Michelle Wie could not have warmed up for her trip to Dubai any better after ending her long wait for an LPGA Tour win in America.
The 20-year-old Korean-American, who has been confirmed as a star turn in next month’s Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at the Emirates Golf Club, fired a three-under par 69 for a two-shot triumph over Paula Creamer at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.
Wie, who turned pro aged just 16, finished with a flourish by blasting out of a greenside bunker to six inches at 18 and tapping in for birdie. And the golfing pin-up said: “I think that hopefully life will be a lot better, but I still have a lot of work to do.”
The victory was a long-awaited milestone for the 20-year-old, who shot to prominence when she qualified for a US Golf Association event at the age of ten and played an LPGA tournament when she was 12.
She suffered through highly public struggles with her game, but finally earned her LPGA Tour card in qualifying school last December.
Since joining the women’s tour Wie has gone from strength to strength. She has two runner-up finishes this season and emerged as a star at the Solheim Cup, where she was unbeaten in four matches.
“Right now it feels fantastic,” said Wie, who won with a 13-under par total of 275. “It’s a great year. I went through some ups and downs... And obviously this tournament is the icing on the cake.”
Creamer closed with a 70 to take second on 277. Morgan Pressel, Jiyai Shin and Cristie Kerr were three shots off the lead on 278. “I gave it a chance, and Michelle played great,” said Creamer. Tom Watson will get to play in the next five British Opens after Royal & Ancient chiefs changed one of their exemption rules.
The 60-year-old, a five-time British Open champion, finished runner-up this year but his exemption status was under threat because of the R&A’s age rules.
But a rule amendment now means former champions who finish in the top ten in the previous five Opens get a five-year exemption.
That also applies to Greg Norman, a two-time champion who tied for third at the 2008 British Open.
“We have introduced this exemption as a direct response to seeing two of our great Open champions, both in their 50s, challenging to win our championship these last two years,” R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said.