SOUTHERN PINES, North Carolina – Michelle Wie West tried her hand at Wordle for the first time on Friday morning and guessed the word on her second attempt.
“I thought I was pretty undefeatable today,” she said, laughing, “and then it was a gradual decline after that.”
The word?
P-H-A-S-E.
How appropriate given that the second round of the 77th U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club marks the end of a chapter for the one-time prodigy. The 32-year-old wife, mom and businesswoman heads into the next phase of life after this week. She’s not calling it a retirement, but Wie West doesn’t plan to compete again until the Women’s Open goes to Pebble Beach Golf Links for the first time in 2022.
After all, it’s only fitting that one of the most influential players of the modern game caps her career on an iconic course during an already historic week. What a celebration it will be.
In a way, Friday felt more like a see-you-later than a goodbye as it’s technically not her final event. Plus, Wie West plans to stay involved in women’s golf, maintaining relationships with her sponsors and investing in new ways to amplify the game.
When she visited the Golf Channel Live From set on Wednesday, one couldn’t help but think she’d be back in the game with a headset on sometime in the not-so-distant future. She enjoys the role.
Wie West teared up as she came up the 18th on Friday, knowing it would be one of her last times taking such a walk. Fans packed the grandstands and the Bell Pavilion, and jammed up against the ropes to catch one last look at the most recognized player on the LPGA, at least here in the U.S.
“Definitely had flashbacks of Pinehurst and just seeing all the same people,” she said. “When they come up to me, ‘Oh, I was there in 2014.’ It was just really cool to see everyone here again.”
Wie West shot 73-74 to finish at 5 over for the tournament, and said she felt rustier on Friday than she did in the first round. She tried to make a “hero putt” on the final hole.
“I gave it my all today,” she said.
A five-time winner on the LPGA, including the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst No. 2, Wie West became a household name due to her many PGA Tour appearances and quest to compete in men’s majors. For years, she was a headline magnet, and there’s no shortage of opinion the road she took and how much she succeeded.
“First off, I want to say I have zero regrets in my career,” said Wie West earlier in the week. “There’s always that inkling of wishing I had done more. But I feel like no matter what, no one is ever going to be 100 percent satisfied.”
Wie West said her husband, Jonnie, plans to caddie for her at Pebble Beach next year. But she isn’t thinking that far ahead just yet. She’ll put the clubs away when she gets back home to her daughter Makenna, who turns 2 years old on June 19. There’s a new puppy to chase after and projects she’s eager to dive into, but not eager to share just yet.
“I have definitely had an up-and-down career,” said Wie West, “but I’m extremely proud of the resiliency that I’ve shown over my career. I’m extremely proud to have achieved the two biggest dreams that I’ve had, one being graduating from Stanford, and the other winning the U.S. Open. To check both those off the list means everything to me.”
Here’s a look at Wie West’s final event of 2022 (and what she insists is her penultimate tour appearance):