Michelle Wie West’s comeback proved to be a brief one.
The 2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion returned to major championship golf in Southern California this week, shooting 75-74 before missing the cut in what is expected to be the final start of her career.
Wie West stepped away from pro golf in 2023 to focus on her family and give her body a break after dealing with injuries throughout her career.
Her last appearance at the US Open came three years ago at Pebble Beach, where she posted back-to-back 79s without a single birdie.
Wie West, 36, came back to the tour for the Mizuho Americas Open in May, which she hosts, and for this U.S. Women’s Open. The Riviera Country Club is where Wie West’s father-in-law, NBA icon Jerry West, was a member before his death at 85 in 2024.
Wie West has come a long way since turning pro just before her 16th birthday in 2005. She’s won five professional titles on the LPGA tour, including her lone major in 2014.
She married Jonnie West in 2019 and is now mother to two children, daughter Makenna born in 2020 and son Jagger born in 2024.
While Wie West didn’t make the cut at Riviera, getting to play golf pain-free – and with her kids in attendance – was special.
Makenna ran down the green as soon as Wie West was done for a hug.
“I’m glad that she’s able to play pain-free golf, especially,” said longtime friend Jessica Korda, according to USA Today. “It was always a really important thing for her to be able to hold her kids, and then be able to do sports with them as they get older.”
“My husband and I were talking about this a lot, I’m going to try to live by the words I tell my daughter; I always tell her before a game or a tournament, whatever, I say I don’t care about the results, all I care about is a good attitude and that you try your hardest,” Wie West said.
“Obviously, I would be lying to say I wasn’t disappointed,” she continued. “I would have loved to make the cut today, grinded all day … But I had a blast, honestly.”
