Kim hopes charm can earn converts

The Solheim Cup standout will face Michelle Wie.
GLADSTONE, N.J. (AP) -- Christina Kim was looking forward to facing Michelle Wie in front of a big crowd in the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship.
"I'm guessing that they won't all be rooting for me," the talkative U.S. Solheim Cup standout said. "But I think I can work my charm and convert a few. ... I love being in the spotlight. I love pleasing people and making a fool out of myself."
The second-seeded Wie overcame a shaky start Thursday to beat Candy Hannemann 5 and 3, while Kim opened with a 2-and-1 win over Joo Mi Kim.
"I've played with her a lot," Wie said. "She's really fun to talk to. She calls me sometimes. She's really a nice girl. ... Obviously, Christina gets very excited as you could see in the Solheim Cup. It's very fun and interesting to watch."
Top-seeded Annika Sorenstam also advanced, following her U.S. Women's Open victory with a 3-and-2 win over Virada Nirapathpongporn on the soggy Hamilton Farm course.
"I thought I hit some good shots today, drove it really well and rolled in some putts, so I'm very pleased," Sorenstam said.
Shaky start
With about 200 people following Wie on the hazy, humid day, the 16-year-old lost the first two holes. She hit her opening drive under a tree in the right rough en route to a bogey, then lost the par-5 second when Hannemann made a 3-footer for birdie.
"I just got off to a rocky start," Wie said. "Obviously, the first hole was not as a I planned, but after that it was really nice."
After halving the par-3 third, the second-seeded Wie won the next six holes.
"In match play, if you don't play good one day, then you're out of it," said Wie, coming off a third-place tie in the Women's Open. "Nothing is guaranteed here. I think it makes it a lot more challenging and a lot more intense."
Wie two-putted for pars on the par-4 fourth and fifth holes to square the match and took the lead on the par-4 sixth, hitting a sand wedge shot that spun back within inches of the hole. She hit a 7-iron to 3 feet on the 178-yard seventh to set up a birdie and birdied Nos. 8 and 9 to make the turn 4-up.
After a halve on No. 10, Wie birdied the par-5 11th to take a 5-up lead. Hannemann won the par-3 12th with a birdie, and they halved the next two holes with pars before Wie ended the match with a birdie -- her sixth of the day -- on the par-4 15th.
No ill effects
Sorenstam edged Nirapathpongporn three days after beating Pat Hurst 70-74 in an 18-hole playoff for her third U.S. Women's Open title.
"I'm going to fight this to the end," Sorenstam said. "I feel very good about everything. I'm not worn out or anything."
Sorenstam won Nos. 2-4 to take a 3-up lead, but Nirapathpongporn took the 10th and 12th to pull within one. Sorenstam won the 13th, Nirapathpongporn took the 14th, and Sorenstam won the next two holes to end the match.
Sorenstam advanced to face Heather Young, a 19-hole winner over Sung-Ah Yim.
Hurst needed 21 holes to beat Reilley Rankin. The Open runner-up parred the 18th to force extra holes, then won with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-3 third.
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