Who says winning isn't everything?

For Michelle Wie, it meant everything.

Not for the $220,000 she pocketed with her breakthrough LPGA victory in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico. Just a good payday for the 20-year-old keiki o ka 'äina, whose biggest paycheck (though unofficial money) is still $255,333 after tying for second in the 2006 Evian Masters.

Winning meant everything for Wie because she finally got to shed her "can't-win" label and, I hope, silence some of her critics. Oh, they'll still be around, skulking and sulking, waiting for what they hope is the latest Michelle Mania to pass. But at least they won't be able to say that Wie can't win because she doesn't know how to win or that she's got to learn how to win.

Wie played winning golf over the final six holes in the final round with the final group, nearly holing out from the bunker for an eagle-3 on the final hole for her first victory since turning professional four years ago. She sighed with relief after her awesome sand shot — which made ESPN's highlight of the day even with Tiger Woods winning in Australia and the NFL in action — and exulted after tapping in for a birdie, thrusting her arms in the air in victory. It was a sight we all saw often in the Solheim Cup when she led Team USA.

You can't blame her for savoring the moment. It was a long time coming for Wie and her fans, yes, even yours truly.

I've been a Wie Watcher over the past 10 years ever since Casey Nakama first told me about a 10-year-old girl who could out-drive any woman locally, even most of the guys.

All of her exploits as a young prodigy are well chronicled — including her being the youngest, at age 13, to win a USGA event, the Women's Amateur Public Links championship in 2003, and missing the cut in a PGA Tour event by one stroke a year later in the Sony Open in Hawai'i. Wie turned pro at 15 and earned more in endorsement money from Sony, Nike and Omega than any other female golfer, including Annika Sorenstam. It was not surprising considering even Michelle's galleries were larger than Annika's when they played in the same tournaments.

If anyone was a "can't-miss" prospect, it was Wie, who can come up with some spectacular shots few women can hit. Evidently, it was too much and too soon for Wie and her parents, BJ and Bo. In hindsight, perhaps Wie shouldn't have tried to take on the men before establishing herself in women's golf. But who could blame Team Wie? Michelle likely would not have commanded the $20 million in endorsement money had she merely sought a career in women's golf.

Obviously, her path, a road less traveled, came at too steep a price. Injuries and an inaccurate swing unlike the one that led her to be called the "Big Wiesy" — both likely incurred while trying to compete with the men — led to a disastrous 2007 and a mundane 2008. Aiming high only led to a greater fall.

Still, knowing she had the talent to succeed and needed only to get that elusive first win, Wie persevered, gaining respect from her peers by going through Q-School to earn her playing privileges.

With her victory, Wie proved she's ready to accomplish what we all thought she was capable of doing: be a prolific winner in the LPGA. Victory No. 1 could be the start of so many more, the next perhaps as early as this week in the LPGA Tour Championship in Houston.

Again, it won't be about the money but winning. The LPGA might call it the Tour Championship but it seems like just another tour event. The total purse is only $1.5 million, less than one-half of the Evian Masters and the U.S. Women's Open purses, both $3.25 million. And 12 other LPGA events have bigger payoffs.

What's also of interest this week is the LPGA introducing its new commissioner, Michael Whan. No, he's not Asian, but of Scottish ancestry. He takes over a troubled organization facing difficult economic times, but finds himself with a very marketable player with star power in Michelle Wie and a resurgence of American players as the leaderboard in Mexico reflected. It could be just what the LPGA needs to interest sponsors for 2010 and beyond. Wie's first victory — and the interest she can create if she continues winning — couldn't have come at a better time for the LPGA. Now, if she makes it two in a row ...

Another if: the LPGA coming up with a better television package and coverage to boost its waning image. Golf Channel's tape delay of Wie's victory was almost maddening, almost because it had mixed blessings. It didn't help that the PGA's Fall Series final event went into a two-hole playoff, further delaying the delayed broadcast.

When Golf Channel finally came on the air from the Guadalajara Country Club, it picked up with Wie on the eighth hole when she was already playing the 13th in real time. I know it was usually "close-your-eyes" time when watching Wie swing before she found her groove again. But I found myself following her round online and breathed a sigh of relief when she birdied 18th to win at 12:44 p.m., Hawai'i time.

Then I watched it on TV, enjoying the telecast stress free, knowing that she parred in before birdieing 18. Saw what a great sand shot she made and an equally "wow" third shot from 180 yards out for a near par-save at 12.

It was a relief knowing beforehand that she didn't double-bogey the par-4 hole after her second shot hit a tree and bounced back.

I savored every one of her tape-delayed shots. When the telecast was over, I savored a shot of single malt Scotch even though it was still early afternoon. I knew I had another bottle coming from winning a bet with golfing buddy, Hong Kim, who got me last year.

Who says winning isn't everything?