Final Four Holes Cut Wie’s Story Short

Two bad holes.

That’s all it took to deny Michelle Wie a special place in history Friday. But judging by the way she played overall, it might just be history deferred.

Wie had a shot to spare inside the cut line with four holes to play during the second round of the John Deere Classic. But a couple of bad shots prevented her from becoming the first woman to make the cut in a PGA Tour event since Babe Didrikson Zaharias did it in 1945.

Wie had to settle for a 71 playing in front of enthusiastic Tiger Woods-sized galleries at the TPC at Deere Run. At one under, she missed the cut by two shots.

J.L. Lewis, the 1999 winner, followed his opening 64 with a 65 to take the lead at 13-under 129. Shigeki Maruyama (63) and Hunter Mahan (68) were second at 11 under.

Wie did beat 54 men in the field, including withdrawals. She finished in a tie for 88th, the same as Nick Price, one of her golfing heroes.

Wie, though, wasn’t in the mood to be consoled. Speaking like a typical 15-year-old, she said of the two bad holes, “It was pretty killer.”

They killed what looked to be a magical day for Wie. Starting on the back nine, she opened with birdies on three of her first five holes, including a chip-in off the green for a birdie on the par-three 12th.

Wie seemed destined to match the number she wore on her belt buckle: 68. She said she picked up the item in France because she thought it was “a cool number.”

Wie was rolling when she arrived on the par-four sixth tee at four under, inside the cut at three under. She went from fairway trap to greenside trap, then three-putted from 20 feet to take a double bogey.

Wie then pushed a four-iron way right on the par-three seventh, leading to another bogey. Suddenly, she dropped to one under with two holes left.

“I played great [my] front nine, but just got kind of slow the back nine,” Wie said. “Just two holes went like that.”

When asked what she got out of her third PGA Tour event, Wie said, “I just really realized how important the last six holes are.”

Wie did make an impression.

“I thought she played very well,” said Scott Gutschewski, one of Wie’s playing partners. “Good putter, very impressed with her short game, and she hits the ball straight. Pretty good combination for 15. You don’t see too many 15-year-olds with a short game like that.”

Gutschewski shot a 66 Friday to beat Wie at five under. Wie’s other playing partner, Nick Watney, wasn’t as fortunate, as he came in at five over with a round of 72.

Up next for Wie is the men’s U.S. Amateur Public Links next week outside Cincinnati. If she wins, she would get an invitation to the Masters.

Regardless, she probably will get more chances to play on the PGA Tour.

“On the LPGA, I made the cut my fourth try,” Wie said. “You know, my fourth try is coming up [on the PGA Tour], so I’m really looking forward to that.”