Wie struggles on tour debut

Michelle Wie’s debut on the European Tour looks certain to be short-lived after she slumped to a first-round 78, seven over par, in the Omega European Masters.

Wie carded a double bogey, seven bogeys and two birdies at Crans-sur-Sierre to finish 12 shots off the pace set by English trio Robert Coles, Anthony Wall and David Carter.

That left the 16-year-old in 147th position in the 156-strong field and needing a miracle to make her second halfway cut in 10 appearances in men’s events.

“I tried my hardest until the end and that’s all I can do,” said Wie, rumoured to be receiving a six-figure appearance fee.

“Today just really wasn’t my day but I think I know what to fix for tomorrow.”

Wie drew a massive gallery as she teed off at 1:40pm local time alongside Nick Dougherty and 2005 rookie of the year Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, but after a par at the first three-putted the second for bogey.

By the fifth hole, the group were being timed for slow play and Wie then bogeyed the sixth before her first birdie of the day on the seventh.

“I knew we were on the clock but I didn’t think we were that far behind,” Wie added.

“I don’t think I am a slow player and I just tried to play at my own pace.”

A bogey on the sixth was followed by a birdie from 15ft on the next, but the Hawaiian schoolgirl then ran up a double bogey five on the eighth after overshooting the green from a greenside bunker.

Another three-putt bogey on the ninth took Wie to the turn in 40, but after further bogeys at the 11th and 13th she recorded her second birdie of the day on the par-five 15th, only to bogey the 16th and 18th.

There was at least a novel excuse. “I was very stressed about school,” added Wie, playing her first tournament in a month. “The first week back they just dump everything on you and I had to bring all my work here.

“Maybe it was too quick but now I’ve played one round I feel like tomorrow will be a lot better.”

Wie at least had the satisfaction of beating one of her playing partners, Nick Dougherty’s woes continuing with a 79.

Not that Dougherty, who has missed the last nine cuts in a row, felt that was too much to shout about.

“I thought if Michelle beat me on one of the two rounds she should be happy but I’m not sure my mum would be that happy about beating me today,” joked the 24-year-old Liverpudlian.

“I despise being out there now and it’s a shame. It’s completely demoralising. In hindsight I should not be here and I’m seriously thinking about not playing until the Volvo Masters (October 26-29).”

Sharing the spotlight alongside Wie was probably the last thing Dougherty needed, especially coping with the unruly galleries.

“It was the worst crowd I have witnessed,” Dougherty added. “But that’s not Michelle’s fault.

"Everyone wants to see her play but they were poorly behaved. I’d like them to show more respect to the other players, especially as it is the men’s tour.”

If Wie’s struggles did not come as a complete surprise, seeing Coles’ name at the top of the leaderboard certainly did.

The 34-year-old Londoner has made just five cuts all season but clearly enjoys playing in Crans, his previous best tour finish of third coming here in 2004.

“My first rounds have been appalling all year,” admitted Coles, who is 183rd on the Order of Merit – “I didn’t know that many people played!” – and has only three more events after this to climb into the top 115 and retain his card.

“To get a decent start and get into a tournament is great, I’m delighted. I haven’t played well this year, full stop. At the start of the year I wasn’t hitting it well and that put pressure on my putting. Then my putting was affected, then your confidence goes and it is a confidence game.

“I still believe (in myself) but I’m realistic and know you have to be to a certain standard to have a chance and some weeks I haven’t been playing to that standard.”

Co-leader Wall was the leading British player at this year’s Open at Hoylake, but his 11th place was not enough to guarantee him a place at Carnoustie next year.

“I think that is a bit stingy but hopefully I will finish in the top 15 on the money list and that gets me into three of the four majors next year,” said Wall, who is currently 16th on the Order of Merit.

“I’m also 72nd in the world so I’d love to get a win this year and maybe get into the top 50. That would make life a lot easier.”

Carter joined his fellow Englishman at the head of the field with an inward nine of 30 made all the more remarkable by his back injury.

“My back was terrible,” admitted Carter, who partnered Nick Faldo to World Cup glory in 1998.

“I was walking around doubled up like an old man. It’s thanks to the physios who got me playing.”

Defending champion Sergio Garcia was two shots off the lead after an opening 68, three under par.

“It was a good round,” said Garcia, the only member of the European Ryder Cup team taking part this week. “The golf course is playing tough, quite difficult.

“The course is really firm and with these small greens which have a lot of undulations and fall off from the sides it is so difficult to get the perfect distance control with the altitude.

“On my front nine I felt I only missed one shot, where I pulled it on the 18th, and only managed to hit three greens. That tells you how difficult it is playing.”

Irish players: Higgins, McDowell par. Hoey +1. Browne +2. Lawrie, McGrane +3. Murphy +10.