Michelle Wie finds Best Finish in Two Years

Michelle Wie (24) has seemingly been in the golfing spotlight for half of her life. From teeing it up with the men on the PGA Tour, to becoming the youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Pub Links and turning pro (2005) before she was 16 years of age. We have seen her grow up in the golfing media world.

From being labeled a phenom at an early age, with expectations higher than most golfers at an early age. Wie struggled after taking the golfing world by storm.

After carding a final round 6-under 66 on Sunday at the Sky 72 Golf Club at the KEB-HanaBank Championship. Wie found her best finish (T3) since 2011 at the CN Canadian Open.

A two time winner on the LPGA Tour, she grabbed a share of the lead Sunday on the back nine, only to finish before the leaders and watch her posted score passed by one stroke. Forcing an eventual playoff between winner Amy Yang and Hee Kyung Seo.

“Like I said, at the beginning of the season, it's coming along,” Wie said after her round. “It's just taking some time to get together. I feel like my game is finally coming together slowly, I have just been patient with my game and working hard at it. It’s just nice to see that it paid off this week, and hopefully I can finish strong next week.”

Wie, who has been criticized in recent months for using a rather peculiar putting style, where she bends over at a good 90 degrees to the putting surface. In what many call a 'table top' style, needed just 26 putts in her final round.

Though her putting rank is currently 28th on the LPGA Tour, up 59 spots from her 82nd ranking in 2010. Wie's putting stroke cannot be good for her overall physical condition and one must think it takes it's toll; even on a a 24-year old body, over an entire LPGA Tour season.

2013 has been a very up and down season for Wie. She has high finishes inside the top-15 in four events, as well as top-25 finishes in five events. Though mixed in with finishes near the bottom of the leader boards to go along with seven missed cuts.

Will her last two events where she finished inside the top-15 help Wie return to form and become a factor on the LPGA Tour in 2014? That remains to be seen.

Her presence on the LPGA Tour and her name near the tops of leader boards is always a good thing for the Tour and LPGA fans around the globe.