Thompson pulls away from Wie for first major

Lexi Thompson hugs caddy Benji Thompson after the final round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship. [USA TODAY/NEWS1]

Lexi Thompson left Michelle Wie behind - off the tee and on the leaderboard in the Kraft Nabisco Championship on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Thompson closed with a bogey-free 4-under 68 at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, California, for a three-stroke victory over Wie and her first major title. Thompson birdied four of the first nine holes to open a five-stroke lead and parred the final nine.

Wie birdied the final hole for a 71. She used her driver only four times, choosing to hit fairway-metal stingers on the other 10 driving holes - leaving her as much as 60 yards behind Thompson. When both hit 3-woods, Thompson also had the advantage.

Stacy Lewis, the 2011 winner, had a 67 to finish third at 7 under. Cristie Kerr and Pak Se-ri tied for fourth at 6 under. Kerr shot 72, and Pak had a 72.

Defending champion and world No. 1 Park In-bee closed with a 75 to tie for 38th at 4 over.

Thompson became the second-youngest major winner in LPGA Tour history at 19 years, 1 month, 27 days. Morgan Pressel set the record in her 2007 victory at Mission Hills at 18 years, 10 months, 9 days.

Thompson finished at 14-under 274 for her fourth LPGA Tour victory. She opened with a 73, shot a tournament-best 64 on Friday and had a 69 on Saturday to tie for the lead with Wie at 10 under. She had only one bogey - missing a 3-footer for par on the 18th Saturday - in her last 55 holes.

Thompson won the 2011 Navistar LPGA in Alabama at 16 to become the youngest winner in tour history, a mark broken by Lydia Ko in the 2012 Canadian Women’s Open. Last year, Thompson won the LPGA Malaysia and Lorena Ochoa Invitational titles.

The 24-year-old Wie made her 12th start in the event. She was ninth in 2003 at age 13, fourth the following year and tied for third at 16 in 2006. She also was sixth in 2011.

Wie has two tour victories, winning the 2009 Lorena Ochoa Invitational and 2010 Canadian Women’s Open. She has been in the top 16 in all six of her starts this season.

Thompson hammered a drive 40 yards past Wie’s 3-wood on the par-4 opening hole and took the lead with a 15-foot birdie putt. Wie pulled even with a birdie on the par-5 second.

Wie bogeyed the par-4 third, missing from 6 feet after a short chip.

Thompson birdied Nos. 4 and 5. She hit a 3-wood 30 yards past Wie’s 3-wood and made a 12-foot putt on the par-4 fourth, and holed a 5-footer on the par-3 fifth.

Thompson picked up another stroke on the par-3 eighth when Wie missed a 2-foot par putt, and pushed her lead to five with an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-5 ninth.

Wie birdied the first two holes where she used her driver, hitting it past Thompson on the par-5 second and 11th. Wie also hit driver on the par-4 13th, setting up a wedge that she hit to 4 feet. But she left the birdie putt short to remain four strokes back.

She cut it to three on the par-3 14th, holing a 12-footer, but dropped a stroke after hitting well right on the par-3 17th.

Lee Min-jee, the 17-year-old Australian who tops the amateur rankings and is 110th overall, was the low amateur. She closed with a 72 to tie for 24th at even par.

AP