GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Michelle Wie won the first LPGA title of her career on Sunday, fulfilling the promise of a decade with a three-under par 69 to win the Lorena Ochoa Invitational by two strokes over Paula Creamer.
Wie finished off the victory in style, hitting a greenside bunker shot to six inches on the 18th hole and then tapping in for a birdie.
After pulling the ball out of the hole, the 20-year-old Wie turned to the gallery, looked to the sky and let out a large sigh of relief. The long wait is over.
“It’s definitely off by my back,” Wie said. “I think that hopefully life will be a lot better, but I still have a lot of work to do.”
Morgan Pressel (67), Jiyai Shin (71) and Cristie Kerr (72) were three shots behind in a share of third place. Wie finished a 13-under 275 after starting the day at the Guadalajara Country Club tied for the lead with Kerr at 10 under.
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. (AP)