Golf: Wie's win snaps LPGA title drought

Golf: Wie's win snaps LPGA title drought
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Summary Wie had six birdies, and not even a three-putt bogey at the final hole at her home course.

KAPOLEI, United States (AFP) - American Michelle Wie won her first LPGA title since 2010 on Saturday, firing five-under par 67 for a two-shot victory in the Lotte Championship.

Wie had six birdies, and not even a three-putt bogey at the final hole at her home course, Ko Olina, could dim her joy at her third career LPGA crown.

"It feels good," said the 24-year-old, who erased a four-shot deficit to win with a 14-under par total of 274.

"I m just so happy right now I can t think straight," she said.

Wie s other two LPGA titles also came in North America, at the 2009 Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico and at Canadian Women s Open in August of 2010 -- but she had never before won on US soil.

She s projected to jump from 23rd to 13th in the women s world rankings.

Angela Stanford took a four-stroke lead over Wie and Kim Hyo-Joo into the final round, but carded a one-over 73 for a 12-under total of 276 that left her alone in second place.

World number one Park In-Bee of South Korea, still in search of her first LPGA title of 2014, carded a 67 for 277. She was one stroke in front of compatriot Kim, whose 71 for 278 gave her sole possession of fourth place.

South Koreans Ryu So-Yeon and Chella Choi shared fifth place on 279, Ryu carding a final-round 69 and Choi a 67.

Wie s victory follows three top-10 finishes this year, including her runner-up finish at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first major of 2014.

"She s been playing great," Stanford said. "She s having a great year, so it was bound to happen. I just happened to be the one that caught the buzz saw."

It s welcome progress for a player who shot to prominence as a young prodigy, finishing ninth in her major debut at the age of 13.

"This is a dream come true for me," Wie said of winning on her home course. "I think I ll have more confidence going forward."

Wie took sole possession of the lead with her fourth birdie of the day, at the par-three 12th, and added another at the par-five 13th.

"I was just being patient and having a blast," Wie said. "I had so much fun."

After she rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-three 16th, Stanford bogeyed 17 to allow Wie to take a three-stroke cushion to the final hole.

"Today, I just didn t make the putts that I ve been making," Stanford said. "I just didn t make the putts I needed to."
 

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