SINGAPORE: Defending champion Michelle Wie pulled out injured on the back nine of her first round at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore Thursday while Amy Yang’s bid for back-to-back LPGA wins ended after three holes.

Defending champion Wie was clearly off the pace early on the first day of the $1.5 million event, carding a double bogey on the eighth and a triple bogey on the ninth on her way to shooting 44, eight over par, on the front nine.