Wie fires caddie Johnston

Jacksonville:

Michelle Wie didn't make it through her first year as a professional without firing her caddie. She got rid of Greg Johnston after a tie for 26th in the Women's British Open. Johnston began working for the 16-year-old American when she made her pro debut last October in the Samsung World Championship. Wie had finished no worse than a tie for fifth in her first six US LPGA Tour events this year, including three majors. She failed to break par in any of her four rounds at Royal Lytham St Annes last week, and the tie for 26th was her worst finish on the tour in two years. Moving ahead A public relations firm in New York released a statement from the family that said Johnson's departure "comes as part of Michelle's maturation as a golfer, part of which is learning from many different bright golf minds". Johnston said he had dinner on Sunday with Ross Berlin, Wie's agent. The next morning at the gate in the Manchester airport, Berlin told him he had been fired. "I was shocked and surprised," Johnston said. "I was disappointed I didn't hear from them". The Wie family was returning from England on Tuesday and did not immediately return a phone call. Johnston previously caddied 12 years for Juli Inkster and was on the bag when she won four of her majors and qualifed for the World Golf Hall of Fame. Wie has also used prominent US PGA Tour caddies such as Fanny Sunesson, Mike "Fluff" Cowan and Jimmie Johnson while she was an amateur. She is not scheduled to play again until September 7-10 at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland, a men's event on the European Tour. (AP)