Michelle Wie’s Return Is Very Disturbing At Women’s PGA

There was a very, very disturbing development Thursday during the first round of the Women’s PGA Championship.

Anticipation was high with the return of Michelle Wie on tap, but by the end of her first round, she was reduced to tears.

And for good reason.

Wie has been the most popular American player for the past 10 years and the sub-plot to her career story has been injury after injury.

Her latest battle has been with her right wrist.

Some wondered if she was coming back too soon, showing up to play in this season’s third major up in Minnesota at renown Hazeltine.

“I wish she would take enough time to be very sure that she’s absolutely ready to come back,” said Stacy Lewis earlier this week, telling everyone how important Wie is to the LPGA Tour.

Things went sideways right from the start for Michelle.

Her round started on the 10th hole where she hooked her drive and managed to dig her second shot out of the rough, onto the green.  She then three-putted for bogey.  On the 11th hole she was applying ice to her wrist with a rubber ice bag.  Later she was applying some sort of cream to her right arm.  Not good.

She shot a head-hanging 41 over those first nine holes but forged on.

Things only got worse over her final nine, where she shot 43, including a quadruple bogey seven at the 152-yard par three eighth hole.  By day’s end there were six bogeys, two double-bogeys and that quadruple on her scorecard — a total of 84.  That tied her worst-ever round as a professional.

Wie was surrounded by media outside the clubhouse and her mood was somber:

“It was kind of a little foolish to think that I would shoot really well, just hitting golf balls last week,” Wie said. “It’s a tough golf course, but I’m really, really happy that I played. Just feeling a lot of joy, just being out there, and, you know, competing again. It’s going to take time, and I’ve just got to be patient, and, thankfully, I have all afternoon to get warm again and take care of my wrist.”

Then her eyes watered up.

Tears flowed as she thought about what’s ahead.

It’s hard,” she said. “It’s just one of those situations where I’m not, you know, I’m not entirely sure how much more I have left in me, so even on the bad days, I’m just, like, trying to take time to enjoy it. But it’s tough.”

And it was tough to see one of the LPGA’s brightest stars in a state of uncertainty.

Disturbing at best and the news matched the weather.  It was rainy and gloomy there in Chaska.  Umbrellas and rain gear were the day’s most useful equipment.

No lightning so play went on.

Only three players managed to break 70 on the famous but difficult layout.  Aussie Hannah Green has the lead after her four-under par 68.  Hyo Joo Kim managed a 69 and Brit Mel Reid got in on the action late in the day when she posted a 69.

Good news is that America’s Lexi Thompson is in it after an even par 72 but last week’s winner, Brooke Henderson isn’t.  She struggled and shot 76.

But the head-scratcher of all the action was Wie’s struggle.

Is she back too soon or is this the beginning of the end for Michelle?

Either way, it was a gloomy day in Chaska.

Women’s PGA Scoreboard: