Nine of the top 10 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings will play in the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship next week at Grand Cypress in Orlando, Fla.As expected, Michelle Wie wasn’t on the commitment list released Tuesday by the LPGA. She’s the lone player among the top 10 who isn’t scheduled to play.
Wie withdrew from the Lorena Ochoa Invitational with back pain almost two weeks ago, but her appearance in the LPGA Tour Championship was uncertain even before that. She’s had a long-standing commitment to play in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters the week after the LPGA Tour Championship. Omega’s one of her sponsors. Her appearance in the LPGA Tour Championship became uncertain when LPGA officials announced late in the summer that they were moving their tournament dates to December, up against final exams at Stanford, where Wie’s a senior, and up against her Dubai appearance.
Wie’s ailing back is healing, with her representatives reporting today that she visited her doctors Monday and is “happy with her progress.” She’s planning to rest and rehab this week and next week with the plan to play in Dubai.
If Wie plays in Dubai in two weeks, it’s sure to draw some flak from fellow pros who think she should support one of the LPGA’s flagship events. The tour’s been on a blitz in Central Florida the past week promoting its season-ending event with players making appearances at Sea World, Disney World, an Orlando Magic basketball game and other venues to create interest. The Rolex No. 1 world ranking and Rolex Player of the Year are among the big prizes up for grabs in the season finale.
