Michelle Wie West is a professional golfer who has achieved remarkable success and fame in her sport.
She plays on the LPGA Tour, the top women’s golf tour, where she has won five tournaments, including one major championship.
She has also proudly represented the United States in international competitions, such as the Solheim Cup. She is one of the most influential Asian American athletes in history, inspiring many young girls and boys to pursue their dreams.
She is married to Jonnie West, son of NBA legend Jerry West, and has a daughter named Makenna.
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- • Full name: Michelle Sung Wie West
- • Korean name: Wie Sung-Mi
- • Nickname: Big Wiesy
- • Date of birth: October 11, 1989
- • Age: 34 years old
- • Gender: Female
- • Place of birth: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
- • Nationality: American
- • Occupation: Golfer
- • Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
- • Parents: Byung-wook Wie and Bo Wie
- • Siblings: None
- • Spouse: Jonnie West (m. 2019)
- • Children: Makenna Kamalei Yoona West (born 2020)
- • Relationship status: Married
- • Net worth: $15 million
Early life and education
Michelle Wie West, 34 years old in 2023, was born on October 11, 1989 in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Byung-wook Wie and Bo Wie.
Her parents are immigrants from South Korea who came to the United States in the 1980s. Her father is a former professor of transportation management at the University of Hawaii, and her mother is a former amateur golf champion in South Korea.
Michelle started playing golf at the age of four, following in her mother’s footsteps. She showed exceptional talent and ambition and soon became a golfing prodigy.
She attended Punahou School, a prestigious private school in Honolulu, where she excelled academically and athletically.
She graduated in 2007 and attended Stanford University, one of the top universities in the world. She majored in communications and graduated in 2012 after taking several breaks to play professional golf.
She has strong ties to Stanford as her grandfather was a visiting professor there, and her aunt and uncle are both alumni.
Personal life
Michelle Wie West married Jonnie West, director of basketball operations for the Golden State Warriors and son of Jerry West, in 2019.
They met in 2018 and immediately hit it off. They had a beautiful wedding in Beverly Hills, California, attended by many celebrities and athletes, such as Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala and LPGA Tour players.
They welcomed their first child, a daughter named Makenna Kamalei Yoona West, in 2020. They live in San Francisco, California, where they enjoy spending time with family and friends. They also share a love of golf, basketball, and dogs.
Career
Michelle Wie West started her career as an amateur golfer and made history by qualifying for many prestigious tournaments at a very young age.
She became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA Amateur Championship at age 10 and the youngest winner of the US Women’s Amateur Public Links at age 13.
She became the youngest person to qualify for an LPGA Tour event at age 14 and for a men’s PGA Tour event at age 16. She turned pro in 2005, just before her 16th birthday, and signed lucrative endorsement deals with Nike and Sony.
She was named Laureus World Newcomer of the Year in 2004 and was the winner of the Rolex Annika Major Award in 2014.
She won her first LPGA Tour title in 2009 at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. She won her second title in 2010 at the CN Canadian Women’s Open. She won her third title in 2014 at the LPGA Lotte Championship in her native Hawaii.
She then won her first and only major championship at the 2014 US Women’s Open, where she defeated Stacy Lewis with a birdie putt on the 17th hole. She won her fifth and most recent title in 2018 at the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
She also represented the United States in five Solheim Cups, a biennial team competition with European teams.
She debuted in 2009 and helped the United States team win in 2009, 2015, and 2017. She has a record of 8 wins, 9 losses, and 1 draw at the Solheim Cup.
She has struggled with various injuries throughout her career, particularly to her wrists and ankles. She had surgery on her right hand in 2018 and missed most of the 2019 season due to a recurring injury.
She also has scoliosis, a condition that causes the spine to curve. She wears a brace to correct her posture and prevent pain.
She took a break from golf to have a baby in 2020 and returned to competition in 2021. She is currently ranked 1,006 in the world and hopes to regain her form and confidence.
Net worth
Michelle Wie West has an estimated net worth of $15 million. She earned the majority of her wealth from her golf career and endorsement deals with Nike, Sony, Kia, Omega, and other brands.
She also invests in various businesses, such as a restaurant called The Grove in San Francisco and a clothing line called MW1.
Argumentative
Michelle Wie West has faced much controversy and criticism during her career, mainly due to her decision to compete in men’s tournaments and her inconsistent performance in women’s tournaments.
Some critics have accused her of being over-hyped, underperforming, and disrespecting the game.
Some fans also expressed disappointment and frustration with her injury and withdrawal.
However, she also received much support and admiration from her peers, mentors and fans, who praised her for her courage, talent and perseverance.
Social media
- Instagram name: @michellewieswest
- Twitter Username: @MichelleWieWest
