Wie Loses Tourney on Eagle Attempt

Michelle Wie (17) was trailing the leaders by one stroke heading into the final round of the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship at the Rancho Mirage Mission Hills Country Club (Par 72) yesterday.

She went for two-on with her five iron at the 18th hole. But the ball went slightly over the green and stopped in the fringe. Contemplating her club selection 7.6 meters away from the cup, Wie pulled out a wedge instead of a putter. She went for the eagle and the win, but her shot rolled past the cup three meters long on the fast green. After missing her following birdie attempt, Michelle Wie flopped down on the grass.

Blowing her chance at her first victory as a pro, Michelle Wie recorded a final tally of eight under par and 280 strokes, good for third place alongside Natalie Gulbis, who missed a 4.5 meter birdie putt in the last hole.

Karrie Webb, who saved five strokes by the 17th hole in yesterday’s round, eagled the 18th on a pitching wedge chip into the cup. Webb took the lead with a nine under par 279 with the shot, tying Lorena Ochoa, who also eagled the 18th hole.

In the tiebreaker, Webb birdied for the win. She made the traditional leap into the pond of champions, washing away her 22-month, 39 match winless streak since the Kelloggs Keebler Classic in June 2004.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com