'So awesome': Wie wins first LPGA Tour title
'So awesome': Wie wins first LPGA Tour title
Michelle Wie won her first LPGA Tour title, fulfilling the promise of a decade with a 3-under 69 yesterday for a two-stroke victory over Paula Creamer in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Wie finished off the victory in style, hitting a greenside bunker shot to 6 inches on the 18th hole and then tapping in for a birdie.
Associated Press
Michelle Wie holds trophy after winning Lorena Ochoa Invitational yesterday.
"It's definitely off my back," she said. "I think that hopefully life will be a lot better, but I still have a lot of work to do."
The 20-year-old Wie raised both arms - her putter in her right hand - and then put her hand over her mouth. After pulling the ball out of the hole, she turned to the gallery, looked to the sky and let out a big sigh of relief.
"Wowww-w-w . . . never thought this would feel THIS great!!!!" she posted on her Twitter account.
Solheim Cup teammates Morgan Pressel and Creamer showered Wie on the 18th green after the winning put.
"Just seeing them come out and pour beer all over me, it was a great feeling," Wie said. "I've always seen it on TV and I've always wanted people to pour beer on me. It was as great as I thought it was."
Her parents, dad B.J. and mom Bo, were there, too, for an embrace.
"I think it's just so awesome, seeing them on the 18th green and hugging them," Wie said. "You know, we have been through a lot as a family, and it's just so great that they are here to share my highs and to keep me up from the lows, as well."
Wie finished at 13-under 275 after starting the day at the Guadalajara Country Club tied for the lead with Kerr at 10 under.
Pressel (67), Jiyai Shin (71) and Cristie Kerr (72) tied for third at 278.
Wie first qualified for a USGA event at age 10 and played an LPGA event when she was 12. She joined the LPGA this season and has begun to show the sizzling game that has made her arguably the biggest attraction in women's golf.
"Right now it feels fantastic," Wie said. "It's a great year. I went through some ups and downs . . . And obviously this tournament is the icing on the cake."
Noteworthy
* Tiger Woods won the Australian Masters, in Melbourne, for his seventh victory of the year, closing with a 4-under 68 for a victory.
Woods finished at 14-under 274 after four rounds. Australia's Greg Chalmers was second at 12 under.
* Stephen Ames won his second title in 3 years at the Children's Miracle Network Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Ames finished at 8-under 64 to tie for the clubhouse lead in regulation with George McNeill (67) and Justin Leonard (67).
Leonard was eliminated on the first playoff hole and McNeil missed a 6-foot putt on the second to give Ames the win.
* France's Gregory Bourdy had four birdies and a bogey in a 3-under 67 final round that gave him a 19-under 261 total and the win in the Hong Kong open.
The victory secured Bourdy's third European Tour title.
