Wie tries to put '07 behind her, even if the topic won't go away

The 18-year-old feels humbled after last year's trials. To get to Interlachen, she had to survive a qualifier.

By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune

Last update: June 25, 2008 - 7:28 AM

Michelle Wie stopped after every few shots on the practice range Tuesday and bent over in obvious discomfort, wincing as she tried to loosen up her back.

"I kind of have a whack back," she said, laughing.

Considering the physical problems Wie endured last season, she can laugh about some minor back pain, which was caused by a bad swing last week. She said she does not think it will be a problem when the U.S. Women's Open begins Thursday at Interlachen Country Club.

"I should be fine," she said.

Wie, the one-time teen phenom, was anything but fine during a nightmarish 2007 season that saw her hit rock bottom after suffering a broken wrist in January. She talked about the injury, its impact and her future in depth Tuesday during a wide-ranging news conference.

"I feel like I'm re-emerging as a new player, a new person," she said. "I feel like I'm never, ever going to think about last year again. I'm just going to think about today, think about this tournament, think about this round."

Wie said she is "fuzzy" when it comes to specific details about the injury but later admitted she broke three bones in her left wrist. She said people close to her, including her parents, encouraged her not to play, but she refused and tried to continue.

"I hate to say it, but they were right," she said.

Wie missed three cuts and withdrew from two tournaments, including the U.S. Women's Open. She was in and out of a cast and ultimately stopped playing for more than a month.

She enrolled at Stanford last fall, immersed herself in college life and said she made all A's and B's in the fall quarter.

"Winter quarter, we'll not talk about that," she said, smiling.

Healthy again, Wie said she notices a "little twinge" in her wrist occasionally, but it feels fine otherwise. She shot 4-under-par 137 and finished second at the 36-hole sectional qualifier in Maryland.

"It's been a long time since I had to qualify for something and it made me want it even more," she said. "I think going through that qualifying humbled me a lot as a player, as a person."

Wie, who has played in three LPGA Tour events this season, said she has no plans to go through LPGA qualifying school this fall, in part because it conflicts with school.

"Hopefully I'll make enough money this year to get exempt for next year," she said.