Michelle Wie West Reflects On Golf Career, New Ventures And The ‘R’ Word

Last month when Michelle Wie West arrived at the Monterey Peninsula, there was no secret that the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach would be her last professional event.

And while Wie West didn’t make the cut in the contentious event and first major won by Allisen Corpuz—nor did golf superstars Lexi Thompson, J.Y. Ko, or Annika Sörenstam—she left Pebble Beach feeling like she rounded out a great pro career that started when she was only 15 years old.

But Wie West said she isn’t completely opposed to the general idea of some competitive golf down the road.

“There’s a reason that I hesitated to use the R-word, retire. It sounded like such a harsh word, so the “little R” to me felt like a transition that would be so much smoother,” Wie West said during our Zoom interview in mid-July.

“When you play golf, you do play golf for the rest of your life,” Wie West said, pointing out that “it’s such a fun game.” She added that the main difference now is one of making choices. “For me, it means I won’t play a full schedule or tee off in another major.”

“I think you never say never, and who knows what I’ll want to do in 10 or 15 years. But for now, I am focused on being a mom,” she said. “And now, I (will) have the time to focus on other projects that I’m passionate about.”

Over her 18-year professional career, Wie West logged five professional wins, and the same year she won the U.S. Women’s Open, she was runner-up in the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship (now called the Chevron Championship). She also went-runner-up her rookie year in the 2005 Women’s PGA Championship, plus took third place in the 2005 Women’s British Open—a feat she matched again in 2017.

But off the links, Wie West is passionate about junior golf and helping to mentor the next generation of women’s golf. This year she became the host of the Mizuho Americas Open, which took place in June.

As a part of the new duties, Wie West didn’t just show up to present a trophy to the event’s winner but was involved at a deeper level. In the mix, Wie West launched a big-sister program between LPGA players and 24 American Junior Golf Association players in the field of a tournament preceding the pro event at New Jersey’s Liberty National.

“Working with 24 of the top junior girls was amazing, and I’m excited to make that (event) bigger and better,” she said.

At Mizuho, the Stanford-educated task master put on a number of clinics throughout the week and joined Golf Channel in the broadcast booth on several occasions to talk up the game. She also worked closely with the title sponsor to make the June event “one of most player-friendly events on tour.”

Growing up in the game

As someone who dazzled fans and golf observers at such a young age, I was tempted to ask Wie West how her golf game—from her swing and short game to her training and workout regimen—might have changed and evolved over a decade and a half.

“I stopped growing when I was a teen. I was 5 foot 7 when I was 10, and almost six feet when I was 15.”

Regarding her early days as a young pro, Wie West added, "It wasn’t (my) height that I had to be concerned about; it was my speed.” She said that there was some art to figuring out “which clubs to use” and how.

Wie West said, "At age 13, my club speed was 107 or 108, and I had zero muscle on me.” As a result, Wie West said that as she got into pro golf used heavier clubs than what a normal teen her size would use, mostly “clubs at 75 grams, steel shafts that were X1. And if I used anything lighter or less stiff, I would duck hook the ball.”

VIDEO: Michelle Wie West seals the deal at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open

Like a lot of pros, Wie West points out that golf technology even 10 years ago “is not anywhere near where it is today.”

Now that she is no longer competing weekly as a pro golfer, Wie West also said she’s passionate about one other part of golf: keeping it fun.

“Anyone who does not play golf for a living needs to be having fun when they play,” Wie West said, hinting at amateur golfers’ tendency to take a day on the course a little too seriously. She added that the game is unique in its social aspects.

“Golf is so unique because it connects you with people. There aren’t too many other sports where you get to talk with people and cultivate relationships. It’s so hard to connect with people the same way when you’re playing, say, flag football or baseball. You don’t have the opportunity to chat the way you do when walking with someone, playing (golf) for five hours.”

It’s perhaps with this spirit in mind, that Wie West has signed on as the newest athlete-celebrity partner with Casa Azul, a brand founded by Lance Collins, the beverage whiz behind Fuze, CORE Hydration, and BODYARMOR. The 33-year-old Hawaii-born golfer also joins NFL star and two-time Super Bowl winner Travis Kelce and Mexican TV star Eiza González.

“It is a fun thing to do,” Wie West said, “when you’re out there, driving a golf cart around, when you have a cold can of a beverage, the music playing and you’re out there with your friends, having a good time.”

Casa Azul bills separated itself from an increasingly growing new beverage sector, crowded by the likes of White Claw and Truly, billing itself as a “better-for-you organic, plant-first Tequila, and the new premium canned tequila soda.”

But Wie West isn’t just a paid celebrity endorser; she is an investor in Casa Azul. She says that it’s especially important for female athletes to think like an investor.

“Male athletes often talk about the importance of generational wealth, and this should be a priority for female athletes, too. Often as female athletes, we accept the first endorsement deals we’re offered. By thinking like an investor, you look more critically at the endorsement so you can make an informed decision.”

She adds that by asking questions like, ”Is there additional sweat equity? Is this good enough for me? Is this something I want to invest my time and efforts into?“ can help female athletes begin to think like an investor when pursuing opportunities.”

When I asked Wie West about her most memorable times as a pro golfer, she declined to talk much about her big achievements and instead mentioned one of the pro-am events she played early on in her career.

“It was years ago, but I got to play with Adam Sandler. He was so fun and did the Happy Gilmore swing on the first hole.”

Read Frye’s interviews with Billie Jean King and Tom Brady.

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