Shin Knocks Out Wie at Sybase Match Play

An unknown, 5 foot 1 inch Korean bested the mega star Michelle Wie Saturday in the Sybase Match Play Championship quarterfinals, winning 2 and 1 on a hot and humid day.

Wie, who is almost 1 foot taller than Shin, certainly could outdrive her opponent, but as we all know, long drives do not insure wins (just ask John Daly).

The South Korean star Shin took the lead for the first time when Wie bogeyed the par-4 15th after hooking her drive into the tall rough. Shin then won the par-3 16th, holing a 15-foot birdie putt. Wie hit her tee shot into the deep right bunker, blasted out to 18 feet and missed her par try.

“I just didn’t play that well coming in,” Wie said. “I didn’t play as well as I wanted. I think I know exactly what I need to work on. I’m going to work hard the next two weeks and try to win.”

South Korea is turning out more good players for the LPGA than all countries combined. Must be something in the water over there.