INCHEON, South Korea -- In her eighth attempt, Michelle Wie made the cut at a professional men’s event on Friday when she shot a 3-under 69 in the second round of the SK Telecom Open.
Wie stands at 5-under-par 139 midway through this Asian Tour event, five shots above the even-par cut line and six strokes off the lead.
The 16-year-old sensation, who is currently the second-ranked women’s player in the world, became the first female to make the cut on a major men’s international tour since Babe Didrikson Zaharias at the PGA TOUR’s 1945 Tucson Open.
‘I’m excited and happy and would like to play even better,’ said Wie, who is now playing professionally on the LPGA Tour. ‘Right now I’m feeling good, but this event isn’t over yet so I’ll concentrate on tomorrow’s game.’
Wie’s appearance has caused a bit of a stir around the course. Next to the 16th hole, cars stopped to watch her play.
‘It was so fun seeing the police officers come and the crowd here got excited,’ said Wie, who found a bunker at the par-3 hole on Friday. ‘It made me laugh.’
Wie is currently tied for 17th place with five other players. And while it’s true that the best men’s players in the world are competing elsewhere, the SK Open field is hardly a cakewalk. It features some of the biggest names on the Asian Tour.
‘First I want to play well in the next two rounds,’ said Wie. ‘Then after this, I want to challenge on the U.S. PGA TOUR where I hope to be in the top 10 someday.’
Despite the best efforts of players like world No. 1 Annika Sorenstam and Suzy Whaley, no woman has been able to make the PGA TOUR cut since Didrikson Zaharias more than 60 years ago. Wie will have at least two more chances to do it this year after accepting invites to the John Deere Classic and the 84 Lumber Classic.
Wie missed the cut three straight years at the Sony Open in Hawaii and also at the 2005 John Deere Classic. She has also previously competed in three other professional men’s events.
SK Telecom Open
Friday - Second Round
At Sky 72 Golf Club - Incheon, South Korea
Purse: $600,000 Yardage: 7,152; Par: 72
a-amateur
Prom Meesawat, Thailand 69-64--133
Iain Steel, Malaysia 67-66--133
Jeev Milkha Singh, India 68-66--134
Lee Seong-ho, South Korea 67-67--134
Chapchai Nirat, Thailand 68-67--135
Brad Kennedy, Australia 67-68--135
a-Lee Won-jun, South Korea 69-67--136
Adam Le Vesconte, Australia 65-71--136
Hong Soon-sang, South Korea 71-66--137
Kang Kyung-nam, South Korea 69-68--137
Choi Ho-sung, South Korea 70-68--138
Terry Pilkadaris, Australia 69-69--138
Mo Joong-kyung, South Korea 70-68--138
Anthony Kang, United States 70-68--138
Lu Wei-lan, Taiwan 72-66--138
Choi Jin-ho, South Korea 70-68--138
Harmeet Kahlon, India 70-69--139
Michelle Wie, United States 70-69--139
Hwang In-choon, South Korea 69-70--139
Bryan Saltus, United States 70-69--139
Park Boo-won, South Korea 71-68--139
Chinarat Phadungsil, Thailand 71-68--139
Kim Hyung-tae, South Korea 69-71--140
K.J. Choi, South Korea 68-72--140
Michael Wright, Australia 73-67--140
Angelo Que, Philippines 71-69--140
Lee Sung, South Korea 69-71--140
Lu Wei-chih, Taiwan 69-71--140
Park Yong-soo, South Korea 71-69--140
Ron Won, United States 69-71--140
a-Mang Dong-sub, South Korea 68-73--141
Jang Ik-jae, South Korea 70-71--141
Gary Rusnak, United States 69-72--141
a-Hur In-hoi, South Korea 68-73--141
a-Kang Sung-hoon, South Korea 72-69--141
David Oh, United States 69-72--141
Moon Ji-wook, South Korea 70-71--141
Kong Young-joon, South Korea 71-70--141
Kim Hong-sik, South Korea 70-71--141
Ari Savolainen, Finland 69-72--141
Simon Nash, Australia 70-71--141
Ahmad Bateman, Canada 71-70--141
Adam Blyth, Australia 69-72--141
