HELLO, WIE: PRO DEBUT DRAWS RAVES 16-YEAR-OLD OK WITH A 2-UNDER 70.

Byline: Dave Shelburne Staff Writer

PALM DESERT - Michelle Wie was hard to miss Thursday in her professional golf debut at the Samsung World Championship.

First, there was that huge, sponsor-swoosh-logoed umbrella, shading the LPGA's newest millionaire from the bright sunshine at Bighorn Golf Club.

Then, there were those crushing tee shots, routinely leaving the 16-year-old Hawaiian 10th grader 30 yards in front of playing partner and brief tournament co-leader Cristie Kerr.

And finally, there was the relative silence of the gallery cheering the final twosome playing immediately behind Wie - LPGA Rookie of the Year Paula Creamer and seven-time Player of the Year Annika Sorenstam.

Sorenstam, the defending champion, four-time Samsung winner and world's No. 1-ranked female golfer, wound up leading the tournament at 8-under-par 64, six shots better than Wie. But it was difficult to tell that without the help of a scoreboard one group ahead, where the willowy Wie had her fans appreciatively applauding on almost every shot throughout her pro-debut round of 70.

``I think I did pretty well,'' said Wie, who hit 10 of 14 fairways, 15 of 18 greens, made four birdies against two bogeys and had a notable par save after taking an unplayable lie when she hit into a bush on the 473-yard par-5 third hole.

``I shot under par, so I'm happy with that, but I feel like I can play better. Hopefully, I will play better the next few days.''

If Thursday was any indication, the 2003 U.S. Women's Public Links Champion who has signed endorsement deals with Nike and Sony for a reported combined $10 million yearly will be well-supported by her fans.

The cheering started when she split the fairway with a 3-wood tee shot on her first hole and ended when Wie drew as much applause for a final-hole bogey as Kerr did for a birdie that got her to 65 and a share of the clubhouse lead with Gloria Park.

Nine years ago, it was Tiger Woods saying ``Hello, World'' in his late-season professional debut on the PGA Tour.

On Thursday in the Coachella Valley, it was ``Hello, Wie,'' and the 6-foot teenager - bedecked in orange with more swoosh logos - gave the largest gallery of the day plenty of cheering incentive.

The par save on No. 3 came with the help of an approach shot to a foot of the flagstick. She made birdie putts of 2, 4, 21 and 3 feet, the latter with the aid of a 57-foot lag putt from off the back of the green on the 508-yard, par-5 12th hole.

Wie ranked second in the 20-player invitational field in driving with a 270-yard average, drilling a tee shot 290 yards on the 538-yard, par-5 15th hole. She rimmed out another birdie from 12 feet on No. 9 and nearly saved par on No. 18 despite hitting into two bunkers, barely missing on a putt from 12 feet.

Kerr, a teen phenom herself when she joined the tour at age 18 - eight years ago - said she could relate to the pressure Wie must have been feeling and admired her playing partner's poise and performance.

``It was fun to watch,'' said Kerr, who especially liked the way Wie striped her first shot down the middle - ``I think I shanked it or hit it very poorly, my first shot as a professional.''

Kerr, who remembered her early tour days, with no players her age, said she intended to be there for Wie, if needed.

``I just feel for what she is going through,'' Kerr said. ``I don't think most people realize how much pressure is really on her. And I think she is doing just fine.''

Wie definitely is doing fine and said she didn't feel much first-tee pressure Thursday - to a point.

``I wasn't really that nervous when I put by ball into the tee. I wasn't really nervous during my practice swing. But once I got over the tee shot, my heart was thumping, I have to admit.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Michelle Wie watches a drive during her first professional round.

(2) Michelle Wie lines up a putt during her round of 2-under-par 70 at Bighorn Golf Club.

Robert Laberge/Getty Images