Nervous Wie battles back

Michelle Wie admitted she had been nervous after shooting five bogeys and three birdies in a two-over-par 72 in the opening round of the Sony Open in Hawaii.

The 14-year-old local girl got off to the worst possible start with a bogey five on the opening hole and dropped another shot on the fifth.

She hit back with a birdie three on the next hole but dropped another shot on the par-three seventh.

After birdying the ninth and 12th to get back to level par she dropped shots at the next two holes and then parred the remainder to finish nine shots behind leader Carlos Franco of Paraguay, who carded a seven-under-par 63.

Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik finished late with a 65 to end the round in second place one shot ahead of Ted Purdy, David Ishii of Japan, Trinidad’s Stephen Ames, Craig Barlow, Aaron Baddeley of Australia and Briton Luke Donald.

“I was a little shaky as it’s my first time at a PGA Tour event,” Wie admitted.

“But I knew what was going to happen if I went right and I knew what was going to happen if went left, so all I had to do was just hit it and after I hit my first shot the nervousness just went away.

“I think everything went well. My second shots could have been better and I think I got robbed on the greens, but it was okay.

“I just kept telling myself not to be nervous and as it was Hawaii that helped me to relax. All my friends came out to support me and that was great.”

Parnevik was impressed with Wie’s round and declared: “If she would happen to make the cut, it’s probably one of the biggest miracles in sports.”

Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke carded a moderate 70.