Michelle Wie West

Wie was born on October 11, 1989, in Honolulu, Hawaii. She is the only child of immigrant parents from South Korea who came to the United States in the 1980s. Her father, Byung-wook Wie, is a former professor of travel industry management at the University of Hawaii. Her mother, Bo, was South Korea's women's amateur golf champion in 1985,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4727895.stm |title=Faces of the week / Michelle Wie |work=BBC |date=July 29, 2005}} and competed in a Miss Korea beauty pageant. Her paternal grandfather, Sang-Kyu Wie, a resident of Jangheung, Jeollanam-do, was an emeritus professor at Seoul National University.{{cite news

|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/golf/10/11/wie.city/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051217102026/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/golf/10/11/wie.city/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 17, 2005 |title=South Korean town no longer sending money to Wie |agency=Reuters |date=October 11, 2005 |work=CNN}}{{cite news |url=http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200812/200812200001.html |title=Michelle Wie Finds New Mature Confidence |newspaper=Chosun Ilbo |date=December 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131232403/http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200812/200812200001.html |archive-date=January 31, 2009 |df=mdy-all}} When she was born, Wie was a dual citizen of South Korea (by jus sanguinis) and the United States (by jus soli). She renounced her South Korean citizenship in February 2013.{{cite news |url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2013/02/27/0302000000AEN20130227002300315.HTML |title=U.S.-born golfer Michelle Wie relinquishes S. Korean citizenship: officials |work=Yonhap News |date=February 27, 2013 |access-date=March 1, 2013}}

Wie graduated from Punahou School in Honolulu in June 2007. On December 19, 2006, she announced that she would be attending Stanford University, where there are family ties. Her paternal grandfather was a visiting professor, and an aunt and uncle are both graduates.{{cite news |last=Ferguson |first=Doug |title=Wie gets accepted to Stanford |work=Yahoo Sports |date=December 19, 2006 |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/news?slug=ap-wie-stanford&prov=ap&type=lgns |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070120110603/https://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/news?slug=ap-wie-stanford&prov=ap&type=lgns |archive-date=January 20, 2007 |access-date=May 26, 2009}}{{cite magazine |publisher=Stanford Alumni Association |title=It's Official: Wie Headed to Stanford |magazine=Stanford Magazine |date=March 1, 2007 |url=http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2007/marapr/red/wie.html |access-date=December 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706020548/http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2007/marapr/red/wie.html |archive-date=July 6, 2008 |url-status=dead}} She enrolled in September 2007 as a freshman, but as a professional golfer, Wie was not eligible under NCAA rules to play for Stanford's golf team.{{cite news |last=Gyr |first=Alex |title=Wie set to attend Stanford |newspaper=The Stanford Daily |date=January 8, 2007 |url=http://daily.stanford.edu/article/2007/1/8/wieSetToAttendStanford |access-date=June 9, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013083042/http://daily.stanford.edu/article/2007/1/8/wieSetToAttendStanford |archive-date=October 13, 2007}}{{cite news |last=Bonk |first=Thomas |title=Teeing Off |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=September 20, 2007 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-sep-20-sp-teeingoff20-story.html |access-date=August 31, 2010}} During her first three years at Stanford, she attended only during the fall and winter quarters, running from late September through mid-March each year.{{cite web |title=Stanford Academic Calendar, 2009-10 |publisher=Stanford University |url=http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/registrar/academic-calendar |access-date=April 11, 2010}} She took leaves of absence during the rest of the year to play professional golf.{{cite news |last=Benson |first=Jim |title=Wie to play in State Farm Classic |newspaper=Pantagraph.com |date=April 15, 2008 |url=http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/04/15/sportsextra/doc48038fa32bc4d586033572.txt |access-date=April 30, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208072656/http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/04/15/sportsextra/doc48038fa32bc4d586033572.txt |archive-date=December 8, 2008 |df=mdy-all}}{{cite web |title=LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament Final Round Interviews |publisher=LPGA |date=December 7, 2008 |url=http://www.lpga.com/content_1.aspx?pid=18418&mid=1#michelle |access-date=December 7, 2008}} Wie completed her studies at Stanford in March 2012 with a major in communications. She participated in the university's graduation ceremony in June 2012.{{cite magazine |magazine=Golf Digest |url=http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2012-03/gwar-michelle-wie-education |title=The Education Of Michelle Wie |date=March 19, 2012 |access-date=March 24, 2012}}{{cite web |publisher=LPGA |url=http://www.lpga.com/content_1.aspx?pid=32340&mid=1#michelle |title=2012 Kia Classic Pre-Tournament Interviews-Michelle Wie |date=March 21, 2012 |access-date=March 24, 2012}}

