As the LPGA’s major season gets into full swing, one of the Tour’s biggest stars may be forced to watch the action from home.
Michelle Wie has been battling a lingering hand injury, and according to her latest social media update, it will be a while yet before she’s healthy enough to tee it up again in competition.
“Had an encouraging visit with my doctor,” Wie wrote. “However we both think it’s in my best interest to take some time away to allow my body to heal properly and get stronger. Health is my top priority right now and hopefully I can get back to being pain free real soon. Thank you everyone for staying patient with me. I appreciate y’all.”
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It’s been a rough year for Michelle Wie — at least when it comes to her injuries. Last August, the 2014 Women’s U.S. Open champion had to withdraw from the Women’s British Open in the middle of her round because of pain in her hand.
Though Wie returned to competition at the UL International Crown (helping Team USA finish second) and then played the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship in Korea, where she finished 66th, Wie revealed afterward that she had decided to shut down the rest of her season to fix the ongoing issues with her hand.
The source of the injury had been confounding to both her and her doctors, but Wie posted on social media that after “countless MRI’s, X-rays, CT scans, and doctor consultations, I was diagnosed with having a small Avulsion Fracture, bone spurring, and nerve entrapment in my right hand.” Wie had surgery in October and started her recovery process.
In February, Wie returned to competition and finished 23rd at the Honda LPGA Thailand, but withdrew 14 holes into her first round at the HSBC Women’s World Championship — the tournament she had won the year before — because of pain in her hand.
In March, Wie had to withdraw from another attempted comeback at the Kia Classic. She then missed the cut at her next two events, the ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage, Calif., and the LOTTE Championship in her native Hawaii, which concluded on Sunday. The good news for Wie? Off the course, life is great. She recently announced her engagement to boyfriend Jonnie West.
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