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Wie Withdraws from LPGA Tour Championship after Reinjuring Ankle

Michelle Wie won't have to worry about her tee time in the rain-wracked LPGA Tour Championship in Houston. The 20-year-old withdrew from the season-ending event after reinjuring her left ankle after stepping in a hole Wednesday as she signed autographs at the end of the pro-am at Houstonian Golf & Country Club.

Wie was in obvious pain Thursday, the only round that's been completed so far in the LPGA's final major of the year. She was at 2 under through 16 holes despite a pronounced limp. On the 17th hole, she blocked a shot right and into a water hazard, resulting in a double-bogey. She signed for an even-par 72 and withdrew about 45 minutes later.

Wie then flew to Los Angeles for an MRI and X-ray, which showed no bones were broken. On Friday Wie headed to Stanford, where she's a junior, to resume school.

David Leadbetter, Wie's swing coach, spoke to her Friday and relayed their conversation to reporters Mark Wood and Tim Rosaforte of Golf World's On-Air radio program: "She was examined and doctors said there was no serious damage, just a strain and some tendinitis down there. There is no damage, fortunately. She just needs a little bit of rest."

Wie first hurt her ankle after stepping into a hole at the Solheim Cup in August. She caused more damage after repeating that misstep at last month's Navistar Classic in Alabama.

Wie is scheduled to play in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters in three weeks. "There's still a possibility she may go to Dubai, but it all depends on how her ankle does," Leadbetter said. "She could have tried to gut it through [this week], but as I told her, the problem is when you play with an injury, you develop bad habits and that's the big thing you don't want to do. It's tough enough when you are healthy. Common sense prevailed, and she said let's take a break."

Leadbetter added that Wie had been playing well and was in the right frame of mind to win her second LPGA title, following her victory in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. "It's unfortunate, certainly, with the culmination of the year at the Tour Championship. Michelle's a streaky player. When she gets on a hot streak, she plays well for awhile. I thought at the beginning of the week, if she could see her way through, she could really be a factor."

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