Wie Wie Wie all the way home

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Christina Kim pours champagne on Michelle Wie after Wie clinches the CN Canadian Women’s Open title at St. Charles Country Club on Sunday. (BORIS.MINKEVICH@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

In a Thursday moment revealing one of her future goals -- maturation as a golfer -- Michelle Wie wouldn't dance after her hole-in-one.

The 20-year-old phenom and her shoes couldn't help it on Sunday when she delivered the death blow to her CN Canadian Women's Open rivals, a masterpiece chip-in from an edge-of-the-rough lie behind the green on the par-3 15th at St. Charles Country Club.

The footwork celebration on the 15th green, a combination of ballroom and Tom Watson's famous strut around the 17th at Pebble Beach, put her four shots clear of all the chasers and allowed her to breathe easily to the finish off her second LPGA Tour victory.

"The lie was actually quite horrible," Wie said after a three-shot victory over four players. "I was right up against the fringe. I never thought that that 7-iron (from the tee) would go past. I guess the adrenaline and everything -- it flew about 20 yards from what I usually carry it.

"I kind of went up to that (chip), had the same mentality on 17 (Thursday) when I was in the bunker and felt like it was going to go in.

"Just made sure I made good contact on it, landed right there and went in, so it was awesome."

It was Wie's third birdie in a row after she tamed both back-nine par-5s, 13 and 14, again. On the week, Wie shot 12-under 276 and played St. Charles' par-5s in eight-under.

Her improved putting on Sunday also helped. She looked tentative on the greens Saturday when South Korea's Jiyai Shin, her playing partner all four days, gained a share of the 54-hole lead after starting out three behind.

"I think it was my ball-striking that really kept me above water today," Wie added. "David (Leadbetter) and I have been working really hard at it and you know, it's really nice to see that it pays off."

Wie collected $337,500 from the US$2.25 million national championship purse, and her winning margin was three over Shin, with whom she was tied after three rounds, defending champ Suzann Pettersen of Norway, South Korea's Jee Young Lee and Kristy McPherson of the U.S.

Shin, who closed with 73, stayed with Wie until the par-3 eighth, when there was a two-shot swing with Wie's birdie and Shin's bogey.

Pettersen, who started four back, just couldn't apply enough pressure, especially with her putter, until it got too late. Lee got to nine-under through 13 but had no closing kick and McPherson started too far back to reel in a leader who shot two-under on Sunday.

"I am just happy to finish second and well, I appreciate the gallery and the crowds here," Shin said after her 10th top-10 finish of a season that has included a win at the Evian Masters.

"It's a pretty tough course. I played very well. Just today wasn't putting as good."

Wie, who hadn't had a top-10 finish since May, had a good idea what she was up against for Sunday's final round. She was paired with Shin every day at the Open.

"(Saturday) she made a really big charge and she's an awesome player," the champion said. "I mean, I've played with her a lot of times and every single time she amazes me."

Not even five minutes of back-nine rain could rain on Wie's parade Sunday. She followed the chip-in and her three straight birdies with a clutch five-footer for par after a poor drive at the par-4 16th.

And then there was the shower of champagne at the 18th from friend and Tour member Christina Kim, who's been known to spray a winner or two.

"I was trying to run away from her," Wie laughed. "All I was thinking in my mind was, 'I'm wearing white pants.'"

The victory sends Wie from 20th to 10th on the LPGA Tour's money list, with $667,159. Shin took over top spot at $1,400,296.

NOTES: Next year's championship is at Hillsdale Golf Club in Montreal....Great line from Ron McLean on CBC at the end of Sunday's fourth round as Kim appeared with the champagne: "Everybody's got to keep their head up on tour with Christina Kim around."

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 30, 2010 C1