Michelle Wie to withdraw from U.S. Open field due to ailing wrist injury

Michelle Wie announced on Friday that she would be dropping out of the U.S. Open, due to the persistence of her wrist injury.

The former U.S. Open champion took to Instagram and Twitter to announce the decision.

“While I’m making progress with my recovery, I have decided to withdraw from the US Women’s Open,” she wrote. “It was a difficult decision to make because the US Open was one that I was looking forward to playing in all year, but my recovery and health is the priority. Thanks so much for all the messages of support – they really keep my spirits up. I am hopeful that I’ll be seeing you all back out on Tour very soon.”

US Open official statement 😢. Thanks for all your supportive comments ❤️❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/L4rIZd43Jw

— Michelle Wie (@MichelleWieWest) May 24, 2019

The development is just the latest in a series of setbacks for one of the LPGA’s most recognizable athletes.

Wie first announced she’d be taking “some time away” from the sport in April, when she withdrew from the LA Open. That revelation came months after she withdrew in the middle of her first round at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in February.

Wie had wrist surgery last October to repair continued ailments. She returned to the Tour in February, eager and optimistic to return to the top of the sport. Wie made her return at the LPGA Thailand in mid-February, finishing tied for 23rd with a week of six under par. Despite leaving that week with tepid optimism, it remains the only cut Wie has made since her return in four total appearances.

Wie will have the opportunity to return in the coming weeks or months, perhaps with an eye toward the PGA Championship at Hazeltine in three weeks. Her statement conveyed optimism toward playing in the near future. But the decision to sit out the U.S. Open marks a tremendous setback both for her and the sport, ahead of the LPGA’s highest-profile weekend.

As for the tournament set to begin next Thursday at Country Club of Charleston, Ariya Jutanugarn will be aiming to defend her U.S. Open title.