, feel my way around the course and have fun," Wie said. "I'll be like a sponge this week, soaking everything in."

Playoff woes: He's improved upon his start from a year ago, albeit slightly. And with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson yet to begin their seasons, Vijay Singh can set a fast early pace with a strong showing at the Sony Open.

That doesn't mean Singh has to be happy with his one-hole playoff loss to Stuart Appleby on Sunday at the Mercedes Championships. It was a rare stumble for Singh, whose playoff record stands at 7-3.

"I didn't come over here to finish second," Singh said as he headed to the practice range Tuesday. "I'm going to try the hardest I can to win the golf tournament. That's my whole focus."

After a fifth at Mercedes to open 2005, Singh won the Sony Open for the first time in nine tries at Waialae Country Club. He returns after rededicating himself to longer workouts and more consistent play, attributing missed cuts at the Funai Classic and Chrysler Championship to wear and tear.

"I don't want to finish the season like I did last year, missing two cuts in a row," said Singh, who turns 43 on Feb.22. "I've prepared well for this year. It's a good start, a disappointing start. My body's feeling good. I'm hurting only a few places now instead of all the places."

Straight to the top: The LPGA's first full-field event isn't until mid-February, but the spotlight already has hit on what promises to be one of the most-watched seasons in women's golf -- beginning Friday at the White House, no less, where the victorious Solheim Cup team is scheduled to meet President Bush.

Led by youngsters Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis and Christina Kim, the USA beat Europe 151/2-121/2 in September at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind.

The White House visit coincides with what could be a historic day. Wie will be playing the second round of the Sony Open as she tries to become only the second women to make the cut in a PGA Tour event. Babe Didrikson Zaharias did it twice in 1945 at the Phoenix Open and Tucson Open.

To see more of USAToday.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.usatoday.com