13-year-old Wie wins crown on Tiger-like performance

She beat former NCAA champion Virada Nirapathpongporn, 1-up.
PALM COAST, Fla. (AP) -- Michelle Wie has pictures of Tiger Woods on her wall, and a knack for pulling off the kind of shots that helped make him famous.
First came the fearless 5-iron, out of the bunker and over the water, the ball landing about 8 feet from the pin before rolling just off the back of the green.
Routine birdie.
When the match was tied Sunday at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links, she reared back and blasted a 314-yard drive -- some 50 yards beyond her opponent -- that left Wie only a 6-iron into the par-5 14th.
A dramatic eagle, and the lead.
In the end, Wie outlasted former NCAA champion Virada Nirapathpongporn and won her first national title, 1-up, at Ocean Hammock Golf Club.
Her reaction?
Typical of any 13-year-old about to start her freshman year in high school.
"Pretty cool," Wie said.
Rallies from 4-down
Wie rallied from 4-down after the first eight holes, then rode the 5-iron bunker shot in the afternoon to another comeback that made her the youngest winner in the 27-year history of the tournament for amateurs who don't belong to private clubs.
At this rate, it won't be long before Wie is in a club all to herself.
"Michelle has got a pretty bright future," Nirapathpongporn said after trying to keep up throughout a steamy afternoon, but losing the match by missing a 3-foot putt on the 35th.
Laura Baugh was 16 when she won the 1971 U.S. Women's Amateur, while Catherine Cartwright in 2000 (age 17) had been the youngest Women's Public Links champion.
Wie appeared to be in trouble in the afternoon round, falling 2-down through four holes when she started to chip away.
She made a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 5 and took her first lead in 23 holes with a 6-foot par save on No. 7.
Shot of the day
In between was the shot that had the gallery of 800 buzzing.
Wie hit her drive into a waste bunker down the left side of the sixth fairway. She had 180 yards to the flag, nothing but water between her and the green.
Her father and caddie, B.J. Wie, wasn't sure this was the time to gamble.
For Wie, there was never a doubt.
"He was like, 'Uh, uh ...' and I was like, 'I'm going for it,' " Wie said.
The ball shot out of the sand and went straight for the flag, stopping just over the green for a birdie, part of a three-hole stretch when she took control of the match.