With all the pressure a golfer could imagine playing the Reno-Tahoe Open, the only respectable women's golfer this side of the Atlantic kept it interesting during day one.Michelle Wie, coming in as the hot topic in golf, opened with a one-over 73 that could have been miles worse if not for a hot putter that saved the 18-year-old all day long.
Wie is eight shots back of first round leader Jeff Overton who shot a seven-under 65, but is right on the cut line after Thursday's round.
Facing criticism that would fill a spiral notebook, Wie opened with a "blame the pressure" bogey on the first hole but kept it together for most of the front nine, making two birdies on 6 and 9 to go out in even-par 36. Two bogeys on both the par-3s heading in had her slipping until a late birdie on 17 got her within a shot of both her playing competitors.
Wie hit only 39 percent of the greens in regulation, but made up for that with just 24 putts which was good enough for sixth in the field.
Maybe not exactly what she was looking for, but the good thing is she didn't shoot herself out of the tournament the first day and has a chance Friday, barring a solid round under par, to make her first cut on the PGA Tour.
It might not be the consolation prize she was hoping for, but Wie beat both Jay Williamson and David Duval, each making comments earlier this week about how they didn't really see why she was in the field.
Eat your hearts out whoever you are and dude that won a British Open like 40 years ago.
