ASSOCIATED PRESS Hawaii’s Michelle
Wie becomes the
youngest-ever
USGA champ
PALM COAST, Fla. >> The walls in Michelle Wie's bedroom are plastered with pictures of Tiger Woods. She copied his Sunday wardrobe, changing into a red shirt between rounds because her mother wanted her to wear a strong color. Even some of the shots were familiar.
None was more spectacular than a 5-iron out of the bunker, over the water and right at the pin on the par-5 sixth hole to make birdie at a critical juncture in her comeback to win the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links yesterday.
"I've never won a national title," said Wie. "Pretty cool."
Wie outlasted former NCAA champion Virada Nirapathpongporn for a 1-up victory at Ocean Hammock to become the youngest winner in the 27-year history of the Women's Amateur Public Links.
"I'm happy out of my mind," said Wie, 13.
The victory wasn't easy for the 5-foot-11 girl, whom Tom Lehman once dubbed the "Big Wiesy" because her swing reminds so many of Ernie Els.
She was 1-down and standing in a waste bunker on No. 6 in the afternoon round, listening to her father and caddie, B.J. Wie, hesitate over her club selection.
"He was like, 'Uh, uh,' and I was like, 'I'm going for it,'" Wie said.
The ball shot out of the sand and went straight for the flag, stopping just over the green for a birdie, part of a three-hole stretch when she took control of the match.
It was reminiscent of when Woods, her idol, won the Canadian Open in 2000 with a 6-iron from 218 yards out of the bunker and over the water on the final hole.
That's not all.
Wie blasted a 314-yard drive on the 14th hole that left her only a 6-iron into the par 5, which she hit over the water into 25 feet for eagle and the lead. She gave it back with a drive into the water hazard on the 16th, but took advantage when Nirapathpongporn faltered.
The 21-year-old Thai, a senior-to-be at Duke, missed a 3-foot par putt on the 17th hole to fall one behind.
"Michelle played great," Nirapathpongporn said. "She was one shot better. That's why she deserved to win, why she's holding that big trophy."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michelle Wie chipped onto the seventh green on the 25th hole of play during the final match yesterday against Virada Nirapathpongporn in the 27th U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship at Ocean Hammock Golf Club, Fla.
Wie tapped in her 2-foot par putt on the 18th green and raised her right arm to celebrate her first victory outside Hawaii, becoming the youngest player to win any adult United States Golf Association title. Catherine Cartright was 17 when she won the Women's Public Links in 2000. Laura Baugh was 16 when she won the U.S. Women's Amateur in 1971.
"It means a lot. Publinx is my first time for everything," said Wie, who was 10 when she first qualified for this tournament, losing in the first round.
This time, she endured the longest week of her career: 36 holes of qualifying, followed by five 18-hole matches to reach the finals, and 36 holes against an NCAA champion who gave Wie all she could handle on a sticky, sweltering afternoon along the Atlantic Ocean.
Nirapathpongporn grabbed a 4-up lead after eight holes, nearly holing out from the third fairway and sticking her approaches inside 10 feet.
"I was about to give up," Wie said.
But she got back into the match with her awesome length, pounding drives that at times put her some 80 yards ahead of her opponent. She tied the match with an 8-foot birdie on the 14th, and they headed to the final 18 holes. Wie rallied again, going from 2-down to 1-up over three straight holes, although it eventually came down to the final two holes with the tension mounting.
"I was pretty scared," Wie said.
On the par-3 17th, Nirapathpongporn chipped up the slope to 3 feet, while Wie's putt from the back collar of the green stopped 3 feet short. A USGA official had to measure the distance to see who was away.
Wie calmly rapped in her par putt. Nirapathpongporn hit a quick stroke, and it raced by the right side. She looked up, wiped her eyes with her fingers and trudged to the 18th, knowing she needed a birdie for any chance.
In the end, Nirapathpongporn knew what some 800 people watching already figured out.
"Michelle has got a pretty bright future," she said.
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Local fans sit
riveted to radios
Hawaii residents, especially golfers, cheered when they learned Michelle Wie had claimed her first national title, the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links, becoming the youngest player to win it.
Many golfers at the Ala Wai Golf Course had listened to updates about Wie, 13, on the radio before hitting the links themselves, and were pleased to know she had won.
"That's just fantastic," said Ken Oda, 58, who had finished his golf game. Upon hearing Wie hit a 314-yard drive, he said, "All of us men can't hit that far."
Luis Navarro said: "I'm really excited for Michelle. She already is an icon for Hawaii."
Navarro, who watched his son Tyler, 9, hit balls on the driving range, said he wants his son to get interested in golf because it is a good sport for learning discipline.
"It's an individual sport, and you have to be dedicated to do well," he said.
Nelson Yoshioka, who brought his son, 5, and daughter, 9, to the driving range, said, "We're all proud that a child from Hawaii can do so well in a national tournament."
Wie's success did not motivate him to take his kids golfing, "but it motivates me," he said.
Daughter Ashley Yoshioka did not know who Wie was, but may want to play in a golf tournament someday. However, she confessed, "I'm not too good yet."
After finishing a round of golf, Robert Nam, 39, said of Wie, "She's got the body of an 18-year-old, and she's got the game and head of a 25-year-old."
Danny Hahn, 50, also marveled at her mental toughness, saying: "Her focus -- the ability to concentrate at that young age -- is phenomenal. Golf is 80 percent mental. To play 36 holes, you have to be mentally strong."
Although Wie placed ninth in the LPGA championship this year, beating out many pros, she needed this win, said Casey Nakama, who coached her from age 9 to 12.
"As far as her amateur career, she has to win to verify the hype that's going on, to stamp her career for the potential that she has," Nakama said. "So this is a really big win for her."
Under his tutelage, Wie at 10 was the youngest to qualify for the Public Links. At 11 she made the 36-hole qualifier and lost in the first round.
