Michelle Wie opens with 73 at Casio World Open

Michelle Wie salvaged a one-over-par 73 with two superb late birdies in the first round of the men's Casio World Open in Japan on Thursday.

The 16-year-old Hawaiian made up shots on six and seven following bogeys on 16, two and three to move to within five shots of leaders Toshimitsu Izawa and Yoshiaki Kimura.

"I wanted to be a little higher but considering I struggled in the middle I'm pretty happy," said Wie, aiming to make the cut for the first time in six attempts against the men.

"If I can make a couple more putts I think I'll be all set. It was a bit rough in the middle and I was a little frustrated I couldn't get anything going.

"I felt urgency to make something happen. I felt I had to make a couple of birdies. I got the feeling I could do it and I started to believe in myself more."

Wie added: "After the sixth I felt a little bit more confident and it's a good start for tomorrow."

Wie was making her first start since being disqualified on her professional debut last month.

She began on the back nine at Kuroshio Country Club and dropped her first shot by taking three putts on the par-four 16th.

The Honolulu schoolgirl missed a makeable birdie putt on 18 and had 40 minutes to dwell on it as she waited for a logjam of players at the first tee of the $1.7 million tournament.

The unscheduled wait appeared to unsettle Wie as bogeyed the second and third holes.

Wie's putting let her down as she produced a wonderful chip from the fringe on the 225-yard par-three second, only to miss a three-foot putt for par.

The huge gallery following Wie groaned in amazement as her short par-putt on the par-four third then lipped out.

"It's the first time I've had to wait 40 minutes between holes," said Wie. "Then I missed a couple of bad putts. It's not like something was terribly wrong. I missed a couple of bad putts...they just slipped out of my hand."

But Wie hit back beautifully with back-to-back birdies, lofting a sand wedge from 100 yards to four feet at the sixth and pitching to within three feet on the long par-five seventh.

Wie's first professional start was a chastening experience when she was disqualified after falling foul of a drop violation at the Women's World Championship in Palm Desert, California.

Sweden's Sophie Gustafson missed the cut at the 2003 Casio World Open, the only other time and a woman has played in a JGTO Tour event.

November 24, 2005

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