Dubai: Michelle Wie limped off clutching her back after her first round of the Omega Ladies Masters at the Majlis Course yesterday — having earlier told journalists her injury was just fine.
The Hawaiian-born 21-year-old recorded a one under par 71, to end tied for twentieth in the competition after day one at Emirates Golf Course. But the result could have been far better had she not triple-bogeyed on her penultimate hole.
Playing off the back nine holes first — Wie birdied on holes 15 and 18, then got an eagle the third. But the triple bogey on her seventeenth (the eighth) saw her drop three shots only one of which she was able to make up with a birdie on the last hole (nine).
"I was pretty [peeved] coming off the last hole, but it felt good to birdie and at least be in red numbers — hopefully I can make a couple more putts out there tomorrow and not have a seven on the card," said Wie. "I grinded it out today — and just going to grind it out tomorrow." Of her injury woes, a bulging disc and spinal cysts, which have plagued 2010, Wie added, "I'm just happy to be done. This morning, I didn't know if I could play or not, so I'm glad that I got through today — just three more rounds and I think I'm just feeling good."
Rehabilitation
In what makes Dubai sound more like an opportunity for fair-weather rehabilitation rather than cut-throat competition to springboard herself into a better 2011, Wie said, "At least the weather is warm. It's beautiful out there and it's just fun playing — it's good that I got through today, I'll get some rest tomorrow, as I have an afternoon tee time."
Out of the gaze of the press-pack and fans, Wie's smile then waned and a limp from her troubled left ankle materialised as family hurried around her as she propped up her back.
If this is any indication as to how the next three days will pan out, Wie, who is also swatting for University exams in her downtime, may not be in the running come Saturday.
