Wie still the major attraction

NEWPORT, Rhode Island, June 28 (Reuters) Harriet Manice craned her neck for a glimpse of Michelle Wie as the teenager teed up on the first hole of a practice round in the Women's U.S. Open.

The 16-year-old from Hawaii did what she does best, powering a man-sized drive down the fairway that blazed past her rivals and brought thunderous applause from the crowd.

''She's so amazing,'' said Manice, a 17-year-old from Rhode Island who just starting playing golf. ''She's an inspiration.'' The 6-foot Wie has 10 million dollar in endorsement deals from Sony and Nike, a model's good looks and has been featured on CBS's news show ''60 Minutes''. She also set a record as the youngest player to qualify for a LPGA tournament and made the cut in a men's tournament in South Korea.

Since turning professional she has yet to win a major, however, often finishing just a few strokes behind players double her age.

Her only victory came at the age of 13 in the women's Amateur Public Links, when she became the youngest champion in the history of United States Golf Association adult championships.

''When the time is right it will happen,'' Wie told reporters.

''I'm just not going to force it. You can't force anything.'' This year, Wie has shot an average 69.55 in 11 rounds of three LPGA tour events, finishing twice in the top three and grabbing third place in the world rankings behind Annika Sorenstam and Paula Creamer.

She described Newport Country Club, a links-style course where the U.S. Open begins tomorrow as ''awesome'' and said she felt ''very comfortable'' about her putting, which has come in for criticism.

YOUTHFUL APPROACH Adding to the buzz surrounding Wie are her forays in testing her skills against men and her youthful approach to golf fashion.

yesterday she sported a blue mini-skirt with a wide stripe down the side and surfer-style paisley patterns.

She came close to becoming the first female to qualify for the men's U.S. Open and has said one goal is to play in the Masters. She describes herself as a freelancer.

She is two years too young to qualify for membership to the LPGA, and though she could petition for a special exception she has chosen not to. Instead, she is invited by sponsors to play in tournaments.

''I love this freelancing. I'm playing a lot of tours. I'm playing the Japanese Tour, the PGA, the LPGA, it's awesome. But obviously I would like to play in the PGA later on, be a member there,'' she said. ''I don't like being stuck in one place.'' LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens said Wie could benefit from sustained competition against LPGA veterans. At the momen she can only play a maximum of eight tournaments a year.

''I do believe Michelle needs to be put in a situation where she learns how to win,'' Bivens told Reuters.

''By the time Tiger Woods turned professional he had won 38 tournaments. Whether you are behind by two or three shots or whether you are ahead, no matter how great your technical ability, there is a head game, there's a psychology: what do you have to do to win,'' she said.

''It's a lot more than 300-yard drives. It's a lot more than just technical capabilities,'' she added. ''Michelle will win...but it's not as easy as she might have thought it was going to be.'' REUTERS PDS PC1005