NEWPORT, Rhode Island - American golfer Michelle Wie will not be short of preparation going into the US Women's Open starting at Newport Country Club on Friday NZ time.
The Honolulu schoolgirl, 16, arrived in Newport a week ago and has played nine holes every day since then to familiarise
herself with a links style course softened and lengthened due to heavy rain at the start of this week.
"I've been close to winning a lot of majors but I just have to stay patient," she said.
"I know it will happen when the time is right."
Wie has been criticised for failing to finish off the job of claiming a title. Her only win of note was in the 2003 US Amateur Public Links Championship.
Last year, she was tied for the lead going into the final round of this championship at Cherry Hills in Denver, but tumbled into a tie for 23rd after a closing final round of 82.
But she has no hang ups from the experience. "I don't remember that round, that's over my head now," she joked.
"To be honest, I don't think Cherry Hills was my type of course. It wasn't a bomber's course and it made me hit a lot more three woods."
So does Newport Country Club suit her game? "I love it," she said.
"It's an awesome golf course and I've never been in a place like this before. It's a British links style course and I don't really feel like I'm in America."
Wie has proved she can compete on British-type seaside courses. She was a member of the United States who won the Curtis Cup at Formby in England two years ago and tied for third at the British Women's Open at Royal Birkdale last summer.
"The weather was wet, cold and windy at Birkdale," she recalled.
"But it taught me to play lots of low, knockdown shots. I don't mind if it's the same this week."
- REUTERS
