They just announced on NBC that Michelle Wie has withdrawn from the US Women’s Open, citing a wrist injury.

Is she done as a force in women’s golf? I’ve read several golf writers who think so. They cite a combination of physical injury and mental stress and point other child prodigy sports stars who burned out early.

I’m don’t think so, though. She’s got too much natural talent. It may be that she disappears for a while, though, ala Karrie Webb. 

Sung to the tune of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”

All cheer for me Argentina
I’ve won the US Open
And on a wild day
I held off Woods
And Furyk, too.
I’ve got my trophy

Don’t look for me Argentina
I’m off to old Carnoustie
I hope to find there
Some Argentina
DeVicenzo
and Cabrera

All this week, I think that NBC did a good job of showing golfers other than Tiger.

There was a real danger of getting too much Johnny Miller. I think that they managed to avoid that pitfall.

Today, NBC already has spent far too much time on puff pieces before starting coverage. its an hour and ten minutes into the coverage and I still don’t feel like I’ve seen any golf.

On the tee, Fred Funk was really having a good time with the 300 yard par 3 eighth. laughing about the crowd about his chances of reaching the green. Then he hit one that not only reached the green, but rolled off the back side. He posed a bit for the crowd. His gallery loved it.

In his pre round interview, Badds seemed remarkably loose.

Apparently, Vijay fell into a hole during the practice round and twisted his ankle. its heavily wrapped, and he’s limping a bit.

Paul Casey thinks that even par may not be good enough today.

Justin Rose is standing in the rough off the first fairway, and it looks like he’s wading in a green pond. Then he hits a miraculous shot that punched out of the rough, and just kept rolling down onto the green.

NBC is pointing out again that in 28 tries, Tiger has never come from behind to win in a Major.

HOLE 1: Tiger and Badds are about to tee off. Tiger’s opening drive is a high cut, bounding down the middle of the fairway. Badds looks very nervous. He’s hitting a three wood that heads right, just clearing the bunker, but staying in the rough. Badds’ second shot squirts right. Tiger has an easy shot to the green. Badds misses badly pitching it up and his shot rolls off the green. He’s going to lose at least a shot to Tiger here. Badds is going to chip up with a wedge, but leaves it way short. Tiger misses a long putt, but has a tap in for par. Badds needs to get this long putt in for bogey. He misses. His comeback shot is nearly as long. He then misses again. Finally, he putts out.

Badds has lost his two putt lead, and now is tied for third. Tiger is tied for first with Steven Ames.

It’s a sad statement that in our day and age we have to worry about terrorist threats at the US Open. It’s not exactly new; in 1977, Hubert Green and the USGA had to deal with an credible death threat. And I would’t be surprised to find that Tiger and other top golfers get them on a semi-regular basis. The world is full of crazies.

But with professional terrorists on the loose, marquee events such as the US Open now must take extraordinary precautions. Technological solutions are surely part of this. And I’m a tech geek.

That’s why I was interested when I read a press release about how the USGA was deploying Augusta Systems’ “ThreatViewer” at the Open. It’s a 360 degree camera system that deploys automatically when it detects dangerous gases, or other conditions that could pose a threat.

The entire press release follows:

In spite of dire predictions that a score of ten over would take the prize, I now think that the final score at the 2007 US Open at Oakmont will be at or below par. Leader Aaron Baddeley is just two over; Tiger’s in second at four over. I would’t be surprised to see either or both of them go low in the final round. If Tiger’s putting had been just a little bit better, he would be at even par or lower going into the final round. Badds also had a couple of missed opportunities.

It is interesting to note, though, that if Tiger comes from behind to win, it will be the first such victory for the striped one. In front, he’s devastating. Behind, he loses some of the intimidation factor.

It should be a very interesting Father’s day Sunday.