Wie began playing golf at the age of four. In 2000, at the age of ten, she became the youngest player ever to qualify for the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship. Eight years later, Wie's mark was surpassed by fellow Hawaiian Allisen Corpuz, who qualified when she was five months younger than Wie had been when she set the record.{{cite magazine |first=Grady |last=Timmons |title=The Power of Michelle |magazine=The Magazine of Hawaiian Airlines |url=http://www.hanahou.com/pages/magazine.asp?Action=DrawArticle&ArticleID=391&MagazineID=24 |access-date=March 12, 2009}} Wie remained the youngest player to advance to match play in this tournament, until 2014 when Lucy Li surpassed her by one week.{{cite web|url=http://www.usga.org/news/2014/April/Drive,-Chip-and-Putt--Lucy-Li/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520221352/http://www.usga.org/news/2014/April/Drive,-Chip-and-Putt--Lucy-Li/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 20, 2014 |title=Li, 11, To Be In National Spotlight Again |access-date=May 20, 2014 |date=April 4, 2014 |publisher=United States Golf Association |last=Shefter |first=David}} In 2001, at the age of 11, she won both the Hawaii State Women's Stroke Play Championship and the Jennie K. Wilson Women's Invitational. The Jennie K. Wilson Women's Invitations is the oldest and most prestigious women's amateur tournament in Hawaii. She also advanced into match play at the Women's U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

In 2002, she won the Hawaii State Open Women's Division by thirteen shots. She also became the youngest player to qualify for an LPGA event, the Takefuji Classic held in Wie's home state of Hawaii. While she went on to miss the cut, her record stood for five more years until it was broken in 2007 by 11-year-old Ariya Jutanugarn.{{cite web |title=Han returns to defend Honda LPGA Thailand 2007 |publisher=LPGA |date=October 22, 2007 |url=http://www.lpga.com/content_1.aspx?pid=13119&mid=1 |access-date=March 12, 2009}}{{cite news |title=Twelve-year-old misses cut, but not the fun |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN |date=March 1, 2002 |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1343825&type=Story&imagesPrint=off |access-date=June 12, 2009}}

At the 2003 Kraft Nabisco Championship, Wie became the youngest player to make an LPGA cut. She carded a 66 in the third round, tying the amateur record for a women's major championship and qualifying her to play in the final group of the championship. In June 2003, Wie won the Women's Amateur Public Links tournament, becoming the youngest person ever, male or female, to win a USGA adult event. Later that summer, she made the cut at the US Women's Open when she was still just 13, the youngest player ever to do so.{{cite web |publisher=michellewiefans.com |title=Career summary 2003 |date=January 15, 2008 |url=http://www.michellewiefans.com/summary/2003.htm |access-date=February 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120144649/http://www.michellewiefans.com/summary/2003.htm |archive-date=November 20, 2008 |df=mdy-all}}

