2018 HSBC Women’s World Championships: How former child prodigy Michelle Wie clinched her “revenge” comeback
updated the 6 March 2018 à 00:01Often referred to as the “female Tiger Woods”, this flawless win marks Michelle Wie’s first LGPA win since 2014.
It’s a good week to be Michelle Wie.
The former child golfing prodigy (who actually turned pro a week before her 16th birthday) is the newly-titled champion at the 2018 HSBC Women’s World Championships.
Held at Sentosa Golf Club in Sentosa over the weekend, she now joins the rank of previous champions Lorena Ochoa, Ai Miyazato, Karrie Webb, Paula Creamer, and Inbee Park.
Often referred to as the “female Tiger Woods”, this marks her first LGPA win since 2014, after battling a series of hip and ankle injuries that affected her form on the course. And it was a sweet victory too, made possible with an impressive 45-foot birdie on the 18th hole – which she boldly credits as “the best putt of (her) career so far”.
And having watched said putt firsthand, we can’t disagree.
A “Revenge” Comeback
Her 2018 win is, no doubt, a redeeming one of sorts. “You know, I just kind of wanted to get revenge after last year,” she candidly shares. During the 2017 championship, fans may recall how Wie finished tied-fourth – despite leading after three rounds. However, Wie, ranked 26th in the world, was in top form over the weekend, firing seven birdies without dropping a shot.
So we’re not surprised if this trophy is means that much more special to her. (Incidentally, in case you were curious, she’s made a home for her various trophies in her living room right above the fireplace.)
A Victory Four Years In-the-Making
It’s been a tough few years for the Hawaiian-born American golfer, whose last victory was four years ago during the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. “It’s been a tough journey since 2014. It’s been kind of well-documented,” she said. “I’ve had some injuries, had a really bad time, just lost a lot of self-belief.”
She credits her family and friends, whom she says helped her through the hard times. “Yeah, I mean, when I made the (winning) putt, I could just picture my parents like kind of celebrating.” One thing’s for sure: this 28-year-old is not a quitter. “I’m just really proud of myself for pulling out of it. I just want to keep building confidence from here.”
A Friendly Rivalry on the Course?
If you’ve been following Michelle’s career and social media pages, you’d know that some of her closest friends also happens to the fellow female golfers she competes with. But it’s a genuine sisterhood between them. Wie is generous with her compliments on her counterparts: “Nelly is a great player. She’s really good, and I think she’s going to play really well, and she has been playing really well.”
“Some of my best friends are on tour and you’re competing with them and you want them to do well… But it’s always fun to see friends play well. I know that they are very happy for me, and when the time comes and when they win, I’m very happy for them.”
Celebrating Her Win – Like A True Foodie
Her victorious weekend has been a long time coming, so how does she plan to celebrate? “Sushi,” she says grinning. And true enough; mere hours later, the self-declared foodie shares her victory meal on her dedicated Instagram food account (@whatdowieeat), captioned: “Celebratory sushi dinner!!!!!!!!”.
No doubt, Wie’s victorious win this year sends an uplifting message for every sports professional: that a winning comeback is possible post-injury – if you have the grit and aptitude to plough through the tough days with determination. If the depth and finesse of this year’s tournament are a testament to the excellence in women’s golfing today, we’re certainly already looking forward to next year’s.
Sarah Khan
Photos: HSBC Getty Images
Marie France Asia is proud to be the official media partner for the 2018 HSBC Women’s World Championships.
