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80 sends Wie home early

ST ANDREWS, Scotland--Michelle Wie can start thinking about taking classes and shopping for school clothes. The teen-ager from Hawaii, who was 3 under after 10 holes on Thursday, fired a 7-over-par 80 on Friday at the RICOH Women's British Open and will be returning home early for the second consecutive major.

At least she completed two rounds this time. Wie withdrew after 27 holes at the U.S. Women's Open in July after re-aggravating the wrist she broke while jogging in January. Wie was 17-over-par at the time of her withdrawal.

The Stanford-bound Wie was done in on Friday by a double bogey and two bogeys on the back nine of the Old Course, despite a closing birdie--her lone one of the day--on the par-4 18th. She finished the tournament at 7-over par overall.

"Obviously, I'm really disappointed," said Wie. "I hit some great drives today. My driving was fantastic. I just couldn't convert with my irons and putter.

"I left myself in really tough positions and got some really unfortunate breaks in the fairway. I must have been in at least eight divots. But no excuses. I didn't hit my irons well today at all."

It was the fourth time (in 11 rounds) she shot in the 80s this year on the LPGA Tour. That does not include the second round at Pine Needles or the controversial first round at the Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika, where Wie flirted with the LPGA's 88 Rule and withdrew.

Despite another big number on Friday, Wie will take some positives away from her first trip to St Andrews.

"The whole year I've been struggling with my driver and I just never got in the fairway," she said. "Today, I felt like my driver was really solid. Every time I stood up to the ball I felt really confident so that is definitely a positive. Obviously, my irons weren't good so I just have to keep it together. It's like a puzzle. I'm just getting one bit at a time."