In one of the most exciting tournaments of the season, male or female, Michelle Wie came from behind to win the HSBC LPGA Women’s World Championship. Sinking a birdie putt from well off the green on the final hole Wie eased ahead of a pack of golfers to earn her fifth LPGA victory.
With a series of Tiger-like fist pumps Wie stormed around the green as the appreciative crowd roared their approval. Playing in the penultimate group she then had to wait while close friend Danielle Kang and Nelly Korda played out their final hole to challenge for a tie. When neither could sink their birdie putts Wie claimed her unlikely victory.
Take another look 👀—>@themichellewie’s winning putt at the HSBC Women’s World Championship! #HWWC 💪 pic.twitter.com/eM362H5i7J
— LPGA (@LPGA) March 4, 2018
Korda had started the day with a one shot lead trying to match her older sisters win last week. Kang, Jenny Shin and Brooke Henderson all played superb golf and were tied for the lead for what seemed like the entire back nine. Shin shot a 65 to get to the club house first and post at -16. An unfortunate bogey on the last cost her the lead and Wie took advantage.
Korda shot a 71, with a plethora of putts squeezing by, and her eight foot birdie on the last inching past the hole to miss her chance for a playoff.
Kang, Wie’s BFF, sank saving putt after putt to keep pace with a final round 70 but could not find another birdie to match her best friend.
On a day that saw approaches bound off the dried out greens some players were able to go low, extraordinarily low. Sei Young Kim set a new course record with a scorching 62 and Angela Stanford and Caroline Masson carded 63’s.
Wie looked to have little chance at the start sitting five strokes off the lead of Korda and four from Kang. With both players in fine form Wie could just manage her own game. And that she did.
The players were tested all week by the heat and humidity in Singapore but Wie was up to the task as she started off just as hot with an opening three under 33 on the front nine. She had matched that three under through eight holes on the back and with her fourth birdie at eighteen she finished her bogey free 65 with a loud crescendo.
The cheers resonated back to Korda and Kang and seemed to be taunting them, “here I am… come and get me.” When neither could Wie stood flabbergasted as she tried to comprehend her thrilling comeback. “It was crazy,” Wie said. “I don’t know what’s going on right now. I’m so proud of me, my caddie and my entire team. HSBC always has a world-class event. This means a lot to me.”
Wie was reflective on her first trip to the winners circle since her 2014 U.S. Open victory. “It’s been a tough journey since 2014. I think it’s been kind of well documented. You know, I’ve had some injuries, had a really bad year, just lost a lot of confidence,” Wie said.
“But I’m just really proud of myself for pulling myself out of it. I felt like I had a good year last year, a year where I built confidence, and I just want to keep building confidence from there.”
No female golfer moves the needle like Michelle Wie and golf and the LPGA are better when she’s in the mix. If Wie can continue to stay healthy, her putter stays hot and she plays like this it will be another banner season for her and the LPGA.
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