Michelle Wie pulls out of Evian

Michelle Wie retired after 13 holes of the first round of the Evian Championship in France yesterday due to pain from a stress reaction in her right index finger.

The injury was a recurrence of the same problem she experienced at the Meijer LPGA Classic in early August, where she had to retire for the same reason in round one.

The American was five-over-par when she called time on her round and she revealed afterwards that her appearance in the year’s final major had always been in doubt.

“I had hoped it was a week later but, you know, I just really wanted to come to France. I really love this tournament,” said the US Women’s Open winner.

“I just made the smart decision to not play.” – Michelle Wie

“It was at a point where it was touch and go. I just wanted so see if I could play. The doctors just told me, ‘It’s all up to you.’ It just depends on if it hurts or not. But they did tell me if it did hurt to stop right away just because it could get worse.

“I was out there and I knew I should have stopped earlier but I was having so much fun out there I wanted to keep playing. But it got to the point where it was too painful.  So I just made the smart decision to not play.”

Michelle Wie still in the running for Annika Award

Despite not finishing the championship, Michelle Wie could still win the inaugural Rolex Annika Major Award for the most outstanding record in all five major championships this season, which will be decided this weekend.

The world No.6 led the standings going into this week’s final major, having won the women’s US Open in June this year and finishing runner-up at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April.

Read more –> Who will claim the Annika Major Award?

Her nearest challenger for the inaugural award is South Korea’s Inbee Park. The world No.2 is ten points behind Wie in the race and is currently two-under-par for the tournament through six holes of her second round.