Michelle Wie West participates in her own LPGA event at the invitation of a sponsor

Michelle Wie West will host for the first time next month at the Mizuho Americas Open. The 36-year-old mother of two announced her intention to compete at the event’s media day, held at Mountain Ridge Country Club, at the invitation of a sponsor.

Five-time LPGA champion Wie West, who said goodbye at the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach three years ago, announced late last month her intention to compete in this year’s historic U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club.

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“This is by no means a comeback,” Wie West said of the two-tournament schedule.

The Mizuho Americas Open will be held from May 7th to 10th in West Caldwell, New Jersey, about a month after the Women’s Open. The winner of the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open at No. 2 Pinehurst, she is eligible to compete in this year’s championship based on the 10-year exemption she received. Due to her maternity exemption, the schedule was extended. Wie West and her husband Johnny gave birth to their son Jagger in October 2024.

Training in his hometown of Las Vegas has begun in earnest. Earlier this month, she took her club to Augusta, Ga., for the first time, playing at Augusta Country Club and West Lake Country Club in between her time at Augusta National. When Golf Channel’s Live From Augusta National Women’s Amateur featured the fact that she had not yet played at Augusta National, invitations poured in.

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Perhaps one day she will return to Augusta National with her daughter, Makenna, for the national finals in Drive, Chip and Putt. Wie West’s 5-year-old daughter plays the game in addition to basketball, tennis and flag football.

Before bed each night, she and Makenna talk about their day, and her mother shares details of her practice sessions, what went well and what didn’t. Preparing for this year’s Women’s Open has been a completely different experience than three years ago, not to mention the fact that I can’t remember a time when my body felt this good.

After giving birth to her son Jagger, Wie West spent a year working on her fitness routine.

“I can’t remember a time in my life when I was able to really focus on rebuilding my body without playing golf, and in a way I’m lucky that it happened,” she said.

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Three years ago, Wie West hit a 30-foot bomb on the 18th green at Pebble Beach for birdie. There she played alongside Annika Sorenstam, who also competed in her last Women’s Open.

“I held back tears the whole round,” Wie West said after the round, hugging her daughter tightly.

As she prepares for another shot at the majors, she may ask herself – Why am I doing this again?

“There’s definitely some anxiety,” she said, “but that’s a good form of anxiety, right? Like I’m so excited to put myself in that position. Just being able to talk about it honestly and very openly, as well as with my daughter, has been really great.”