ORLANDO, Fla. – Charie Wi has made more headlines than Michelle Wie this year. Go figure.
It started a month ago when Wi held the lead heading into the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He shot 72 and finished second while Phil Mickelson blew the field away with a 64.
Last week Wi made news when he made an octuple-bogey 13 on the par-5 fifth hole during the final round of the Transitions Championship. He handled the gaffe with class and shot 1-under on the other 17 holes.
Now he’s leading the Arnold Palmer Invitational, carding a first-round 66 with seven birdies and a lone bogey.
“Since Pebble Beach I’ve been playing OK,” Wi said. “I haven’t had too many strong finishes and I’ve never really done well here. If I had shot a couple under today before I teed off, I would have been very pleased.”