Michelle Wie Pulls Out of LPGA Tour Championship

Michelle Wie withdrew from the LPGA Tour Championship on Thursday after hobbling through her first round on a sprained left ankle.

The 20-year-old Wie, fresh off her first tour victory last week, shot an even-par 72 on Thursday. She first injured her ankle at the Solheim Cup in August.

Wie went for treatment after her round and withdrew about an hour later.

“I wanted to do everything I could to fight through the injury,” Wie said in a statement after dropping out of the tournament. “It bothered me last week in Mexico, but I was able to play through the pain. I realized today that I wouldn’t be able to continue to play through it.”

Wie was 3 under through 12 holes. Her ankle gave way on the 13th tee, and she stumbled backward, sliced her shot into the rough and took her first bogey. She bent over in apparent pain on No. 14, then slipped again hitting her tee shot on No. 17.

“I want to make sure that I’m being smart with it,” she said. “I will return home to have it looked at by my doctors and follow their advice for treatment.”

11/19/2009 7:37 PM RICHMOND, Texas (AP)