Michelle Wie’s comeback didn’t last long. The 2018 HSBC Women’s World Championship winner withdrew after 14 holes today in Singapore due to a wrist injury. She was 10 over par when she came off the course.
Wie, 29, fractured her right hand in a car accident two years ago and had surgery last October. She returned to competition on the LPGA Tour last week in Thailand where she took a share of 23rd.
Wie was one of three players to withdraw in Singapore. Amy Yang, last week’s winner in Thailand, pulled out due to illness and Sei Young Kim hurt her back.
Meanwhile, the two players who were embroiled in a backstopping controversy last week in Asia – Ariya Jutanugarn and Amy Olson – are part of a five-way share of the lead at HSBC after posting 4-under 68s. They’re joined by Celine Boutier, a Duke University graduate who won her first LPGA title at the Vic Open last month, along with Minjee Lee and China’s Yu Liu.
Olson eagled her penultimate hole, the par-5 eighth, to climb up the board.
“You know, it’s not a long par 5,” said Olson, “but it’s a very challenging approach shot from that far. You can’t be short because you’ll be in the hazard, and then it’s a really tough bunker shot for that pin if you go over the green.
“I did have like a perfect club. I hit a really nice, high shot, so it would come in soft and it just ended up being perfect.”
LPGA Hall of Famer Inbee Park, playing her first round of 2019, shot 70 while another fresh face, new mom Gerina Piller, posted 75.