U.S. Women’s Open: Michelle Wie withdraws with neck pain

Michelle Wie withdrew from the U.S. Women’s Open Friday morning after hitting her first and only tee shot of the second round.

The 2014 Women’s Open champion has been battling a nagging neck injury since the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship two weeks ago and received treatment for it during Thursday’s opener. Wie scored a first-round 1-over 73 before pulling out of the third of five majors on the women’s schedule.

Just being able to make her opening tee time was something of a victory for Wie, who is battling an old neck injury that became inflamed at the KPMG Women’s PGA.

For sure, the rust that had accumulated since she was last able to go full out was on display, as Wie scuffled to a 3-over 39 in her outgoing-9. Unable to play a single practice round on the course since her arrival on Sunday, Wie got off to a rough start, with a bogey on No. 3 and a double on the par-3 seventh.

She came roaring back with two straight birdies after making the turn and a birdie at the last got her back to 1-over, after dangerous weather had forced a suspension in play.

During the delay, Wie, who was wearing therapeutic tape on the affected area, went to the practice range, where her back “seized” up.

“I was ready to pull out,” she told reporters after her opening round. “I couldn’t swing.”

But she gutted out the first round, throughout which Wie flashed her trademark smile and appeared to enjoy playing with Suzann Pettersen and Brittany Lincicome.

Prior to Thursday’s start, Wie was able only to chip, putt, and walk the front nine on Monday and the back nine on Wednesday, according to Randall Mell.

“It’s a shame, because she has been in such good form,” Wie’s swing coach David Leadbetter told Mell. “It’s something she’s been trying to work through.”

Wie had been playing well this season, with four top-four finishes in her last six events.