Michelle Wie poised for major comeback at Women's PGA

Could Michelle Wie finally fulfil all that potential she showed as the globally-renowned millionaire teenager? While it is extremely doubtful she will ever now meet the billing as the female’s game answer to Tiger Woods, many wise judges are tipping the American to return to the major winners’ enclosure this week.

It is hard to believe that Wie is still only 27. Since becoming the youngest player ever to make the cut at the US Women’s Open when just 13, and then finishing second in the Women’s PGA Championship as a 15-year-old, Wie has endured more lows than highs.

Injuries and controversies have beset her career and, to some, her story has become a salutary tale for all sporting prodigies.

Yet after bouncing back from a slump to win the US Women’s Open in 2014, Wie is threatening to resurrect her career again at the Women’s PGA at Olympia Fields in Illinois.

Wie has finished in the top three on her last three LPGA Tour starts and her swing coach, the Englishman David Leadbetter, thinks a victory is nigh.

“You have to hand it to her,” Leadbetter told the Golf Channel, “she’s gutted it out through all the difficult times. 

"She’s hung in there through all the injuries, through all the criticism that so many nasty people have thrown at her, when she could very easily have just chucked in the towel and said, ‘This isn’t worth it anymore. I’ve got enough money, what the hell am I doing?’

“Michelle is seeing results, and she’s really getting some confidence. I don’t think she’s far away from winning.”

There are 10 Britons in the field, including Charley Hull and Catriona Matthew. Canada’s Brooke Henderson is the defending champion. 

New world No 1 So Yeon Ryu, of South Korea, must be the favourite.