Wie was given a sponsor's exemption to the 2004 Sony Open in Hawaii, becoming the fourth, and youngest, female to play a PGA Tour event. Her second round score of 68 was the lowest ever by a woman in a PGA Tour event, though she went on to miss the cut in the tournament. While missing the cut by 1 stroke she bettered the 36 hole score of 47 men including 4 major winners and matched the scores of 15 more men including 3 more major winners. At age 16, 2 years later she shot another round of 68 in the men's tour Sony open and bettered the 36 hole score of 18 men including 2 major winners and matched the score of 9 others including 1 major winner.{{cite web |first=Brent |last=Kelley |title=About the PGA Tour Sony Open |publisher=about.com |url=http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/p/sony_open.htm |access-date=March 12, 2009}} She again played in the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship, finishing fourth. As part of the victorious U.S. team, she became the youngest woman ever to play in the Curtis Cup tournament. Wie started her 2005 season by accepting another sponsor's invitation to play on the PGA Tour at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where she again missed the cut. She played five more LPGA Tour events that year as well as a PGA Tour event, the John Deere Classic. It was her third outing at a PGA Tour event; she missed the cut by two strokes.{{cite news |first=Dave |last=Reardon |title=Wie has already won with the fans |newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=July 6, 2005 |url=http://starbulletin.com/2005/07/06/news/story4.html |access-date=March 12, 2009}} She entered qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Public Links and became the first female golfer to qualify for a USGA national men's tournament, tying for first place in a 36-hole qualifier for the U.S. Amateur Public Links. Wie made the top 64 in the stroke play rounds to qualify for match play.{{cite news |first=Rusty |last=Miller |title=Wie able to advance in men's tourney |newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=July 13, 2005 |url=http://starbulletin.com/2005/07/13/news/index4.html |access-date=March 12, 2009}} She lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Clay Ogden.

On October 5, 2005, a week before her 16th birthday, Wie announced that she was turning professional. She signed sponsorship contracts with Nike and Sony reportedly worth more than $10 million per year.

When Wie turned professional, she was not a member of any professional tour. LPGA Tour membership age requirements require a golfer to be 18, although some players such as Morgan Pressel and Aree Song have successfully petitioned for an exemption to join at age 17. Wie chose not to request an exemption and was thus only allowed to participate in a limited number of LPGA Tour events when given a sponsor's exemption from 2005 until 2008.

Wie played her first professional event in the 2005 LPGA Samsung World Championship, where she was disqualified from a fourth-place finish for signing an incorrect scorecard. A journalist, Michael Bamberger, reported a day after Wie had completed her round that she had illegally dropped the ball closer to the hole than its original lie.{{cite web |url=https://golf.com/news/michelle-wie-gets-dqd-from-her-first-lpga-event/ |title=Michelle Wie Gets DQ'd from Her First LPGA Event |website=Golf.com |date=October 19, 2015}} Wie would later go on to tally four top-5 finishes on the LPGA tour, including a second at the Evian Masters, a tie for third at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, and a tie for 5th at the LPGA Championship. In the initial Rolex World Golf Rankings in February 2006, Wie was placed third, behind Annika Sörenstam and Paula Creamer, but eventually dropped to 7th, partially due to a limited schedule.{{cite web |title=Two modifications announced for Rolex Rankings |publisher=LPGA |date=August 3, 2006 |url=http://www.lpga.com/Content_1.aspx?pid=7574&mid=4 |access-date=March 30, 2007}}

2006 also involved several competitions against male competitors, starting with the PGA Tour Sony Open, where she again missed the cut, this time by four strokes. In May she became the first female medalist in a local qualifier for the men's U.S. Open, but did not advance past the New Jersey final stage qualifier.{{cite news |title=Wie advances in local U.S. Open qualifier |newspaper=USA Today |date=May 15, 2006 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/2006-05-15-wie-qualifier_x.htm |access-date=March 11, 2009}} At the PGA John Deere Classic, after a 6-over-par first round, and 10 strokes off the projected cut, midway through round two, she withdrew from the tournament, citing heat exhaustion and tiredness.{{cite news |first=Nancy |last=Armour |title=Heat exhaustion forces Wie to end PGA quest |newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=July 15, 2006 |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jul/15/sp/FP607150317.html |access-date=March 11, 2009}}

Wie also played on both the European and Asian tours. At the SK Telecom Open, a men's tournament in South Korea, she became the second woman (after Se Ri Pak) to make the cut on the Asian Tour, and in addition, reportedly received appearance fees exceeding the event's total prize money.{{cite web |title=Michelle Wie's 10-Day Korea Trip to Net Her US$5 million |publisher=Digital Chosunilbo |date=April 20, 2006 |url=http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200604/200604200008.html |access-date=April 20, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060422002748/http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200604/200604200008.html |archive-date=April 22, 2006}} However, Wie finished the season with several disappointing performances in both male and female tournaments, including the Omega European Masters, PGA 84 Lumber Classic, LPGA Tour Samsung World Championship and the Casio World Open. At this point, Wie had played 14 consecutive rounds of tournament golf without breaking par and had missed the cut in 11 out of 12 tries against men and remained winless against the women.{{cite web |title=Michelle Wie Profile and Statistics |publisher=LPGA |date=December 23, 2006 |url=http://www.lpga.com/content/MichelleWieProfileStats.pdf |access-date=March 30, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216040515/http://www.lpga.com/content/MichelleWieProfileStats.pdf |archive-date=February 16, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}

