SINGAPORE - MARCH 04: Michelle Wie of the United States celebrates with the winner's trophy after the final round of the HSBC Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club on March 4, 2018 in Singapore. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Wie ends title drought in Singapore

Michelle Wie drained a 45-foot putt from off the green on the final hole of the HSBC Women’s World Championship to win her first title in four years.

The 28-year-old’s closing 65 at Sentosa Golf Club saw her finish on 17 under par for the tournament, one stroke ahead of American compatriots Danielle Kang and Nelly Korda, South Korea’s Jenny Shin and Canada’s Brooke Henderson.

SINGAPORE - MARCH 04: Michelle Wie of the United States celebrates her birdie on the 18th green during the final round of the HSBC Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club on March 4, 2018 in Singapore. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Michelle Wie celebrates holing a 45-foot birdie putt on the 18th green during the final round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship

Wie started the final round five shots behind Korda, but reeled her in with a bogey-free round that contained seven birdies, while Korda missed a 10-foot putt at the last to force a playoff.

“I badly wanted to win this, especially after what happened last year, I had some unfinished business,” said Wie, who led the tournament after 54 holes in 2017. “I knew if I shot seven or eight under I’d have a chance, and that was my one and only goal. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the winner’s circle, so it feels pretty good. I consider this tournament to be Asia’s major, so to win this event means the world to me.”

Shin, in the group ahead of Wie, had stormed into the lead with eight birdies in 11 holes and she reached the 18th with a one-shot cushion, but an errant approach and duffed chip led to her first bogey of the day and opened the door for her pursuers.

Korda had started the final round a stroke ahead of Kang, who was three strokes clear of the others, but neither were able to pick up shots while the rest of the field were eating into their advantage as the top of the leaderboard became congested.

Earlier, Kim Sei-young briefly threatened to shoot an LPGA-record matching 59, but a bogey on her 16th hole stalled her progress and the Korean had to settle for a course record 62 to finish in a tie for 10th on 12-under-par.