All eyes on Wie at US Open qualifier

EIGHTEEN places, 153 golfers. But all eyes on just one of them — 16-year-old Michelle Wie.

History could be made at the Canoe Brook course in Summit, New Jersey, today, when Wie tries to become the first woman to make it into the US Open.

Winner of her 18-hole local qualifier in Hawaii last month, the teenager faces a two-round battle against a field that includes former Masters champion Mark O’Meara and 1996 US PGA champion Mark Brooks.

Coach David Leadbetter said: “I think she’s got a decent shot at it. She is confident. She had a very good outing in Korea a few weeks ago [she made her first halfway cut in a men’s tour event] and she is swinging pretty well overall.

“It really is incredible. No way a few years ago would you have ever dreamed of a 16-year-old girl having the opportunity of hopefully getting into the men’s US Open.

“She is just special. That’s all I can tell you. And she likes the pressure-cooker situation — her game seems to get better the more the pressure is on.”

Europe also stages one of the qualifying events — at Walton Heath again — and that was the route Michael Campbell took to winning the title at Pinehurst last year.

The New Zealander made a late decision to play then, but as a result of his victory has no need to worry about qualifying for the next 10 years.

Tom Kite, the 1992 champion at Pebble Beach, now tries to make it through to Winged Foot, as does former Open champion John Daly.