ESPN Golf

EVIAN, France -- She wasn't in the lead -- or even close to it -- but, as usual, Michelle Wie got all the attention.

The 14-year-old Wie shot a 1-under 71 in Wednesday's first round of the Evian Masters to take a share of 25th place, seven strokes behind leader Laura Davies.

Wie drew a gallery of several hundred fans to her first tee in Europe, at an event where attendance is usually sparse for the first round.

She had an up-and-down day. Starting off well, she hit a wedge to 18 feet to birdie the first hole, and hit a 5-iron to 9 feet for birdie at No. 8. On the back nine, she hooked a 7-iron out of bounds at the 12th for double-bogey, and missed from 2 feet to three-putt the 14th.

"I don't care about what the score or my position is," she said. "I'm just happy to have made so many good putts today for par."

Meanwhile, Davies shot an 8-under 64 to lead Annika Sorenstam and two others by two strokes.

"It was just a nice day, and I was solid all the way," said Davies, who had an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey. "My caddie Paul Clifford's wife Emma gave me a putting lesson last week and it's worked out fine."

"If I keep putting like I did today, I've got a chance to win this thing," she said.

Sorenstam, tied with Lynette Brooky and Mara Prieto at the $2.5 million tournament, made four birdies on the front nine.

"It's a great start," Sorenstam said. "I had a real good feel today and hit solid right from the start."

In sunny, windless conditions, with the greens soft and holding after an overnight storm, Davies hit a 2-iron to 6 feet to eagle the par-5 ninth.

Davies said watching the men's British Open last week as a TV commentator allowed her to pick up some tips for her game.

"It was watching the guys play last week that really helped me today," she said. "Their rhythm, just how easy they hit the ball. I picked something up about tempo and kept it in mind here."

"You always want to learn from the best," she added.

U.S. Women's Open and Canadian Women's Open winner Meg Mallon was part of a group that included Wie at 1 under.

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press