2019 for Michelle Wie has been a frustrating stop-and-start season that has resulted in extended breaks, crises of confidence and questions about her future in the game.
On Friday, Wie announced that in an effort to fully and completely heal her surgically-repaired right hand and wrist she would be taking the remainder of the year off from competitive golf.
“After doing everything I could to play this year, I have made the decision to take the rest of the year off from competitive golf,” Wie wrote. “My team and I believe that this will give me the best possible chance to finally get healthy. I can’t thank you all enough for your never-ending love and support. Means the world to me.”
Wie attempted to tee it up in last week’s KPMG Women’s PGA, but shot rounds of 84-82 to finish in last place among Tour professionals and miss the cut by 17 strokes.
Wie had surgery on her right hand in October 2018 to treat an avulsion fracture, bone spurs and nerve entrapment in her right hand.
She returned to the LPGA Tour four months after her surgery, but in her second event back — a title defense of the HSBC Women’s World Championship — she was forced to withdraw due to lingering pain in her surgically repaired hand.
Wie returned to the course a few weeks later, but after a missed cut at the first major championship of the year as well as another setback at April’s LOTTE Championship, she decided to take some extended time off.
With 16 events remaining on the LPGA Tour schedule, including the Solheim Cup in September, Wie will eye the start of the 2020 season as a possible time to return.