File:Michelle Wie - Flickr - Keith Allison (39).jpg

In 2007, Wie's slump continued, including a four-month hiatus, due to injuries to both wrists, a disqualification, and several missed cuts and withdrawals. At the LPGA Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika, she was 14 over par through 16 holes in the first round before withdrawing, citing the injury.{{cite news |last=Iacobelli |first=Pete |title=At 14 over par, Wie withdraws |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=June 1, 2007 |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/golf/articles/2007/06/01/at_14_over_par_wie_withdraws/ |access-date=February 16, 2009}} The withdrawal was controversial owing to the LPGA Rule of 88, which states that a non-LPGA member shooting a score of 88 or more is forced to withdraw and banned from LPGA co-sponsored events for the rest of the year.{{cite news |title=Wie flirts with DQ rule before withdrawing at Ginn Tribute |newspaper=USA Today |date=May 31, 2007 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/lpga/2007-05-31-wie-wrist_N.htm |access-date=February 16, 2009}}{{cite news |last=Adelson |first=Eric |title=Wie's comeback doomed right from the start |work=ESPN |date=May 31, 2007 |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/news/story?id=2888679 |access-date=February 16, 2009}} Later that year, after finishing one stroke off the lead during the second round of the State Farm Classic, she was disqualified for walking outside of the official tournament area before returning to sign her scorecard.{{cite news|agency= Associated Press |title=Wie DQ'd after failing to sign scorecard |date=July 19, 2008 |publisher=Golf Channel |url=http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=15104&select=26689 |access-date=February 16, 2009}}{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/news/story?id=3496673 |title=Contending Wie disqualified after scorecard error |date=July 19, 2008 |work=ESPN |access-date=May 17, 2018}} Despite the lack of victories, Wie was ranked #4 in the 2007 Forbes Top 20 Earners Under 25, with an annual earnings of $19 million.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/12/01/celebrity-hollywood-media-cz_lg_1204kidstars.html |title=20 Under 25: The Top-Earning Young Superstars |date=December 4, 2007 |magazine=Forbes |access-date=July 15, 2008}}

Wie finally became eligible to play full-time on the LPGA Tour in 2009, when she tied for 7th place at the LPGA qualifying tournament in Daytona Beach.{{cite web |last=Berlet |first=Bruce |title=Michelle Wie Among 32 Advancing to LPGA Qualifying Finals |date=September 19, 2008 |url=http://blogs.courant.com/chip_shots/2008/09/michelle-wie-among-32-advancin.html |access-date=September 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130120041409/http://blogs.courant.com/chip_shots/2008/09/michelle-wie-among-32-advancin.html |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}

File:2009 LPGA Championship - Michelle Wie (2).jpg]]

After passing LPGA Qualifying School in December 2008, Wie declared that she still planned to play in tournaments against men. However, for the second consecutive year, she did not receive a sponsor exemption to play in the Sony Open in Hawaii where she had played four years in a row from 2004 through 2007.{{cite web |title=LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament 2009 Final-Round Wrap Story and Interviews |date=December 7, 2008 |url=http://www.lpga.com/content_1.aspx?pid=18418&mid=1#michelle |access-date=December 31, 2008}}{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Golf.com |title=Sony Open field is missing Hawaii's Fujikawa and Wie |date=December 30, 2008 |url=http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1869079,00.html |access-date=December 31, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922050603/http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1869079,00.html |archive-date=September 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}} Her first tournament as an LPGA member was the season-opening SBS Open at Turtle Bay where she shot 66, 70 to move into a tie with Angela Stanford going into the final round of the tournament. Wie held a three-stroke lead with eight holes remaining, but ended up losing to Stanford by three strokes.

