Wie feels the heat in Illinois

Michelle Wie's losing battle to make the cut at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois ended when she withdrew from the tournament because of heat exhaustion yesterday.

The 16-year-old Hawaiian pulled out after nine holes in the second round.

Eight over par and 10 strokes away from the eventual cut line on a humid afternoon at the TPC at Deere Run, Wie clearly suffered over her last five holes.

Dripping with sweat, she repeatedly wiped her face with a towel and put her hand to her stomach. She decided to make an early exit after consulting her parents before being taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Competing with men for the ninth time in a professional event, Wie had been hoping to emulate Babe Zaharias, who made the cut at the Phoenix Open and Tucson Open on the 1945 PGA Tour.