Sorenstam and Ochoa start strong in Michelob Open, but Wie struggles

5/9/2008

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) -- The booming drives were there, but more often than not, Michelle Wie didn't know where they were going in her first round on the LPGA Tour since February.

The best scores, as usual, belonged to just about everyone else -- a course record-tying 63 by Scotland's Mhairi McKay, and a potential battle looming between Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam in the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill.

Once the most heralded young player in the women's game, Wie managed just one birdie in a zig-zagging 4-over 75 on a soggy day, even as the River Course yielded its fourth 8-under 63 in six years, 64s to Sorenstam and Sun Young Yoo, and 65s to Ochoa and Diana D'Alessio.

Six others were three off the pace, and there were eight more four behind.

Sorenstam, coming off a playoff victory over Paula Creamer two weeks ago in the Stanford International Pro-Am, had seven birdies in a bogey-free round.

Sorenstam played with Ochoa and defending champion Suzann Pettersen (71) and was 4 under through eight holes, the kind of start that she hopes will lead to big things.

Ochoa, a three-time runner-up here, had an eagle, six birdies and two bogeys in her first event since her winning streak was halted at four last weekend. She moved into a tie for third with D'Alessio with three consecutive birdies on the back nine, just before a par-par finish.

Leaderboard – Round 1:

1. Mhairi McKay                             63 - 8
2. Annika Sorenstam                     64 - 7
    Sun Young Yoo                         64 - 7
4. Lorena Ochao                            65 - 6
    Diana D´Alession                       65 - 6
6. Stacy Prammanasudh                 66 - 5
    Song-Hee Kim                           66 - 5
    Hee Young Park                        66 - 5
    Janice Moodie                           66 - 5
    Candie Kung                             66 - 5
    Eun-Hee Ji                                66 - 5

Source: AP, LPGA