Wie shares the lead at LPGA Q-school

Michelle Wie finally looks like the player of old as she shares the lead in the tough LPGA Q-school. Firing a dazzling 65 on Thursday, she lies at 10-under alongside Japan’s Shiho Oyama.

After a first round 69, Wie broke out of her shell on Thursday and for the first time since the Evian Masters in 2006 she will wake up on Friday with the share of the lead in a tournament.

Wie only needs a top-20 finish in order to gain her LPGA Tour card for next season. She lies eight shots in front of the group in 19th place.

The 19 year-old Stanford student has been plagued with injuries and problems over the past few years. At 13, Wie was the youngest player to make a cut in an LPGA event, reaching that feat in the 2003 Nabisco Championship.

But wrist troubles and an ill-advised attempt to play against the men on the US PGA Tour wrecked the talent she showed. In 2008 she missed three cuts and was disqualified from an LPGA event for failing to sign her card.

After a conservative round on Wednesday, Wie reverted back to her old style on Thursday and took driver on every tee except two. A solid back nine saw her to the turn in three-under for the round, but she turned it on in the front nine firing four straight birdies.

The tough par-4 eighth saw Wie thump a driver almost 300 yards and left herself a small wedge, which she put to eight feet. Wie sank the putt and moved to 10-under. One person was heard in the crowd shouting, “This is a seminar!”

Ok it’s only a couple of good rounds, but Michelle Wie looks something like the player she threatened to be five years ago.

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