Michelle Wie put a couple of bogeys toward the end of her first nine holes Thursday well behind her, as the 18-hole LPGA Founders Cup co-leader of the morning wave absolutely pummeled Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix on her inward nine.
Michelle Wie comes out firing, shares lead at LPGA Founders Cup
Wie fires a 65 to tie for the early lead in Phoenix.
Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images
Wie, whose game is definitely on the upswing so far in 2017, made the turn in 1-under 35 and immediately made three straight birdies. She added an eagle-3 on the fifth (her 14th of the day) and another birdie on No. 8.
The 2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion, who has not won on tour since that victory, had everything clicking on her way to a 7-under 65 and an early share of the lead with Vicky Hurst. In addition to hitting 12 of 14 fairways in regulation and 15 of 18 greens, Wie required just 26 putts in her seven-birdie, eagle, two-bogey round.
Her new putting stance, which is more upright than the table-top style she had employed, and what she calls a modified claw grip are paying off, for sure.
“I like the feel of the claw. I practice with it. I love the way my stroke goes. I putted well with it in Australia,” Wie said following the opening round of the tour’s first U.S. tournament of the season. “I think it’s just a matter of what feels best that week for me. I kind of do both during the practice rounds.”
Wie, who led through 54 holes two weeks ago in Singapore, wilted down the stretch, when she posted an even-par 72 after three rounds in the 60s. Still, it was her first top-5 result since 2014.
If this is to be Wie’s year, after a brutal 2015 and 2016, Thursday’s stellar start was a good indication that the four-time tour winner was able to overcome previous frustrations.
“I was really disappointed on Sunday [in Singapore]. I was sad. It definitely stung. You always want to win. At the same time, I played great on Sunday. Just couple putts didn’t go in, and I forgot you hit it further when you get adrenaline going,” said Wie. “Every experience you get you learn from it, and I learned a lot from it. Hopefully I use the experience here in the upcoming events.”
Wie’s buzzword at the HSBC was “fun,” and the world’s 118th-ranked player (up 61 spots since Singapore) certainly appeared to be enjoying herself after Thursday’s effort.
Of course, there’s plenty of golf left to play for the week, not to mention Thursday’s afternoon group of players that included No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn, Lexi Thompson (No. 7), and Women’s Australian Open winner Ha Na Jang (No. 6).
Also lurking are Inbee Park, at 5-under, and top-ranked Lydia Ko (4-under).
