Wie withdraws before season, like ball, went down the drain

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2007

MOUNT PLEASANT, United States (AFP) — Struggling US teen golf prodigy Michelle Wie withdrew from her first tournament in four months here Thursday before ending a round that could have cost her the rest of the season.

The 17-year-old Hawaiian of Korean heritage was 14-over par for the first round of the LPGA Ginn Tribute when she quit on the 17th hole. It was her first event since January, when she suffered a wrist injury that had kept her out.

"I kind of like tweaked it in the middle of the round a little bit," Wie said. "So (I'm) just taking caution measures, and I know what to work on. The only way to go up from here is up."

Wie's wild shooting included two drops at the par-3 14th and a quintuple bogey 10 after her errant tee shot struck a car and rolled...