It would not surprise two of the players in the field at the John Deere Classic if Michelle Wie made the cut this week. The 16-year-old from Hawaii has tried four other times to become the first woman to make the cut at a PGA event since 1945. Cedar Rapids native Zach Johnson played a practice round with Wie leading up to Thursday’s opening round.
Johnson says Wie’s fundamentals speak for themselves, as she can hit the ball straight, chip and putt. Johnson says it’s a matter of Wie making the best of her opportunities. Johnson likes her chances of making the cut, “I would not bet against her, put it that way.”
Sean O’Hair is the defending champion and says while there are varying opinions among the tour members about Wie’s presence for the most part the players are “cool with it.” O’Hair says it’s great for the tour as the ratings will go up. He says there’s no negative part of it.
O’Hair says making the cut would help Wie show that her presence at PGA events is deserved. He says he thinks it would be better for Wie if she won first on the LPGA tour. O’Hair says he thinks Wie will make the cut. Wie has a morning tee time for Thursday’s opening round.