After burning the edges of the cup much of the morning, Michelle Wie closed her final round of the LPGA Lotte Championship by getting her last birdie putt to drop.
Wie’s putt on Ko Olina Golf Club’s ninth green punctuated a bogey-free round of 4-under-par 68 on Saturday and put a finishing flourish on a solid weekend. The Punahou graduate ended the tournament tied for 28th at 5-under 283.
"On the back nine I feel like I could have birdied every single one of them," Wie said. "Finally it went in on the ninth hole, which was good. I’m just happy with how I played the last two days and hopefully I can carry over that feeling in the next couple of tournaments."
The opportunity to play on the weekend was in doubt after a 4-over 76 in the second round on Thursday. After surviving the cut, Wie teed off on Friday in a tie for 68th. She moved up to 40th with a 69 in the third round, and jumped another 12 places on the leaderboard with Saturday’s finish.
"I was just so happy to be able to play on the weekend and I think I made the most of it," she said.
Going back to the final six holes on Thursday, Wie played the last 42 at 9 under par, posting 10 birdies and one bogey.
Wie began Saturday’s round on No. 10 and opened with three pars before birdies at the par-5 13th and 14th holes. Her short game came through to keep her at 3 under for the tournament, with par saves on the next four holes.
She hit two 3-woods to reach the green at No. 1, a par-5, and her eagle putt broke just in front of the cup and she tapped in for birdie. She gave herself birdie opportunities throughout the back nine but tapped in for pars on six holes before making her putt on No. 9 to end her week playing at home.
"I think I’m just slowly improving, which is the most important thing," Wie said. "I’m working really hard at my game and seeing slowly week by week improving."