Michelle Wie back in form entering Women's U.S. Open

BEDMINSTER, N.J — Has it really been three years since Michelle Wie finally won her first professional major? Or since the former next-great-thing won any LPGA Tour event?

That's how this stuff goes sometimes.

Once upon a time, she was going to be the Tiger Woods of women's golf. Back when she was in junior high school. Yet for whatever reasons that never happened. Even though she got lots of money, much of it from Nike. Even though she tried very unsuccessfully to compete against the men. Still, her career path never approached all the seismic projections. Not even close. She was the face of her sport in name-recognition value only. And after a while that's not nearly enough, especially for anointed ones.

Now she's 27, which somehow seems older in the women's game, a long way removed from her popular victory at the 2014 U.S. Women's Open at Pinehurst No. 2. And for more than two years after that, she pretty much wandered in the desert.

This season has been different. She has five top-five finishes in 14 starts, after having only one top 10 in 2015 and '16 combined. Three of those were in her last four appearances (before tying for 20th two weeks ago in the Women's PGA Championship). She's missed two cuts, compared with 12 a year ago. She's changed her putting grip, her equipment, her swing and her caddie. And probably her perspective.

"It's been a bit of an evolution," her longtime instructor, David Leadbetter, noted recently. "She's playing with a smile."

Which brings us to this week's Women's U.S. Open at Trump National Golf Club (Old Course), where many folks figure our new commander-in-chief will show up over the weekend after he's done dealing with the rest of the planet. While Wie isn't the favorite, she is not an afterthought anymore. And that's something. Because whether you're a fan or not, a relevant Wie can only help everyone else out here. Like Tiger. Or Annika. It's a story line, a lure to pay attention in a world that too often — through the fault of nobody — is headlined by names and faces that are difficult to warm up to. Perhaps that's our problem. Regardless, it's some kind of  burden to put on a supposed savior. But that remains the reality. Who knows whether Wie has enough left in front of her to induce the casual viewer to tune in again? A bunch has changed since her trumpeted arrival, memorable and otherwise. There's always room for a next chapter. She's already had to put herself back together a few times.

"Life doesn't always happen the way you plan it out," Wie said Tuesday. "It doesn't always make it easy. You have to ride with the punches. It's no secret I've had a lot of highs and a lot of lows. It's definitely hard the first time (you go through it). And it doesn't make it any easier the second time You have to play your way out of it. Knowing that you can, and knowing that you have, makes me feel stronger. I know how really low it can get. It helps motivate you. You never want to put yourself back in that position."

She will head out in Thursday's opening round at 12:52 from the first tee with Suzann Pettersen and Brittany Lincicome. It's Wie's 14th Open; her second-best finish was tying for third in 2006. She played in her first USGA championship in 2000, when she became the youngest to qualify for the Amateur Public Links (which she won three years later).

"It's crazy," she said, laughing. "I can't believe it's been that long. The USGA has been a good part of my life, like family. It's been a great journey … It's always good when you come into a major feeling confident. There's still a lot of nerves. That's going to be there. The memories of having won help out. I've done it. It makes me believe I can do it again, instead of wondering if I'm good enough. It's my most important week of the year. I've always put a lot of pressure on myself. When things aren't going well, a lot of doubts can creep into your mind. It's taken me so long to get to this point. The goal is to play as well as I can. I hope to inspire other young women … be a role model."

When pressed, she declined to get into the obvious political side to this tournament's being held here, given Trump's documented issues with women in the past.

"I want to focus on golf," she insisted, reiterating the stance of just about everyone else who was asked.

In a perfect universe, she can continue to try to be all the things everyone wanted her to become. Or maybe she can simply be the best 27-year-old Michelle Wie there is and see what that can still get her. And that will have to suffice. She's never lost the appeal. Her game has been the inconsistent piece of the equation. It's hard to believe she's lifted just four trophies in nearly a decade out here. But that's where she's at. So life moves along.

"It's been a fun year," Wie said. "I'm feeling very excited."

As well she should. And that can't be anything but welcome news for anyone who still cares about what might have been.