It was reported in early March, 2009, that Wie had left the William Morris Agency, the Hollywood talent agency that had represented her since she turned pro in 2005, and would be signing with sports agency IMG.{{cite magazine|last=Baldry |first=Beth Ann |magazine=Golfweek |title=Wie to get 'fresh start' with IMG |date=March 10, 2009 |url=http://golfweek.com/news/2002/feb/26/wie-to-get-fresh-start-with-img/ |access-date=January 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216041318/http://golfweek.com/news/2002/feb/26/wie-to-get-fresh-start-with-img/ |archive-date=February 16, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy}}

At the second major of the year, the LPGA Championship, she finished tied for 23rd, her best finish in a major since 2006. During this tournament she also scored her first recorded hole-in-one as a professional.{{cite news |last=Van Valkenburg |first=Kevin |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |title=Wie, a noncontender, content with her play |date=June 15, 2009 |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/golf/bal-sp.lpganotes15jun15,0,6369871.story |access-date=June 16, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} However, the day after her final round of the LPGA Championship, she failed to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open due to a mediocre performance at a sectional qualifying tournament.{{cite news |last=Ferguson |first=Doug |agency=Associated Press |work=NBC Sports |title=Michelle Wie Fails To Qualify for US Women's Open |date=June 16, 2009 |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/31385157/ns/sports-golf/ |access-date=January 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115052510/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/31385157/ns/sports-golf |archive-date=January 15, 2010 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |last=Dunleavy |first=Kevin |newspaper=The Washington Examiner |title=The glamorous life at Woodmont |date=June 15, 2009 |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sports/48116377.html |access-date=June 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807171544/http://washingtonexaminer.com/sports/48116377.html |archive-date=August 7, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}

In August, at Rich Harvest Farms golf course in Sugar Grove, Illinois, Wie was a captain's pick for the United States team in Solheim Cup competition, where she led the American squad to victory with a 3-0-1 performance, the best record on the American team.{{cite web |last=Shipnuk |first=Alan |publisher=golf.com |title=Sparked by a Surprisingly Spirited Michelle Wie, the U.S. Team won the Solheim Cup |date=August 29, 2009 |url=http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1918630,00.html |access-date=November 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928010122/http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1918630,00.html |archive-date=September 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}

On November 15, 2009, Wie won her first professional individual tournament, the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico, an event on the LPGA Tour limited to the top 36 female golfers in the world as determined by the LPGA money list and Rolex women's world golf rankings, posting a score of thirteen under par 275 for a two-stroke margin over fellow American Paula Creamer, and beating Jiyai Shin, Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel by two strokes.{{cite web |website=www.golf.co.uk |title=Wie Claims Maiden LPGA Tour Victory |date=November 15, 2009 |url=http://www.golf.co.uk/news/wie_claims_maiden_lpga_tour_victory/266509.shtml |access-date=November 17, 2009}}{{cite web |publisher=LPGA |title=Final Results Lorena Ochoa Invitational |date=November 15, 2009 |url=http://www.lpga.com/content_1.aspx?pid=22509&mid=1 |access-date=November 17, 2009}}{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=Wie Earns First L.P.G.A. Victory; Woods Wins in Australia |date=November 15, 2009 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/sports/golf/16golf.html |access-date=January 13, 2015 |newspaper=The New York Times}} She then finished second in the Ladies European Tour season-ending Dubai Ladies Masters tournament on December 9–12, 2009, shooting a 15-under-par 273, which put her three shots behind winner In-Kyung Kim.{{cite web |url=http://www.ladieseuropeantour.info/tic/tmscores.cgi?tourn=TM25~params=PG0SSA999~season=2009~style=00~groupties=Y~bordersize=1~pr=Y~textout=N~cardlink=Y~winfocus=Y~ |title=Final 2009 Dubai Masters Leaderboard |publisher=Ladies European Tour |access-date=September 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302120707/http://www.ladieseuropeantour.info/tic/tmscores.cgi?tourn=TM25~params=PG0SSA999~season=2009~style=00~groupties=Y~bordersize=1~pr=Y~textout=N~cardlink=Y~winfocus=Y~ |archive-date=March 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}

