Photo courtesy of USGA/Robert Beck
Michelle Wie West won the U.S. Women’s Open championship in 2014, but the last time she played in an Open was 2018. Now she is back – and married, as well as a mother. Nagging injuries left many feeling West’s LPGA Tour was over a couple years back but she will be teeing it up Thursday at the Olympic Club in another Open!
The Big Wiesy as she is known in golfing circles has been a lightning rod since turning pro a week before her 16th birthday.
When turning pro, West was not a member of any professional tour and was the source of controversy when she was given sponsor exemptions into tournaments that took away from what many in golf and the media deemed were “more deserving golfers.”
In 2008, West put the criticism to rest when she made it through the LPGA Qualifying school.
She was also the subject of many stories when she was going through a revolving door of caddies early in her career. There was stories about her over-zealous father, someone who spent two tours as her caddie.
Now married to Johnny West, the son of NBA Legend Jerry West, West gave birth to a daughter in June of 2020.
As the years have gone, West has moved away from controversy and is now one of the most popular players is the game.
Her are excerpts from her Tuesday press conference at the Open.
THE MODERATOR: Welcome back. Welcome to the interview area 2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie. Michelle, we know how much this week means to you. You haven’t played in a U.S. Open since 2018. What does it feel like to be back?
MICHELLE WIE WEST: It feels amazing. USGA did it big this week. The whole setup with our locker room, player hospitality, being here at Olympic Club, it’s such a big week for the ladies this week.
It’s truly an honor to be back, especially being a USGA champion. It always has a really special feel to it.
Question: As of a few weeks ago, you hadn’t played Olympic Club. Now you’ve played a few times. Talk to us about the course.
MICHELLE WIE WEST: It’s tough, man. It’s a beast. Couple weeks when I played here definitely rough wasn’t as long. Came out here and it’s pretty wild. Rough is pretty thick.
Question: You mentioned 2019 KPMG might have been your last tournament. What does it mean to you to tee it up at a major championship again?
MICHELLE WIE WEST: It’s a really cool feeling being here. I guess just staying at my house these two weeks is pretty nice. I’ve never had that happen before at a major tournament. Hazeltine was an amazing venue. It was just a shame, that whole week was clouded. I wasn’t even thinking straight. I just couldn’t even see straight at that point.
Being here at Olympic Club at another amazing venue, it’s really fun. It’s really amazing to be back. It’s an honor.
Question: Where have you been working on your game since L.A.?
MICHELLE WIE WEST: I have been working on my putting. I flew to Phoenix to see Stan Utley. I’ve seen him before and definitely needed some guidance. I wasn’t sure what I was doing even. Just overall just working on my game, working on my fitness a little bit more.
Question: Pat is really emphasizing the majors surrounding the whole Solheim Cup team. How did you balance being a captain this week with your return to the Open?
MICHELLE WIE WEST: It’s been so much fun. Obviously being a co-captain with Angela Stanford and with Pat Hurst, we’ve had weekly calls, sometimes multi-week calls. It’s such a blast to get together. We had a nice team call, or whatever the top ranking is called, and it’s been a lot of fun connecting with the players in a different way, really trying to get to know them better, get to know their games better.
Obviously, it’s a lot easier to do so when I’m on site, so I’m really taking advantage of this week. Hopefully get paired with some people and really get to see their games and have a whole round to chat with them.
Question: I saw that you trained with Steph Curry back before the match too. Can you talk to me a little bit about that training session. Did you learn something, elite athlete to elite athlete, picking up tips, or what did you learn from Steph?
MICHELLE WIE WEST: We just had a fun round. He is such an elite athlete. He’s just in a league of his own. His athleticism, his golf game, you could just really tell. What he can do with his hands is just unbelievable. Watching him this season has been so incredible to watch, it’s unbelievable. Every game he plays, I’m like what is he going to do now, what amazing thing?
It’s obviously unfortunate. I wish they were still in the playoffs — or in the playoffs, but there’s a lot of great things to come. Just watching, I feel like I’m hopefully absorbing some of the greatness.
Question: Is he going to be out here this week?
MICHELLE WIE WEST: I don’t know. I think they were definitely talking about it. I know the guys on the team were super excited about the U.S. Women’s Open being here at Olympic. So, yeah, maybe.
Question: Michelle, I know you still take great care of your wrists. Does the rough worry you at all this week?
MICHELLE WIE WEST: Yeah, definitely. I look at it, and I’m like, Ugh. It’s terrifying. I’m doing the best I can. I have my devices at home, and I do all of them. I go through all my PT stuff.
Yeah, I mean, I knew when I signed up to come out and play again, especially at the U.S. Open, I knew that it was going to happen. I wasn’t expecting to come out and there to be no rough.
Yeah, does it worry me? Yes. But the last couple of days I hit a lot of shots out of the rough, and I’m feeling pretty confident about it. It will always be what it is. I’m playing definitely on borrowed time, and I’m grateful for every second of it