Michelle Wie Wins U.S. Women's Open at Pinehurst 2014

Michelle Wie's fascinating golf career reached its apex at the 2014 U.S. Women's Open, as the former prodigy solidified her superstar status by winning her first major championship on Sunday.Michelle Wie had a three-shot lead on the 16th tee box, endured a double-bogey on that hole, but birdied the 17th to finish at 2-under-par win the 2014 U.S. Women's Open at Pinehurst No. 2 Sunday. It is the first major championship for the 24-year-old Hawaiian, who beat Stacy Lewis by two strokes.Stephanie Meadow finished at 1-over-par to take third. Facing a 25-foot birdie putt on 17 that was fast and dangerous, Wie pumped her fist when it fell, then pounded her fist twice to celebrate the moment. "That kind of emotion, that kind of pressure ... I'll think of that putt as one of the best putts I've ever hit in my life," she said. A par on the 18th gave her an even-par 70 to beat Lewis, the No. 1 player in women's golf who made Wie earn it. Lewis made eight birdies — the most in a final round by a male for female in the U.S. Open — and closed with a 66. Lewis was on the range preparing for a playoff when her caddie told her Wie made birdie on the 17th. Moments later, Lewis was on the 18th green to hug Wie. Like most players, she was perplexed why Wie would spend so much time trying to compete against the men when she still didn't have an LPGA Tour card.Wie also was making her mark in majors. She had two top-10 finishes in the Kraft Nabisco. She contended in the U.S. Women’s Open in 2005 and 2006, tying for third in ’06. Wie then went through a dark period in her career. During the 2007 Women’s Open at Pine Needles, she withdrew with a wrist injury, sobbing as she left. “People doubted me and I doubted myself,” she said. She went to college. Her years at Stanford helped her mature, changed her perspective. “She became her own independent person,” Lewis said. “She’s having fun, she’s taken ownership of her game.” A victory this year in the Lotte Championship in Hawaii was Wie’s first on the LPGA Tour since 2010, and she was the runner-up in the year’s first major, the Kraft Nabisco. By the time she came to Pinehurst, she was 11th in the Rolex world rankings. Wie was on hand to see Kaymer finish off the U.S. Open, saying the 18th-hole scene in the final round gave her goosebumps.She closed with an even-par 70 for a two-shot victory over Stacy Lewis, the No. 1 player in the women’s golf who made Wie work for it by making eight birdies in a round of 66. Wie has been one of the biggest names in women’s golf since she was 13 and played in the final group of a major. She now has four LPGA victories and leads the tour’s money list.