When Michelle Wie and Tiger Woods occasionally bump into each other in their Floridian neighbourhood, the conversation will probably sound like an excerpt from the American edition of The Lancet.
“Every time we see each other we list off all the things and it’s a bit like how's your ankle, how's your back, how's your everything?,” said Wie of the duo’s aches and pains.
Ahead of this week’s first women’s major of the season, the LPGA Tour’s ANA Inspiration, Wie is in fine fettle. Woods too is in good shape going into next week’s Masters. For Wie, the latest, upbeat twist in the Tiger tale has provided plenty of inspiration in her own battle to overcome frustrating, crippling injuries.
“Just seeing what he’s gone through with his injuries and then just seeing what his club-head speed is right now, and seeing how he’s hitting the ball and how he was coming back, it’s truly inspiring and motivating,” she said. “It’s really cool to watch.”
This week’s showpiece at Rancho Mirage takes the 28-year-old Wie back to a playground of her youth. She finished ninth and fourth here as a teenage amateur back in 2003 and 2004 respectively while, as a pro, she has been third and second. Indeed, in 13 appearances in the event, she has missed the cut only once. This week, she goes into battle with a win behind her in the recent HSBC Women’s World Championship.
All the focus may be on Lexi Thompson, a year on from the well-documented penalty which cost her victory, but Wie will be very much a contender. Like Woods gunning for another Masters green jacket, Wie is also looking to complete a comeback from injury with major glory. It would be quite a story.
“It’s been a hard road,” said Wie, who has been severely hampered by a wrist injury and various other niggles. “There was always a lot of doubt, especially when you don't remember the last time you haven't felt pain. Just having to change my swing so many times, working around my injuries. I thought a couple of them were going to be career-ending."
On the PGA Tour, meanwhile, Scotland’s Russell Knox will involved in something of a Texas scramble in the last chance saloon of the Houston Open. Knox would need to win this event if he wants to join fellow Scot, Sandy Lyle, in next week’s Masters.
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