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Michelle Wie West, born on October 11, 1989, is a former professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour. Wie West started playing golf at the age of four and became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship at the age of 10. She went on to achieve several other youngest milestones, including being the youngest woman ever to compete on the PGA Tour. In 2020, Wie West became a mother and decided to retire from competitive golf to spend more time with her daughter. While she has stepped away from playing, she continues to be involved in golf, hosting events and being the subject of a documentary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michelle Sung Wie West |
| Born | 11 October 1989 |
| Birthplace | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Nationality | American |
| Parents | Byung-wook Wie and Bo Wie |
| Spouse | N/A |
| Children | 1 daughter, Makenna |
| Education | Stanford University |
| Profession | Golfer |
| Golf Career Start | 2002 |
| Golf Career End | 2022 |
| Notable Achievements | Youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship at age 10; Youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links; Youngest to qualify for an LPGA Tour event; 2014 U.S. Women's Open winner; Tallied four top-5 finishes on the LPGA tour |
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What You'll Learn
Michelle Wie West's retirement from golf
Michelle Wie West, the American professional golfer, announced her retirement from the game in May 2022, bringing an end to a career that began when she was just 15 years old. She stated that her daughter, Makenna, was central to her decision to step away from the sport. Wie West has expressed a desire to play golf for longer and has not entirely ruled out a return to competitive golf or individual events. However, she has shifted her focus to other passions and endeavours outside of the sport.
Wie West's retirement marks a significant moment in women's golf, as the sport loses one of its biggest stars. She began playing golf at the age of four and quickly rose to prominence in the golfing world. At the age of 10, she became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship. She also became the youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and the youngest to qualify for an LPGA Tour event. Wie West turned professional shortly before her 16th birthday in 2005, accompanied by a wave of publicity and endorsements.
Throughout her career, Wie West faced controversies and struggles with injuries. Despite the publicity surrounding her appearances, she only made one cut in a men's tournament, at the 2006 SK Telecom Open on the Asian Tour. She also faced criticism from professional golfers, fans, and media critics, who argued that her participation in PGA events took away opportunities from more deserving golfers. In addition to injuries and criticism, Wie West's journey was marked by both triumphs and challenges.
Wie West's notable achievements include winning the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year in 2004 and her first and only major at the 2014 U.S. Women's Open. She has also made a significant impact on the LPGA Tour, with five career victories and official tour earnings of $7.28 million. While stepping away from competitive golf, Wie West remains passionate about junior golf and mentoring the next generation of women golfers. She has also explored new ventures, including hosting the Mizuho Americas Open and launching a big-sister program between LPGA players and American Junior Golf Association players.
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Wie West's career records and titles
Michelle Wie West is a professional golfer who has had a highly successful career. She began playing golf at the age of four and quickly rose to fame, turning professional in 2005, shortly before her 16th birthday.
Some of Wie West's most notable achievements include:
- Youngest winner of an adult-sanctioned USGA event (aged 13 in 2003 at the US Women's Amateur Public Links)
- Youngest player to make a cut on the LPGA Tour (aged 13 in 2003 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship)
- Youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship (aged 10)
- Youngest player to qualify for an LPGA event (aged 12)
- Lowest round by a female in a PGA Tour event (68 at the Sony Open in 2004 and 2006)
- First female player to compete at a USGA national men's tournament (2005)
Wie West has also played on the PGA Tour eight times, holding the record for female participation on the leading men's tour. She represented Team USA at the Solheim Cup five times, helping them to victory in 2009, 2015, and 2017.
In total, Wie West has won five LPGA Tour titles, including her first and only major at the 2014 U.S. Women's Open. She also had four top-ten finishes in major championships as an amateur, including a T9 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2003 and Low Amateur in 2004. She achieved top-three finishes at the Women's PGA Championship and the Women's British Open in 2005.
Wie West's career has been impressive, and she has broken numerous records, particularly during the early years of her career. She has inspired many and will be remembered as one of the biggest stars in women's golf.
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Wie West's time at Stanford University
Michelle Wie West is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. At age 10, she became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship. Wie West also became the youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and the youngest to qualify for an LPGA Tour event.
