Michelle Wie Holds Off Stacy Lewis, Gets First Major
- Dan Hauser
- 23 Jun, 2014
Michelle Wie held off a late surge from World #1 Stacy Lewis Sunday to win the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst #2. Wie, who held at least a share of the lead for all but the first round, let her lead slip down to 1 shot over Lewis after a double bogey on the 16th hole. She bounced back with a birdie at 17 to extend the lead back to 2 and held on from there to win her first major title.
It’s no question that the Jupiter resident has had a very up and down career to this point but at the age of 24, it seems that Wie is finally comfortable with where her game is in all aspects. Wie already earned her first career victory on U.S. soil earlier this year when she won the LPGA Lotte Championship in Hawaii back in April. On Sunday, she not only earned her first major title, it was her first professional win within the continental United States.
“Oh my God, I can’t even think straight,” Wie said Sunday after a two-shot victory over Stacy Lewis to claim her first major.
Lewis was put the pressure on in the final round by shooting a 4-under 66, the low round of the tournament. After shooting a 3-under 67 on Thursday, the Palm Beach Gardens resident had a one shot lead over Wie, Rounds of 73 and 74 in the second and third rounds sent Lewis plummeting down the leader board but she never gave up. Lewis made eight birdies in her round on Sunday to keep the pressure on Wie as she came down the final few holes. The eight birdies were the most recorded in a final round of a U.S. Open by both the men and women.
While Wie was struggling on 16, Lewis was out on the range preparing for a playoff. After she got word that Wie made birdie at 17 to get the lead back to 2 shots she headed over to the 18th green to congratulate her friend and neighbor.
“I think that scene on 18, being on network TV, as many people as we had around there at Pinehurst No. 2 and Michelle Wie winning the golf tournament, I don’t think you can script it any better,” Lewis said. “I think it’s great for the game of golf. I think it’s even better for women’s golf. I’m so happy for Michelle Wie. I mean this has been such a long time coming for her.”
Michelle Wie and Stacy Lewis #uswomensopen http://t.co/HMNdd0ANzP
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 23, 2014
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About Dan Hauser
As an avid golfer and sports enthusiast, Dan has had a passion for sports starting at a very young age. Dan’s other passion has always been writing. Since the time he could write, he has always enjoyed sharing information with people and telling stories through writing. In middle school he combined his two loves by joining the school newspaper in the sports department.
