US ace Wie fears nothing but sand
Michelle Wie feels there will be nothing she cannot cope with when the US begin their defence of the Curtis Cup against Great Britain and Ireland at Formby on Saturday – except the notorious pot bunkers dotted around the Lancashire links.
The 14-year-old American wondergirl is already revelling in being the star attraction, but she admitted: “When I saw my first one I got very excited.
“Then I got into it and I decided I did not want to see another again.”
In reality, Wie can propel the ball such impressive distances that she probably will not have that experience too often over the weekend.
She hits her driver “about 300 yards” which she hopes will not intimidate her opponent because so far on her first trip to Britain she has been “having lots of fun” and hopes it will stay that way.
Wie, christened after the Beatles song, continued: “I might not even use the club. It will depend on how I feel about the shot.”
There is no question about her being the smash hit at Formby, just up the road from where the Fab Four lived, and record crowds are predicted for the biennial match which the United States have won for the last three occasions.
They are hot favourites to do so again – but defiant Great Britain & Ireland captain Ada O’Sullivan, who says she has already written her winning speech, believes the Wie factor can work in her side’s favour.
O’Sullivan, who kept the Beatles theme going by taking her charges on the Magical Mystery Tour between practice rounds, explained: “Some of the US players have not been happy about her getting all the attention – but none of our girls are complaining.”
