This might have been one of the few times Michelle Wie was happy with a 73 on the LPGA Tour.
In perhaps the most scrutinized round of her career, Wie recovered from a sloppy start with three birdies in a four-hole stretch and a couple of important par saves toward the end on Thursday to leave herself in decent shape of playing all four days at the LPGA Championship.
Former US Women's Open champion Birdie Kim came to life with a 5-under 67, leaving her atop the leaderboard at Bulle Rock with rookie Angela Park and Kim Saiki-Maloney.
PHOTO: AP
Morgan Pressel got off to a good start in her bid for the second leg of the Grand Slam with a 68, joining seven-time major champion Karrie Webb and Laura Davies, who could qualify for the Hall of Fame with a victory in this major.
But the focus was on Wie, who has come under intense criticism for withdrawing after 16 holes last week at the Ginn Tribute citing a wrist injury, showing up at Bulle Rock two days later to hit balls, and getting sassy with Annika Sorenstam and LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens over her conduct.
"I don't think I need to apologize for anything," Wie said earlier this week.
There was no need to apologize for her score.
Some thought she might withdraw again when she summoned a rules official on her sixth hole, the par-5 15th, to ask permission for her therapist to work on her wrist. Wie had just hit three shots out of deep rough in her previous four full swings, and said it hurt.
She played on, swinging at what coach David Leadbetter estimated at 80 percent speed, and she never took driver out of the bag.
Wie has played in the final group at majors and come close to qualifying for the men's US Open. Considering the soap opera over the last week, the pressure was never greater.
"I built a lot of confidence over this round," said Wie, who was in a tie for 47th.
Pak Se-ri also shot 73, and her smile was never brighter.
The defending champion logged her 10th tournament of the year, marking her 10th season on the LPGA Tour, and that was all she needed to be eligible for the Hall of Fame. At 29, Pak will be the youngest member when she's inducted in November.
Several South Korean players lined the back of the interview room, a fitting tribute to their pioneer. The McDonald's LPGA Championship was her first LPGA victory in 1998, and she went on to 23 victories and five majors.
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