Teen star Wie hospitalised

2006-07-15 08:42

Sylvis, Illinois - Teen star Michelle Wie was hospitalised after being overcome by the heat in the middle of Friday's second round of the PGA's John Deere Classic.

Wie pulled out after nine holes of the tournament, the 16-year-old having failed in her fifth bid to make the cut in a USPGA tournament.

On a hot and humid day at the Deere Run course, Wie suffered heat exhaustion, her agent Ross Berlin said.

"As she continued the round, she suffered a number of different symptoms, including stomach pains, nausea, dizziness, and breathing problems which worsened as the round continued," Berlin said.

"After the ninth hole, Michelle regrettably withdrew from the tournament."

Berlin said Wie's symptoms were not serious and that he expected her to be released soon.

"Michelle was diagnosed with heat exhaustion and is now resting and in very good spirits," he said.

Wie was in obvious pain over the last five holes of her front nine. She repeatedly clutched her stomach and sat on her bag to rest whenever she could.

She managed her only birdie of the day at No 8 to get to par for the round. But after teeing off on the ninth hole, she took a seat on her bag, gripping her sides and lowering her head.

When Wie got up, she nearly got sick and a doctor came out to check on her.

Wie finished the hole - carding a double-bogey - and went to talk to her parents in the gallery.

Received IV fluids

After a brief conversation, she said she didn't want to continue, shook hands with her playing partners and left the par-71, 7 193-yard course.

Wie was taken to an on-course medical centre, where she received IV fluids.

Twenty minutes later, she was carried away on a stretcher and taken via ambulance to the emergency room.

"I know if I was a woman, I would be trying to break everything, break every single record ever made, make it unbreakable so nobody else can do it," said Daniel Chopra, who is tied for second.

"And then from time to time if you have a little stretch, test yourself against the men periodically. But I would say she's wasting her own time right now."

Last July, Wie nearly became the first woman in 60 years to make the cut in a PGA Tour event, shooting a one-under-par 141 at this event.

"It's got to be tough on her," said Kris Cox, who is tied for second. "Every round that she plays is very scrutinised.

"If I have a bad day, I go have a meal and a beer and get to go watch TV. She has to spend time rehashing a tough day."

On Thursday, Wie struggled to a six-over 77, spraying her drives, missing short putts and battling bees.

She was eight-over when she withdrew on Friday, nowhere near the cut.

While the attention currently is on Wie and her misfortune, eventually it will turn to Joe Ogilvie and his attempt to win his first title.

Ogilvie signed for a four-under-par 67 on Friday and has a one-shot lead at 10-under 132.

- AFP