Defending champion Wie still trying to find stroke

LANCASTER, Pa. — Michelle Wie breaks into a huge smile any time she recounts her first major victory.

But it’s not the clinching putt, award ceremony or winner’s trophy that brightens Wie’s smile. Oddly, she says it’s the way she handled a damaging double-bogey on the 16th hole of the final round of last year’s U.S. Women’s Open, cutting her lead to a single stroke. She went on to birdie 17 and close out a twostroke win for her first major title.

A year later, she’s still most proud of how she handled the challenging turn of events in the biggest event in women’s golf.

“A lot of people talk about hole No. 17 when I birdied, but I think the moment I was most proud of was when I made that double bogey putt on 16,” Wie said this week as she prepared to defend her title. “That, for me, was the moment that I felt like I was the most in control that I’ve ever been.”

Wie finished with three victories last season, but 2014’s happiness has morphed in 2015’s hardship.

Her season has been slowed by injury and illness. She has battled strep throat and a sinus infection, and she’s just showing signs of moving past a debilitating left hip injury that forced her to withdraw from a tournament at Kingsmill after one round. She’s still looking for a top-10 finish, with her best a tie for 11th in the Lotte Championship.

“It’s definitely been a tough year with my game,” she said. “It’s definitely not been as good as I want to be. But at the same time, I’m taking it day by day. Every day feels better than the day before.”

If her game is in shape in Amish Country this week, Wie could make a run at becoming just the eighth player to repeat as champion. The last player to win back-to-back titles was Karrie Webb (2000-01).