Hole 17: 419 yard par 4. This hole doglegs left. You do not want to be left here. The fairway gets really narrow towards the end, making driver a risky proposition. And this is yet another hole where the green can be very tricky if you don't get it to the proper spot.

Se Ri hit her fairway wood into yet another bunker. Her shot out got her to the green, but it rolled hot, maybe 40 feet past the hole. I can't tell you how tricky this putt was, downhill with a lot of break. But she got it four feet from the hole, and saved par. Whew!

Hole 18: A par 5, you hit your drive over an environmentally sensitive area (i.e., a lot of weeds) to a long fairway. The second shot requires another carry over gunch. The green is not too bad, but there is a nasty collection area on the left that is very hard to get out of. On the right are trees, port-a-potties and the scoreboard, also not a fun place to put your shot.

How much did Se Ri's wrist affect her play?
You can see the wrap in this photo
Seoul Sisters Photo/Eric Fleming

I missed the 18th, because it is not a spectator friendly hole. But she managed another birdie after a great drive and approach, which finished her at +6 for the day. Not the greatest of starts, it would leave her in 100th place. But she still had one more day to try to make the cut, and perhaps get back into the tournament. My overall impression was that, with a few exceptions, her long game was pretty good on Thursday; it was her chipping and to a lesser degree her putting that had let her down.

Summary:
This was a schizophrenic round for Se Ri. Her first 7 holes were actually pretty good, including hitting two flags and making a clutch par save on 3. Her middle round play was absolutely terrible, although it was largely her short game (particularly her chipping, although her putting was not that great either) that cost her. But then she recovered nicely with two birdies and a clutch par to end. If it weren't for the fact that her bad stretch (holes 8 - 14) was so very very bad, she might have still been in a position to contend after this.

Aree Song formerly Wongluekiet drives in round 1
Reuters/Steve Dipaola

Grace was not going to start for a few minutes, so I hung around the 17th and watched Aree Song, Christina Kim and Natalie Gulbis play it. At this point, Aree, who was formerly known as Aree Wongluekiet, was at 2 under and in the lead for the tournament. In fact, the leading score had been gradually dropping all day, giving me more hope that Se Ri could make the cut if she just hung in there. I talked with a fellow and tried to convince him that, in my opinion, Aree, not Michelle Wie, is clearly the best girl's player in the world under the age of 18. Nothing I saw on 17 changed my mind; Aree is just solid top to bottom, and though she is committed to going to Florida State next year (they also get Naree, her twin sister and a great player in her own right; man, that team is going to get immensely great in just one year!), I can't help but think she will be turning pro before too long.

I also briefly stopped at the green on 13, where I got to watch Virada Nirapathpongporn and Jimin Kang both make identical birdie putts. Jimin would go on to have a horrible day, but at least for this one moment she was playing well.

I got to Grace just as she was birdieing the tenth hole. In fact, I saw the putt just as I walked up to the green; it was a long one, but perfectly on line. After it happened there were a few wolf whistles. Those crazy Grace fans! Her playing partners this day and Friday were Meg Mallon and Alison Nicholas, a good pairing of former Open champs. Grace walked right by me as she walked to the 11th tee, and I wished her good luck. She turned to me and gave me the most radiant smile I have ever seen her give. Wow! The time to talk to Grace is after she has made a birdie!

Here's the rest of what happened:

Hole 11: Grace had a good chance for birdie on this par 5, but just missed the birdie putt and tapped in for par. A missed opportunity there.

Hole 12: A par 3 over water, Grace hit a great tee shot to 5 feet. This was a wonderful chance at birdie, but her putt brushed by the hole, and left her a one footer for par, which she made. Still at -1

Hole 13: Grace's mom came up to me on this hole and said hi; that was nice! She also asked me where Grace's drive had ended up, and I pointed it out: Grace was in the left rough, but she recovered with a great approach onto the green. She had about 20 feet for birdie, but it was doable, as the putt seemed very straight. Her speed was perfect, but just a hair off. Another par.

Grace and her pretty purplish outfit from round 1
Seoul Sisters Photo/Eric Fleming

Grace found time for a few laughs on Thursday
Seoul Sisters Photo/Eric Fleming