Michelle Wie, in pain after photographing an 84, proposes to end her career soon
CHASKA, Minn. – Arthritic wrists told Michelle Wie two months ahead of the Women & # 39; s P.G.A. Championship. She resumed just a week before approaching the guest course, the Hazeltine National Golf Club, golf balls, Hazeltine National Golf Club, a preparation she recognized was far from ideal.
But after struggling with a 12-over-par 84 in the first round on Thursday, Wie, one of the most prominent players in the history of women's play, was forced to face an even harder truth see.
"I am not sure how much more I have left in me," said 29-year-old Wie, shrinking back tears. "So even during the bad days, I try to take the time to enjoy it. But it's hard, I just like to be out here."
Who spoke outside the clubhouse, sheltered from a cold rain that had arisen during her second nine, which contributed to her misery.
She had played the last few holes between the shots with an ice pack between her right wrist to numb the pain. Grouped with Lydia Ko and Minjee Lee, Wie started a bogey on the 10th hole, and then had two other bogeys with two double bogeys and two birdies on her first nine. Her last nine consisted of three bogeys and a four-fold bogey, on the par-3 eighth hole.
On a day when only 16 players parried, Hannah Green from Australia shot a four-under-68 to take the first lap ahead, a blow to Kim Hyo-joo and Melissa Reid.
Ko, who called a one-under-71, said that Whoever never hit and never said "good shot" when one of the players in her group hit a long and straight ride or an approach near the hole.
"She was positive," Ko said, adding, "She is such a fighter and I think she is a great role model for many girls and boys, and I think she shows that nothing is impossible. "
This was the 281st LPGA start for Who, who has five wins on the tour, including in the Women & # 39; s Open in 2014, United States. She put more than half of her life in the spotlight, growing up at the age of 13 in the biggest phase of the women's wave by making her way into the last group of the large group now known as the ANA inspiration. She finished ninth in a draw.
As a 15-year-old amateur in 2005, Wie almost won the Women's P.G.A. Championship at Bulle Rock golf course in Maryland. She finished second, three strokes behind Annika Sorenstam. In the following 14 years, Wie & # 39; s passion for the game remained solid, but her back, hips, knees, and wrists broke at different times.
She followed an unorthodox path in sport and preferred L.P.G.A. events about junior championships and periodically competing on the PGA Tour early in her career, and then entering the university after she had established herself as a professional golfer.
Who obtained a degree in communication from Stanford in 2012, and she became engaged in March to Jonnie West, the director of basketball operations of Golden State Warriors and the son of Jerry West, the basketball player of the Hall of Fame.
Who said she had recently considered applying for medical leave and taking out golf for the rest of the season, but that she was inspired to come back and play this week after she was six? game loss from Warriors to Toronto in the NBA had seen finals.
Specifically, Wie said, she was motivated to fight through her injuries when she saw that the Warriors & Klay Thompson made two free throws after tearing his front cruciate ligament, and also when his teammate Stephen Curry played after dislocating his finger.
"It was a confirmation that I said something like:" It's OK, it's OK that you're hurt & # 39; & # 39; "he said Tuesday in her press conference. "That's just part of being an athlete, and you just have to keep going and find a way to compete."
Before this week's tournament, Wie said she had achieved her two biggest youth goals by winning the US. Open and graduated from Stanford. As a pro, she has earned nearly $ 7 million in prize money and much more than that in the endorsements.
Who said earlier this week that she was motivated to extend her career because "there is so much more that I want to accomplish."
After Thursday's round, she told reporters that she knew she had to be patient with her injuries and her game. "Fortunately," said Wie, "I have the whole afternoon to warm up again and to take care of my wrist."
Before she was led away by her mother, Bo, who embraced her daughter while she was crying, who said: "It was kind of a fool to think that I would shoot very well, hitting golf balls last week at Hazeltine. It's a tough golf course, but I'm really happy I played. I just feel a lot of joy just because I'm there and, you know, participating again. "