Michelle Wie West’s Return to Competitive Golf

Michelle Wie West recently shared that her first competitive round in three years took her to a “very dark” place. She finished the Mizuho Americas Open in West Caldwell, New Jersey, with a score of 10-over 82.

“My husband was on the sidelines giving me encouragement throughout the round. Golf has a way of pulling you into different headspaces, and I definitely felt that,” Wie West reflected, laughing a bit.

She described the experience as “dark, very dark”—especially on several holes. “The second hole, the third hole, and the fifth were tough. Although, the seventh was a bright spot. Then, the ninth? Yeah, that was dark again,” she recalled.

Earlier this year, Wie West announced plans to retire by the end of 2023. She hopes competing in this tournament will help her regain her form ahead of next month’s U.S. Open.

At 36 years old, with five LPGA wins under her belt—including the 2014 U.S. Open—she had those familiar nerves as she teed off on Thursday. “It felt really special to be out there again,” she said. “I’ve got some nerves, but they remind me how much I love this game. It was almost surreal to stand on that first tee and face it all again.” I mean, being a mom now adds a different layer to everything, huh?

Wie West mentioned how she was surprised by her anxiety. “I thought I’d be completely chill, but then it hit me. The hole looked smaller than ever; when I was putting, it was like, ‘There’s no way I can make this,'” she admitted.

Her front nine, however, was a struggle—she tallied three bogeys and two double bogeys, resulting in an 8-over 44. But she managed to pull herself together, scoring two birdies on the back nine and finishing with a 2-over 38.

She felt reassured after hitting solid shots on the 12th hole, which helped her gain momentum. “Hitting par there really boosted my confidence, and then I birdied two of the next three holes,” she noted.

With about a month to prepare for the upcoming U.S. Open at California’s Riviera Golf Course, from June 4 to 7, Wie West expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to play. “Honestly, it feels really great to have this round before heading into the U.S. Open,” she shared. “No amount of practice can replace the feel of competing in a tournament. Today was a valuable experience.”