ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Lorena Ochoa's missed putt at the 18th took the fun out of another big step toward her first major. Michelle Wie's missed cut suggested she's still a long way from her first victory.

While Ochoa missed a 4-footer on the final hole to give her an even-par 73 and a one-stroke lead at St. Andrews in the Women's British Open yesterday, Wie was preparing another early flight home. She shot an 80 for a 7-over score of 153 that missed the cut by two.

"It's a disappointment because I didn't play as well as I wanted to," said Wie, who has struggled with a left wrist injury.

"I do feel a lot stronger. I'm hitting a lot of shots that I've never really hit before so that's a positive. I just need to take the positives and go on from there."

Missing the cut on the first women's pro event to be played at the home of golf is another blow for the 17-year-old from Honolulu.

She had to sidestep the Kraft Nabisco because of injury, finished last at the LPGA Championship, and pulled out after playing nine holes of the second round of the U.S. Women's Open after shooting 82 in the first. Last week, she tied for 69th at the Evian Masters.

At St. Andrews, she had already dropped four shots by the time she took a triple bogey seven at the par-4 13th. That was followed by another bogey. Her only birdie came at the last hole.

"The whole year I've been struggling with my driver and I just never got the ball on the fairway," said Wie, who shot 73 in the first round.

"Today I felt that my driver was really solid. Obviously my irons weren't good so I just have to keep it together. It's like a puzzle. I'm just getting one bit at a time."