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Golfer Wie making fitness a priority
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-12 09:34
Even so, Wie will be measured this week by the scores on her card, and
whether she finishes among the top 70 players and ties over the first two
rounds.
The defending champion is
Vijay Singh, and the field includes three-time Mercedes Championships winner
Stuart Appleby, Mike Weir, David Toms and Adam Scott.
Scott finished behind her two years ago and paid dearly. When he got to Bay
Hill, swing coach Butch Harmon had plastered pictures of Wie inside his locker.
"It's a big week for us, a big week for me," Scott said with a smile. "Two
years ago she almost made it. If she putts really well, she can make the cut."
Even so, the novelty is wearing off the more she plays, and the older she
gets.
Three players at the Sony Open have never played a PGA Tour event, having
earned their way through qualifying school. Wie already has played four tour
events, and dozens of rounds at Waialae getting ready for this week.
"I was expecting a good player, but not a seasoned player," said Sean O'Hair,
the PGA Tour rookie of the year, after playing a practice round with Wie on
Tuesday. "She seems like she's been doing this a while."
She has.
Mark Calcavecchia is among those who wonder why she doesn't concentrate more
on the LPGA Tour, where she had three runner-up finishes last year, two of them
in majors. He doesn't mind her playing the Sony Open, because Wie grew up in
Honolulu and is a huge draw this week.
"I think she should try to win some LPGA tournaments first and go from
there," he said.
These are suggestions Wie has heard before, and she's not about to change.
Now that she's a pro, she might add two more PGA Tour events this year.
"Playing with the guys has made me a better player," she said. "With that
experience and knowledge, I think it will help me win women's events. That's my
goal — to win with the women's events."
Leadbetter wouldn't put a timetable on when that might happen, although the
sooner the better. The last time Wie hoisted a trophy was as a 13-year-old at
the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links. He said one problem was her schedule,
which includes nine months of high school.
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