Michelle Wie Quits Tournament

Michelle Wie was humiliated in her comeback to the field for the first time in four months. Sports Illustrated dubbed it a “disastrous Thursday.”

In the first round of the LPGA tournament held yesterday in Mount Pleasant River Town CC in South Carolina, Wie withdrew from the tournament with a 16-hole total of 14 over par.

Beginning at the 10th hole (par 4), she did par at the first hole and then began a series of bogeys.

At the 11th hole (par 5), she dropped the ball in the water, making bogey. She also recorded a double bogey, making a drive-shot mistake at the 12th hole (par 4). She did triple bogey after declaring an unplayable at the 14th hole (par 3).

She successfully pulled off her only birdie that day at the 18th hole (par 4), but the third hole (par 5) was the worst. After hitting three tee shots, she managed to hole out after 10 shots.

Even considering her insufficient practice because of her wrist injury, her play was dismal. The ball, which should have been directed to the fair way and green, flew to the pond, woods and even driveways at the parking lot.

After completing the seventh hole with bogey, she announced her withdrawal, saying, “I can no longer play due to wrist pain.”

After she dropped out two holes away from finish, speculation emerged.

That is because the LPGA rules stipulates: A non-member who does not have a tour card who hits more than 88 shots by the 18th hole shall be banned from playing in the season’s tour.

Speculations have it that she quit the tournament on purpose to participate in other tournaments, because she had 78 shots at the 16th hole and would have had 88 shots if she lost just two shots at the remaining two holes. She is scheduled to play in the McDonald’s Championship next week.

Responding to the speculation, Wie said, “I haven’t thought about the 88-shot rule. I did my best but I had to withdraw because of a wrist injury.”

Her coach David Leadbetter said in April, “Michelle will no longer play in men’s tournaments.” But Wie said, “It is not a matter that a coach should decide,” suggesting that she would continue to play in men’s tournaments.

Meanwhile, Korean-Brazilian Angela Park led the pack with a 6-under par 66, passing star players, including Lorena Ochoa (Mexico) and Paula Creamer (the U.S.) by two shots. The Swedish star Annika Sorenstam shared 33rd place with even par. 15-year-old MacKinzie Kline (U.S.), who created stir by playing in a wheelchair because of her heart disease, completed the first round with a 14-over par 86.

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