Wie, Pressel lead US Open after third round in Colorado

Two teenagers in pink shirts and ponytails showed Saturday that history at the US Women's Open doesn't have to be all about Annika Sorenstam and the Grand Slam.

Michelle Wie was a 15-year-old model of poise at Cherry Hills, relying on power to get out of some rough spots on her way to a 1-over 72 while playing in the final group. She was tied for the lead with 17-year-old Morgan Pressel, whose game is built around passion and putting. She shot a 70 to get into the final group.

They were joined at 1-over 214 by Karen Stupples of England, the last player besides Sorenstam to win a major on the LPGA Tour. She made six straight birdies in her round of 69.

One shot behind was 18-year-old Paula Creamer.

A victory by Wie or Pressel would make them the youngest to ever capture a major championship. Creamer could be the youngest to win a major in America. All of them are playing well enough to do it.

Are they intimidated? Are you kidding?

"I'm baffled by the question," Pressel said. "I've played lots of events. I know how to play golf. People look at age as something that should set me back. But I don't think it does."

Sorenstam is still more than just a subplot to this dynamic championship, but just barely.

Her dream of sweeping the four majors appeared to crash with a three-putt bogey and a four-putt double bogey in a span of four holes early in the third round. But she salvaged a 2-over 73 to finish at 6-over 219, only five shots out of the lead heading into the final round.

Maybe history is on her side.

The last time the US Women's Open was played in Colorado, Sorenstam came from five shots behind to win her first LPGA title 10 years ago. Sixty-two victories and nine majors later, she is still a force.

"I've got 18 more holes to play, and I'm going to give it my all," Sorenstam said.

She was told that Arnold Palmer shot 65 in the final round of the 1960 US Open to make up a seven-shot deficit.

"I know what I've got to do, then," Sorenstam replied.

Palmer had to hold off a 20-year-old amateur named Jack Nicklaus. Sorenstam has to catch up to a collection of teenagers and amateurs who see no reason why they can't win the biggest tournament in women's golf.

"I think I need to shoot under par," Wie said.

The star attraction on a balmy afternoon, the 1.83m Wie never got flustered after bogeys on two of the first four holes, one of those a chip she nearly shanked from the deep rough around the fourth green. She answered by hitting driver on the 539-yard fifth hole for the first time all week, allowing her to reach the green with an iron.

Wie held on to the lead at even par, muscling an approach out of the deep rough to the front of the 14th green. But a 3-wood slightly off its mark caught up with her two holes later when she tried to squeeze another wedge out of the thick grass and went into more rough short of the green, making bogey.

She will be in the second-to-last group Sunday with Birdie Kim, who had a 69.

Creamer, who missed an 8-foot par putt on the final hole, will be paired with Young Jo (70).

Stupples will be in the final group with Pressel. She is one of the leaders, but she might feel like a baby sitter.

Pressel has been peeved by all the attention heaped on Wie. She said earlier this year that there are some other teenagers that can play the game just as well.