On August 29, 2010, she posted a three-shot win over a full field at the CN Canadian Women's Open, held at St. Charles Country Club in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for her second career professional victory.{{cite news |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/29/1798190/wie-captures-2nd-lpga-tour-win.html |title=Wie captures 2nd LPGA Tour win in Canada |agency=Sports Network |date=August 29, 2010 |newspaper=Miami Herald |access-date=August 29, 2010}} In her next LPGA event two weeks later, she finished second in the 54-hole P&G NW Arkansas Championship shooting 201 (−12) and losing to Yani Tseng by one stroke after giving up an overnight three-stroke lead.{{cite news |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/golf/view/20100913michelle_wie_short_as_yani_tseng_rallies/ |title=Michelle Wie short as Yani Tseng rallies |newspaper=Boston Herald |date=September 13, 2010}}

On April 19, 2014, Wie won her third LPGA Tour event – and her first in the United States – the LPGA Lotte Championship. She was four strokes behind Angela Stanford after 54 holes but shot a 67 to Stanford's 73 to win by two strokes.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/10810474/michelle-wie-wins-lpga-lotte-championship |title=Michelle Wie: First victory since 2010 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=April 19, 2014}}

On June 22, 2014, Wie won her fourth LPGA Tour event and first major championship, the U.S. Women's Open. She was tied for the lead with Amy Yang after 54 holes at two-under-par. She double-bogeyed the 16th hole to fall within one shot of Stacy Lewis, but birdied the next hole and parred the last hole for a final round par-70 to win by two strokes over Lewis.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/23/sports/golf/michelle-wie-wins-us-womens-open-capturing-first-major.html |title=Michelle Wie Wins U.S. Women's Open, Capturing First Major |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 22, 2014}} The win, coupled with her second-place finish in the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship, resulted in her winning the inaugural Rolex Annika Major Award.{{cite news |url=http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/wie-wins-inaugural-annika-major-award/ |title=Wie wins inaugural Annika Major Award |work=Golf Channel |first=Randall |last=Mell |date=September 14, 2014 |access-date=September 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140918004955/http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/wie-wins-inaugural-annika-major-award |archive-date=September 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}} In 2014, she was also named one of ESPNW's Impact 25.{{cite news |url=http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/impact25/slideshow/12020053/7/michelle-wie-25-2014-us-women-open-golf-champion |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216171414/http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/impact25/slideshow/12020053/7/michelle-wie-25-2014-us-women-open-golf-champion |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 16, 2014 |title=2014 espnW Impact 25: Michelle Wie, 25, 2014 U.S. Women's Open Golf Champion |work=ESPN |access-date=December 16, 2014}}

Wie contributed to CBS Sports' multimedia golf coverage, including the Masters, in 2020.{{cite web |last1=Colgan |first1=James |title=Michelle Wie joins CBS golf coverage in broadcast shakeup |url=https://golf.com/lifestyle/celebrities/michelle-wie-joins-cbs-golf-coverage-broadcast-shakeup/ |website=Golf |access-date=10 April 2025}}

In May 2022, Wie West announced that she would be stepping away from the game following the 2022 U.S. Women's Open,{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/34032749/michelle-wie-west-officially-ready-next-phase-life |title=Michelle Wie West is officially ready for the next 'phase' of her life |date=June 3, 2022 |work=ESPN |first=Paolo |last=Uggetti}} held at Pebble Beach Golf Links on July 6–9.{{cite web |url=https://www.lpga.com/news/2023/five-things-to-know-about-the-78th-us-womens-open |title=Five Things To Know About The 78th U.S. Women's Open |first=Kikue |last=Higuchi |publisher=LPGA |date=July 4, 2023}}

From the beginning of her public career, Michelle Wie was the subject of controversy expressed by fans, media, peers, and other observers.

