Golf
Wie goes wire-to-wire
2010-08-30 09:23
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Winnipeg - American Michelle Wie won her second career title going wire-to-wire to capture the LPGA Canadian Women's Open on Sunday.
She fired a two-under 70 to reach 12-under after four rounds at the St. Charles Country Club for a three-stroke win over Shin Ji-yai, Suzann Pettersen, Young Jee Lee and Kristy McPherson.
"I made a lot of crucial putts today," said Wie, who won her first career stroke play tournament at the LPGA Mexico event last November.
Shin of South Korea shot a one-over 73 and tied for second with American McPherson (66), defending champion Pettersen of Norway (69) and Young from South Korea (69).
Heading into the final round, the 20-year-old Wie and Shin were tied for the lead. Shin played with Wie in the final pairing but stumbled down the stretch.
"My shot was really good, but my putting was so bad," said Shin.
"I (had) lots of chances for birdies, but I couldn't make it just a couple times."
That left Wie to collect $337 500 for winning the LPGA's only stop in Canada.
It has been a career of extreme highs and lows for Wie who at 10-years-old was the youngest player to qualify for the US Amateur Championship. She once held aspirations of playing full-time on the men's tour but a string of mediocre performances on the LPGA Tour ended that plan.
"I just feeling like I haven't been playing as well as I wanted to the last couple of months, and (this) just really makes me more motivated for the rest of the season," said Wie.
Wie tallied five birdies and three bogeys on the St. Charles course and finished with a 12-under 276. Her five birdies included three in a row, capped by a chip-in at the 15th hole.
Wie, who is projected to move to number seven in the world rankings, is also scheduled to return to university in California in a couple of weeks.
Wie played through the pain of a sore back Sunday. She clutched her lower back several times during the third round and messaged on her social networking page before the final round that she was suffering from back pain.
Wie also looked uncomfortable teeing off on the 13th hole Sunday.
To celebrate her win, Wie was given a champagne shower by fellow American Christina Kim.
"I was trying to run away from her," Wie said. "All I was thinking in my mind was I'm wearing white pants, please be nice."
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