ASSOCIATED PRESS Michelle Wie watched her tee shot on No. 4 yesterday at the Evian Masters. Wie shot a 68 in yesterday's final round.

Wie works her way up to
a tie for second in France

The 15-year-old from Hawaii closes
with a 68, eight strokes back
of Paula Creamer

EVIAN, France » Paula Creamer won her second LPGA title yesterday at the Evian Masters, beating fellow teenager Michelle Wie and Lorena Ochoa by eight shots.

The 18-year-old Creamer shot a 1-under 71 to finish at 15-under 273. Wie, a 15-year-old amateur, shot a 68 and Ochoa a 69 to tie for second at the $2.5 million event.

The $375,000 prize boosted Creamer to second on the LPGA money list behind Annika Sorenstam, who finished 12 strokes back with a 75.

Creamer, who won the Sybase Classic two months ago, shot rounds of 68-68-66 to take a seven-shot lead entering the final round and cruised to victory.

"I've just had a great week," Creamer said. "Just the strength of this field and the Evian ensemble makes it huge for me to win here."

Creamer opened with a bogey, but closed with 11 pars and a birdie over the final 12 holes. She finished with three birdies and two bogeys.

When asked about a rivalry with Wie, Creamer said Sorenstam is the player to beat.

"I don't really see it as a rivalry," Creamer said. "We're all just trying to find our games and play our best golf. I compare myself to the No. 1 player in the world, which is Annika Sorenstam, and I'm not quite there yet."

Wie had five birdies and one bogey in her solid 68. But she was left regretting the putts and shots that went awry, particularly in the first two days when she shot 75-70.

"It was a good day in some ways," Wie said. "I didn't give myself so many chances, but took more of them. But when I think of all the shots I left out there ... I'm just pleased how I came back the last two rounds."

Sorenstam had a double-bogey and five bogeys to offset four birdies.

"It's been a tough week for me," she said. "I fought to the end, but nothing worked out as I planned. Particularly my play around the greens. My caddie is as confused as me."

When her drive sailed left at the par-3 14th, Sorenstam threw her 5-iron away in frustration, an uncommon sight.

"You saw that?" Sorenstam asked. "I guess it just slipped out of my hands."