Top-ranked Jiyai Shin knocked out Michelle Wie in the Sybase Match Play Championship quarterfinals 2 and 1 on another hot, humid day at hilly Hamilton Farm on Saturday.
``I didn't play as well as I wanted,'' Wie said. ``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.''
Shin will play South Korean compatriot Sun Young Yoo - a 2-and-1 winner over fourth-seeded Yani Tseng of Taiwan - in the semifinals on Sunday. In the other quarterfinals, 10th-seeded Angela Stanford of the United States beat Catriona Matthew of Scotland 5 and 3, and No. 30 Amy Yang edged Haeji Kang 1-up in an all-South Korean duel.
``This match was so big,'' Shin said. ``When I saw the pairing, I was a little bit worried because she's so long.''
Shin is chasing her first U.S. LPGA Tour title of the year after winning six times in the last two seasons. She also has 23 international victories.
The South Korean star 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.
``She was in difficult situations,'' Shin said.
The match ended when Wie pulled her 10-foot birdie putt well left on 17.
``She's a superstar,'' Shin said. ``I just tried to focus on my game.''
In the morning third-round matches, Shin beat Beatriz Recari of Spain 4 and 3, and Wie overcame shaky ballstriking to top Karine Icher of France 3 and 2.
In the afternoon, Wie birdied the par-5 second to take a 1-up lead, and Shin squared the match with a tricky 5-foot par putt on the par-4 seventh.
Wie won the par-3 12th with a 25-foot birdie putt from the edge of the green, skipping and punching the air in celebration.
``It was just 12, so I'm not worried because I've got six holes left,'' Shin said.
Shin pulled even on the par-4 13th with a 12-foot birdie putt after Wie hit a flop shot to a foot following an approach that went off the back of the green.
``I was thinking, this is my birdie chance,'' Shin said.
