It's been a long time since Michelle Wie played really good golf in a tournament setting. In fact, it's been one year.

A year ago this week, Wie was in France, at the Evian Masters, taking a 2-stroke lead onto the back nine on Sunday. This week, she's back in France, struggling to reclaim the game that made her the greatest prodigy in the history of women's golf.

A perfect storm of injuries, swing changes and confidence problems has hit Wie hard, knocking her from the verge of domination to the verge of irrelevance.

One year ago, Wie lost that 2-stroke lead on the back nine on Sunday at the Evian Masters, and finished second to playing partner Karrie Webb. But she didn't choke - she had one bogey on the back nine, none in the last five holes, birdied No. 18 and shot 68. Webb just surged past Wie with three birdies of her own.

It was the culmination of a stretch of golf that is probably the best ever played by a teenager competing in professional tournaments. In January at the PGA Tour Sony Open, Wie shot a second-round 68, the lowest score ever by a female in a men's tournament. Beginning in February she played in six LPGA events up to and including the Evian, finishing second once, third three times, and fifth twice.

And included in that stretch, she made the cut on the Asian Tour in a men's tournament; won a U.S. Open (men's) qualifier and U.S. Amateur Public Links (men's) qualifier; and advanced to the quarterfinals at the men's Publinx (youngest golfer ever to do so).

She did all this at age 16. Anyone who claimed Wie was nothing but hype to this point was someone who wanted to believe she was nothing but hype. In fact, she was an amazing talent doing remarkable things. Alas, that all changed after the Evian.

There was one hiccup just before the Evian - Wie shot 77 in the opening round of the PGA Tour John Deere Classic, then quit in the second round, claiming heat exhaustion. Unfortunately, that was a harbinger of things to come.

Because after the 2006 Evian, it's been all downhill for Michelle Wie:

Michelle Wie Tournaments post-2006 Evian

• 2006
• Weetabix Women's British Open: 74-74-72-74--294 (+6), 26th place
• Omega European Masters (European Tour): 78-79--157 (+15), last place
• 84 Lumber Classic (PGA Tour): 77-81--158 (+14), last place
• Samsung World Championship (LPGA): 74-72-72-75--293 (+5), 17th (out of 20)
• Casio World Open (Japan Tour): 81-80--161 (+17), last place among pros

  2007
  

• Sony Open (PGA Tour): 78-76=144 (+14), third from bottom
• Ginn Tribute (LPGA): WD
• McDonald's LPGA Championship (LPGA): 73-74-83-79=309 (+21), 84th
• U.S. Women's Open (LPGA): WD

Can returning this week to the site of her last good golf experience help speed Wie's recovery? All we know is that Wie has been in Florida since the U.S. Women's Open, working very hard with David Leadbetter on her swing, and also embarking on a new fitness regimen specifically designed to help get strength back in her injured wrists.

We also know that during that time, she practiced only - Wie hasn't played an 18-hole round of golf since the first round of the U.S. Women's Open.

How has she looked during the past several weeks? Nobody knows except Wie and Leadbetter, and they haven't said anything yet.

But we should starting hearing reports from France very, very soon. What to expect from Wie at the Evian? I'm thinking 75-75--MC. It could be worse. I hope it's better.