Wie trips up on march for history

Michelle Wie came up agonisingly short last night in her quest to become the first female to play in a men's major by qualifying for next week's US Open. But for long stages of another incredible day in her already incredible career, the Hawaiian schoolgirl looked likely to achieve the unthinkable.

Indeed, to many the 16-year-old already has, simply by getting this close. Wie had already seen off thousands of other hopefuls just to make the final qualifiers and when it is considered that she was up against 152 older males for 18 spots at Winged Foot, and that until her last six holes she was in with a genuine chance, her "failure" is then put into perspective.

Wie ­ who only turned professional last November ­ was in the top 10 after a morning round of 68 at the Canoe Brook Country Club in New Jersey that was as dramatic as they come. She squandered a number of birdie chances of the hilly South Course and on the 18th seemed to set to make bogey when her approach shot landed in the deep rough some 25 yards from the pin.

But Wie, as she has a habit of doing, ignored the odds and played a nerveless punch shot that rolled into the hole. That took her to two under right into the hunt for a spot at the year's second major and sent the crowd wild. Usually, a qualifier like this would attract around 500 fans. Yesterday there were 10 times that number cheering on Wie and the organisers were so taken aback by the attendance that they were forced to close the gates before lunchtime.

The fortunate ones who were left in were treated to an afternoon of sheer tension when history appeared just a few putts away as established professionals such as the dual major winner Mark O'Meara were being left in her wake. Alas, Wie, playing on the longer North Course could not maintain her form as three bogeys in succession from the 13th saw her slip out of contention with a 75 to leave her one-over.