Woeful Wie effort prompts rethink

Michelle Wie's first venture into the world of European men's golf may well be her last. When the 16-year-old finished her second round yesterday she was 152nd of the 152 players at the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre - a woeful performance which prompted the head of the European Tour to question the wisdom of allowing her to play against the leading men

"Some things are worth trying once but (after Wie's performance) we will need to take time to evaluate this issue," said George O'Grady, chief executive of the tour, adding: "Having said that, there are some positives from this experience."

Among the positives was a 40 per cent jump in attendance here in Switzerland as well as increased media interest in the event. The tournament is sponsored by Omega, which has signed the teenager to a lucrative deal, and she was allowed to play after the watchmaker asked the tour to invite her.

In economic terms it was hard to deny the success of having Wie travel here. But in human terms it was to difficult to see the point of bringing a schoolgirl from Hawaii halfway around the world, not least because the 16-year-old appeared on the verge of tears after she signed for an eight-over-par 79, to add to her first-round 78, for a 36-hole total of 157, 15 over par.

That left her 22 shots adrift of the halfway leaders, the German Marcus Siem and Wales's Bradley Dredge, and 14 shots outside the cut line.

She said: "I am still in shock. I just couldn't get any of my shots to go today. I don't even know what sport I was playing. But I tried my hardest. What else could I do?"

Yesterday's missed cut was her ninth in 10 appearances in men's professional events. She is due to play in the 84 Lumber Classic, a US Tour event, next week, where the level of competition will be far greater than in Switzerland. It would take a courageous gambler to bet against her extending the run of missed cuts.

Yet she remained defiant when questioned about her intention to compete in both male and female events, rather than concentrate on playing against the best women in the world on the LPGA Tour.

Wie said: "You have to learn how to play in men's tournaments by playing in men's tournaments. You can't learn by playing in women's events, they are so different. I just have to keep doing this. Days like this don't scare me away, they just make me more motivated."

As ever, the player's parents, BJ and Bo Wie were in the galleries to follow their daughter. They have consistently supported her efforts to forge a career in both men's and women's events but for perhaps the first time yesterday it was possible to detect a modicum of doubt in a strategy which had made her arguably the second most famous golfer in the world, as well as wealthy beyond the dreams of any 16-year-old.

BJ Wie said: "As a parent, it is tough to watch Michelle play like she did today. I felt so sorry for her." Asked whether, as a parent, he had a responsibility to protect his young daughter from such public humiliations, he said: "That's a tough question, but what would be the reason for quitting? This is what she wants to do. She is a stubborn girl. Even if I told her not to play (in men's events) I don't think she would listen to me."

Guardian Service

CANADIAN OPEN: American Brett Quigley fired a course record equalling seven-under-par 63 to grab a share of the second round clubhouse lead with five other players at the Canadian Open.

Quigley's bogey free round matched the professional course record set by first round leaders Justin Rose of Britain and American Jim Furyk on Thursday but was achieved in much tougher scoring conditions at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Joining Quigley at six-under 134 were Rose (71), Australian Nathan Green (70), South Africa's Trevor Immelman (66) and Americans Sean O'Hair (69) and Tom Pernice Jr (68).

Sitting atop the leaderboard at seven-under were Sweden's Jesper Parnevick and American Arron Oberholser with nine and 12 holes to play respectively.

The chances of Canadians seeing the first home grown winner of the national championship in 52 years suffered a setback when Mike Weir fumbled his way to a four-over 74.

That left the former Masters champion at five-over for the tournament and in danger of missing the projected cut of even par 140.

Stephen Ames, winner of the Players Championship early this year, will definitely not to be playing at the weekend after withdrawing midway through his second round with a sore back.