Finally… and Wie’s only just begun

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This article was published 16/11/2009 (6152 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Michelle Wie won her first LPGA Tour title, fulfilling the promise of a decade with a 3-under 69 Sunday for a two-stroke victory over Paula Creamer in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.

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.

“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 in the air — 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.

Wie hopped several times and kept pumping her right fist over and over. After all the expectations, her long wait was over.

“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.”

Pressel (67), Jiyai Shin (71) and Cristie Kerr (72) were three back. Wie finished at 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.

“Right now it feels fantastic,” Wie said. “It’s great year. I went through some ups and downs… And obviously this tournament is the icing on the cake.”

Dressed head to toe in red, Wie had a few shaky moments but she was steadier down the stretch as her rivals faltered. In the past, it’s often been the Hawaiian who has stumbled.

The 6-foot Wie stood tall despite a nagging sprained left ankle that forced her to wear a large, black brace that extends 6 inches above her shoe top.

Wie had chances to pull away on the front nine, but couldn’t quite do it and finished with a 2-under 34 — 12 under for the tournament. She went to 13 under with a birdie on 11, giving her a one-shot lead over Creamer and Kerr. Wie bogeyed the next hole when her escape shot from under a cluster of trees squarely hit a trunk, the ball rebounding into the fairway behind her.

But she made par through 17.

Creamer drew even with Wie with an eagle on 10. But two bogeys down the stretch ruined her chances.

“I gave it a chance, and Michelle played great,” said Creamer, who has battled stomach problems for a year and fought off back and thumb injuries. She is winless this year after eight career victories.

“It’s just unfortunate that you’re so close, yet you’re so far away.”

— The Associated Press