Wie West was born on October 11, 1989, and is the only child of immigrant parents from South Korea. Her father, Byung-wook Wie, is a former professor of travel industry management at the University of Hawaii. Her mother, Bo, was South Korea's women's amateur golf champion in 1985 and competed in a Miss Korea beauty pageant.
Wie West has had a successful career in golf, with four top-5 finishes on the LPGA tour, including a second at the Evian Masters and a tie for third at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. She has also competed in 80 professional events as an amateur or professional, with 66 of those against women and 14 against men. In 2014, she became the U.S. Women's Open champion.
However, Wie West has also struggled with injuries throughout her career, which continued even after she gave birth to her daughter. In 2022, she told Golfweek that she did not want to sacrifice time with her daughter for rehab and practice. Wie West announced her retirement from the LPGA Tour in 2023 at the age of 33, with her final tournament being the U.S. Women's Open. She plans to continue to support and look out for golfers even after her retirement.
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Wie West's golfing legacy
Michelle Wie West is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. She was born on October 11, 1989, and is the only child of immigrant parents from South Korea. At the age of 10, she became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship. She also became the youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and the youngest to qualify for an LPGA Tour event.
Wie West's golfing career has been illustrious, to say the least. She has tallied four top-5 finishes on the LPGA tour, including a second-place finish at the Evian Masters, a tie for third at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, and a tie for 5th at the LPGA Championship. In the initial Rolex World Golf Rankings in February 2006, she was ranked third globally. She has competed in a total of 80 professional events, including 14 events against men on various tours.
Despite her success, Wie West has struggled with injuries throughout her career, which continued even after she gave birth to her daughter in 2020. In 2022, she made the difficult decision to retire from the LPGA Tour at the age of 33, citing her desire to spend more time with her family and less time on rehab and practice.
Wie West's final tournament marked a historic moment for women's golf. Her impact on the sport has been significant, with golfers still looking up to her even after her retirement. She continues to be involved in golf, taking on roles such as hosting the LPGA's inaugural Mizuho Americas Open in 2023 and launching a big-sister program between LPGA players and American Junior Golf Association players.
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Wie West's early golfing career
Michelle Wie West began playing golf at the age of four. She started her journey to becoming a golfing legend at a very young age. At 10, she became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship. Two years later, at 12, she became the youngest player to qualify for an LPGA event.
In 2000, Wie West competed at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, becoming the youngest player ever to do so. In 2001, at 11 years old, she won the Hawaii State Women's Stroke Play Championship and the Jennie K. Wilson Women's Invitational. The latter is the oldest and most prestigious women's amateur tournament in Hawaii.
In 2002, Wie West won the Hawaii State Open Women's Division by 13 shots. She also became the youngest player to qualify for a Takefuji Classic LPGA event, held in her home state of Hawaii.
In 2003, Wie West became the youngest golfer to make the cut at an LPGA event (Kraft Nabisco Championship). She also became the youngest to claim a USGA adult event when she won the Women's Amateur Public Links. Later that summer, aged 13, she made the cut at the US Women's Open as the youngest player ever.
In 2004, at the Sony Open in Hawaii, Wie West became the youngest female to contest a PGA Tour event. In the same tournament, she set the record for the lowest round by a female in a PGA Tour event—68. She was also the youngest woman ever (14) to play in the Curtis Cup tournament, which the US team won.
Wie West turned professional shortly before her 16th birthday in 2005. Her transition to professional golf was accompanied by a lot of publicity and endorsements. She won the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year in 2004.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Michelle Wie West has decided to retire from golf.
Michelle Wie West wanted to spend more time with her daughter, Makenna, and also cited injuries as a reason for her retirement.
Michelle Wie West was one of the most influential and recognisable golfers in recent history. She was the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship at age 10 and was the only woman ever to compete on the PGA Tour. She also won the 2014 U.S. Women's Open.
Michelle Wie West is set to take extended time off after the U.S. Women's Open in 2022. She is also the subject of an upcoming documentary.
Michelle Wie West had a successful career with numerous records and titles. She played in 80 professional events and had four top-5 finishes on the LPGA tour.
