Williamsburg, Va. ? Michelle Wie’s ambitious schedule has had her playing against LPGA Tour standouts, in an international competition and against men in a bid to earn a spot in the Masters.

Returning to a venue where 14-year-old girls are more the norm has proved more difficult than she expected as the defending champion in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship at the Golden Horseshoe.

“A lot of people expected a lot of me this year,” she said. “I kind of felt that. I saw my picture on the program. It was a lot of pressure.”

Wie handled it perfectly Saturday, putting together her two best rounds of the week to advance to the 36-hole championship match today.

One year after becoming the youngest Publinx champion, Wie will attempt to defend her title after beating No. 2 qualifier Jenna Pearson, 5 and 4, in the quarterfinals and then outlasting Angela Park, 2 and 1, in the semifinals.

Wie will play Ya-Ni Tseng, who beat In-Bee Park, 1-up in the other semifinal.