Wie makes cut and history

SEOUL: American teenage golf sensation Michelle Wie made history with her first cut in a men’s event on a sizzling three-under-par 69 in the second round of the SK Telecom Open on Friday. She became the first woman since Babe Didrikson Zaharias in 1945 to make the cut on a men’s international Tour.

Thailand’s Prom Meesawat and Iain Steel of Malaysia lead the 600,000 dollar Asian Tour event at the halfway stage with an 11-under-par 133 total but the 16-year-old Wie was the darling of the crowd and is tied 17th on 139 heading into the weekend.

In her eighth attempt against the men at the Sky 72 Golf Club, Wie was rock solid with a round that included four birdies against a lone bogey.

With South Korea gripped by Wie-mania, her first appearance here since turning professional brought traffic to a near standstill at the 16th tee. “I cannot believe that I have made the cut. I have the flu and it’s much better so that’s why I will try better tomorrow,” said Wie.