Wie Puts Charge Into Bighorn

Her second day as a professional golfer was another day of firsts for Michelle Wie.

Such as the Hawaiian teenager’s first bogey-free round.

Such as her first favorable judgment from a rules official, in this case Jim Haley, whose ruling on the 14th hole was a key to Wie’s seven-under-par 65 Friday, the lowest round of the day in the Samsung World Championship at Bighorn Golf Club and the lowest of Wie’s career in 25 LPGA Tour events.

At nine-under 135 halfway through the 72-hole event at Palm Desert, the 16-year-old Wie is tied for second place with defending champion Annika Sorenstam and rookie-of-the-year Paula Creamer, two shots behind second-round leader Grace Park.

Catriona Matthew and Cristie Kerr are tied for fifth at 136.

Wie, who started the day six shots off the lead after an opening-round 70, actually led for a short time before Park caught fire and Wie cooled down.

Park, the third-round leader in this event a year ago before Sorenstam charged past her on the back nine on the final day, overcame a double bogey on the fifth hole by making eight birdies over the last 14 holes, six on the back nine.

“I love desert courses,” said Park, who lives in Phoenix.

Wie, meanwhile, reached nine under by making seven birdies over the first 12 holes, then maintained her score through the end of her round.

She drew on her memory and Haley’s sympathy on No. 14 after her tee shot landed under a bush off the right side of the fairway.

Recalling that she had once seen a player on the PGA Tour get relief from an unplayable lie because of fire ants near his ball, Wie asked for a similar ruling after noticing swarming bees in and around the bush enveloping her ball.

“I asked the official if I can get a relief because I’m allergic to bees and there were bees all around,” Wie said, humorously recounting for reporters her history of bee stings. “I’m not a big fans of bees and there were tons in there.”

Haley granted her a free drop and she saved par, staying in contention as another large group of photographers documented her every shot.

She said she felt more relaxed than she had Thursday, a 25-yard birdie chip on No. 7 highlighting her round.

“It was nice,” she said.

Not feeling so chipper was Sorenstam, who led by two after an eagle on No. 12 but fell two shots off the pace after bogeying two of the last three holes.

The first-round leader was upset that she hadn’t been granted greater relief from rules official Robert O. Smith on No. 18, where she hoped to be able to move her ball closer to the fairway after her tee shot landed behind a scoreboard.

“They said, ‘No, it’s a straight shot,’ ” said Sorenstam, who followed her opening-round 64 with a 71. “So we disagree, but he’s the official. I’ve got to follow the rules. I asked him to move the scoreboard, but he wouldn’t do that either.”

The scoreboard, of course, showed Park alone in the lead.

“You know, I’m very excited to be in the position that I’m in,” said the South Korean, who last year finished three shots behind Sorenstam. “Obviously, I had a sour finish last year, but, you know, I’m leading again and I hope to have a different story at the end of the tournament.”

She’ll be paired with Wie in this morning’s final twosome.