SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. — Alexis Thompson played without a care in the world, even if she only had one birdie on her card. That's expected of a 12-year-old playing in her first U.S. Women's Open, the youngest qualifier in history.

Michelle Wie might remember that feeling.

She was 13 when she made her Women's Open debut four years ago and opened with a 73. Based on the way she continued to slide off the map of women's golf, it must seem like a distant memory.

"I know I'm a better player than this," the 17-year-old from Hawaii said Thursday after hitting only four fairways, four greens and signing for an 82 that extended her streak to 21 rounds without breaking par, 13 of those on the LPGA Tour.

Thompson, with a braided pigtail and constant smile, isn't through with her first round. In a wild day at Pine Needles, which featured a 3Z\x-hour storm delay that didn't produce a drop of rain, she only finished nine holes before darkness suspended the first round.