Wie Needs Wake-up Call

Michelle Wie might be women's golf's big name but she was outplayed by partner Laura Davies at the women's British Open today. Davis settled for a level-par 72, while Wie's sluggish start - she opened with three bogeys - meant she had to make do with a 74.

Wie is among the favourites at Royal Lytham & St Anne's but having woken up at 4.30am for the 7.36am tee, failed to produce her best form. She hit through the green at the short first and then mis-hit tee shots for further bogeys at the second and third.

But she saved her best for last, powering a five-iron second shot 170 yards at the 18th to within a couple of inches of the hole.

"You think you know links golf, but I guess you don't," she said. "I was up at 4.30am and spent a little time in the gym but I still just felt half alive. I couldn't get any momentum going.

"It was also a little weird because my mind set was on hitting low shots in strong winds. But I really should have adapted a little quicker."

England's Davies, who made birdies at the seventh, 11th and 15th, was satisfied with her opening effort: "I was two over after five holes but then settled," she said. "It wasn't a great round, but it was decent and steady and I feel pretty pleased.

"Michelle hit some great shots and you're more surprised that she's two over than two under. But this is a very hard golf course and she got a little unlucky with some tee shots."

European No1 Gwladys Nocera, from France, was among a group of early leaders on two-under-par 70. Nocera has three wins in Europe this year, and was tied in the clubhouse with American Alison Hanna and Sweden's Nina Reis.