Where have you gone, Michelle Wie?

I still look at a photo of Hawai'i's 17-year-old golf prodigy and her father, BJ, taken six years ago when she became the youngest winner of the Jennie K. Wilson Invitational in 2001.

It showed the carefree days of her youth and guilelessness, a time when interviews were given one-on-one and not through press conferences.

Ah, those were the days, my friend.

A lot has changed for Team Wie since then. There has been nothing but controversy, increasing venom by her detractors, and a growing lack of patience by even her staunchest supporters.

Soon the only ones left will be those in her entourage, sizable as it may be. Let's see. BJ and mom, Bo. Her managing agent, her masseuse, her swing coach and her agent. A psychologist, too, at times.

Still, I'd like to volunteer my services to join that entourage — oh, maybe just for a Sony LCD-TV, a set of Nike irons and an Omega watch — as a PR agent. Team Wie could certainly use a good one to restore some good will.

The latest criticism began when Wie withdrew from the LPGA Ginn Tribute, supposedly to avoid being victimized by the "88-Rule," for nonmembers. Shoot that number and you can't play for the rest of the year.

A poll overwhelmingly showed that people thought it was the reason Wie, who was 14-over with two holes to play, withdrew in the opening round. Wie said the reason was "wrist issues," that "shooting an 88 is not what I think about."

Whatever the reason, I thought it was a shrewd decision to live to fight another day and play in the rest of her tournaments this year. After all, Wie's mini-golf season was just beginning before she enters Stanford this fall. She has such a small window of opportunity.

Discretion is the better part of valor and all that. Musashi Miyamoto would have been proud of her.

Apparently, it was what her manager, Greg Nared, advised after they called time out and huddled.

Smart, no matter what the critics say.

What wasn't smart, and that's where I would have earned my keep as her PR agent, was going out and practicing at the site of her next tournament, the McDonald's LPGA Championship, soon after her withdrawal. And then playing in a pro-am before the tournament.

Rest, get a massage or a cortisone shot. But don't pick up the clubs right away, I would have told her.

Then her "wrist issues" wouldn't have been an issue at the LPGA Championship. Even though she made the cut, barely at that, Wie closed with rounds of 83 and 79 to finish last in the 84-player field, 10 strokes back of the next-worst finisher.

Ouch. It's one thing to lap the field. It's another if the field laps you.

Another thing I'd advise her to do is to be more apologetic to others, beginning with Annika Sorenstam, the best player in LPGA history. "Sorry, Annika. 'Wrist issues,' you know."

That's all it would have taken for Sorenstam not to call Wie disrespectful and not showing any class.

I know it's PR 101. But it's a start.

I'm also qualified when it comes to wrist injuries. Like Wie and Phil Mickelson, I also had "wrist issues," having hurt my left wrist after pounding a 3-wood into the ground at the Honolulu Country Club's 17th tee about 15 years ago.

It occurred during a benefit scramble with Stan Sheriff, the late University of Hawai'i athletic director, and then councilwoman Donna Kim, the world's greatest 26-handicapper, as my playing partners. I could only putt one-handed the rest of the day.

Now, golf is a tough game, even with both hands healthy, let alone with only one. I know.

I felt for Mickelson at last week's U.S. Open when time and again, he had to let go of his left grip after a swing. So I can imagine how frustrating it must be for Wie with two wrists that can get easily tweaked.

Despite all her woes, I still give Wie the benefit of the doubt that she'll bounce back. Her adventures — I hope they won't be misadventures — will resume in the U.S. Women's Open next week.

She has too much talent not to play well.