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Wie has respect and advice for Ko as they prep for Women's British Open

By PA Sport
Published on
Wie has respect and advice for Ko as they prep for Women's British Open

HOYLAKE, England -- Michelle Wie is in Liverpool, and has music on her mind.

It’s not the Beatles, though, Instead, the 22-year-old American, who started making a big name for herself in golf eight years ago, is feeling "like an 80s rock star" as she readies for the Ricoh Women's British Open starting on Thursday at Royal Liverpool.

That is because new star Lydia Ko -- age 15 and three weeks on from becoming the youngest-ever winner on the LPGA Tour -- has described Wie as an inspiration.

"I haven't met her yet," Wie said. "I would love to and hopefully get to play with her. I have a lot of respect for her winning -- she really is good."

As for advice for the Korean-born New Zealand amateur, she added: "People have high expectations, but they are the same expectations that you have on yourself.

"I would just say play for yourself, don't play for anyone else. It's your game, it's your life and it's your desire," she said. "Have fun and try your hardest -- it's really a game after all."

So much was expected of Wie when she finished ninth in her major debut when only 13, and then almost made the halfway cut when competing against the men at the Sony Open on the PGA Tour in her native Hawaii.

She was criticized, however, for continuing to accept PGA Tour invites as she struggled more and more.

Injuries played a part in that, but four years into her professional career she finally won her maiden LPGA Tour title -- it came just after her 20th birthday -- and she has been a member of the last two U.S. Solheim Cup sides.

Wie, who graduated from Stanford University this year, has managed only one top-10 finish all season.

"It's been a really rough year for me, but I definitely have a lot of positives," she said. "And it's going to be fun this week. A links golf course is a good way to shake things up with the wind going 20 miles an hour."

She believes Hoylake was the first links she ever played. That was while practicing for the 2004 Curtis Cup at nearby Formby.