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Wie poised for first US LPGA win

Taiwan’s Yani Tseng plays her second shot from the 11th fairway during the third round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Saturday in Guadalajara, Mexico. PHOTO: AFP

Michelle Wie moved into position for her first US LPGA Tour victory, shooting a 2-under 70 in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational for a share of the third-round lead with Cristie Kerr on Saturday.

Kerr had a 67 to match Wie at 10 under at Guadalajara Country Club.

Three others were a shot back: Second-round leader Shin Ji-yai (74), Paula Creamer (71) and first-round leader Kim Song-hee (70).

Yani Tseng of Taiwan was three back after a 69.

Tournament host Lorena Ochoa shot 72, leaving her six strokes off the lead. Ai Miyazato, the No. 2 money winner this season, had a 70 and trailed by seven.

The 20-year-old Wie, who turned professional four years ago, has been here before.

She was tied for the lead going into the final round in February at the SBS Open in Hawaii — her first US LPGA event as a member — but lost by three shots to Angela Stanford.

“I don’t want to talk about what happened then,” Wie said.

“It’s unfortunate. All I want to think about is tomorrow and how I’m going to play tomorrow,” she said.

Wie opened with two straight birdies — a 10-footer on the first and a 30-footer on the second. A 3-foot birdie putt on 13 gave put her a three-way tie with Shin and Creamer at 11 under. After that it was about holding on. Wie dropped one more shot before the round was over, but Shin and Creamer each dropped two.

Kerr, who won her 12th tour title this year, saw her round turn on the 16th when a 9-iron from 137 yards went in for an eagle to put her at 10 under. She then saved par on the final two holes.

Second-round leader Shin slipped with three bogeys on the back nine — and two on the final three holes. She entered the round with a three-stroke lead



■AUSTRALIAN MASTERS

AFP, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

Tiger Woods recovered from an indifferent weekend to rediscover his usual poise and swagger to sweep to a two-stroke victory in the Australian Masters at Kingston Heath yesterday.

He seized the outright lead from the opening hole of the final round and cruised home with five birdies to claim his 93rd career title.

Woods put behind the uncertainties of Saturday’s even-par third round, when he was hauled back to a three-way share of the lead, to control the final 18 holes and achieve a personal goal of winning in Australia.

Woods, making his first trip Down Under in 11 years, proudly declared a fulfilled ambition to win on every continent — with one exception.

“I have never won down here, so now I’ve won on every continent, which is nice, except for Antarctica,” Woods said.

He jokingly added: “I haven’t played in the Antarctic four-play yet, but to have won on every continent is something I’ve wanted to do and now I’ve done it.”

Woods attracted unprecedented 100,000 crowds over the four days and was tracked by huge galleries as he claimed victory in the European Tour co-sanctioned tournament with a closing round of four-under 68.

He finished the 72 holes at 14-under 274 and beat Australian Greg Chalmers (68-69-69-70) on 12-under 276 with Frenchman Francois Delamontagne (71-70-68-69) and American Jason Dufner (70-67-71-70) joint third on 10-under 278.

It was his seventh title of the year and he became the third American to claim the Australian Masters’ golden jacket following wins by Gene Littler (1980) and Mark O’Meara (1986).

“I just played very consistently today,” Woods said. “I wasn’t trying to be overly aggressive, I was just trying to plot my way along and make birdies when I had the opportunity.”

For the thorough technician he is, part of the attraction of returning to Australia for the first time since the 1998 President’s Cup was playing on one of Melbourne’s famed sandbelt golf courses.

“All the guys have raved about this golf course and I understand why,” he said. “I really enjoy playing on sandbelt courses because it brings back shot-making and we don’t see enough of that.”

“All the guys who have come down here have always enjoyed it. This is a kind of golf that we don’t get a chance to play,” he said.
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