Despite the publicity her appearances garnered, Wie made only one cut in a men's tournament: at the rain-shortened 2006 SK Telecom Open on the Asian Tour. She made no cuts on the PGA Tour. After she missed the cut at the 2007 Sony Open by 14 shots, many sports critics began to doubt whether she ever would.{{cite news |agency= Associated Press |title=Wie's Woe's Worsening |newspaper=Winnipeg Sun |date=January 14, 2007 |url=http://winnipegsun.com/Sports/Golf/2007/01/14/3362116-sun.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070202034849/http://winnipegsun.com/Sports/Golf/2007/01/14/3362116-sun.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 2, 2007 |access-date=January 14, 2007}}

Wie's last appearance in a men's professional event was at the 2008 Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, an alternate event on the PGA Tour. Wie shot rounds of 73 and 80, missing the cut by nine strokes.{{cite news |work=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/leaderboard?tournamentId=450 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701083247/http://www.espn.com/golf/leaderboard?tournamentId=450 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 1, 2018 |title=2008 Legends Reno-Tahoe Open Final Scores}}

Professional golfers, fans, and media critics remarked that allowing Wie to compete in PGA events took away opportunities from more deserving golfers.{{cite web |title=Wie paid to play not to win |publisher=Worldgolf.com |date=November 22, 2006 |url=http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/golf-for-beginners/2006/11/22/michelle_wie_paid_to_play_not_to_win |access-date=November 23, 2006}}{{cite news |last=Sirak |first=Ron |title=Wie's exemption opposed |newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=June 3, 2004 |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Jun/03/sp/sp01a.html |access-date=November 23, 2006}}{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Michael |title=Michelle Wie prompts gallery debate |newspaper=USA Today |date=June 5, 2006 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/pga/2006-06-05-wie-qualifying-gallery_x.htm |access-date=November 23, 2006}} By late 2007, the criticism over the use of exemptions had extended to Wie's participation in women's events on the LPGA Tour as well. Wie declined to enter LPGA Tour qualifying school after turning 18 and therefore would have to depend on sponsor exemptions to play in future LPGA tournaments. This decision drew criticism from golf fans and commentators.{{cite web |title=Michelle Wie still a child on her 18th birthday |publisher=WorldGolf.com |date=October 11, 2007 |url=http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/golf-for-beginners/2007/10/11/michelle_wie_still_a_child_on_her_18th_b |access-date=January 19, 2008}}{{cite web |last=Sirak |title=Ron |publisher=GolfWorld.com |date=October 10, 2007 |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/columns/story?id=3055920 |access-date=January 19, 2008}} Such criticism ended after Wie qualified for the LPGA Tour through the 2008 qualifying tournament.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/The-worst-high-school-football-play-ever?urn=highschool-265720 |title=With Q-school success, Michelle Wie finally proves she belongs on LPGA Tour |agency=Associated Press |date=December 16, 2008 |magazine=Golf Magazine |access-date=August 29, 2010}}

Early in her career, Wie employed many different caddies after her father stopped being her caddie in 2004. She created controversy when, after finishing tied for 26th at the 2006 British Open, her caddie Greg Johnston was fired over the phone by Wie's then-agent Ross Berlin. Johnston said he was "surprised and disappointed" at the firing and at the fact that "no one named Wie gave me the news."{{cite web |last=Matuszewski |first=Erik |title=Michelle Wie Fires Caddie After Finishing 26th at British Open |publisher=Bloomberg |date=August 8, 2006 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601089&sid=awBYmwZZ5ses&refer=home |access-date=June 29, 2007}} Wie employed several other professional caddies after Johnston, and also returned to using her father for the remainder of the 2007 season, parting ways with caddie David Clarke after she missed the cut at that year's British Open. For much of 2009, Wie used on-loan caddie Patrick Tarrant, who worked for then-injured PGA pro Brett Wetterich; however, at the end of that year but prior to her first LPGA victory, Tarrant recommended that she work with his friend Brendan Woolley, who continued as her exclusive caddie through the 2010 season.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.golfweek.com/news/2009/nov/18/woolley-wins-wie-caddie-sweepstakes/ |title=Woolley wins Wie caddie sweepstakes |first=Beth Ann |last=Baldry |date=November 18, 2009 |magazine=GolfWeek |access-date=August 29, 2010}} Woolley and Wie parted ways in December 2012 after Wie finishing 64th on the LPGA Money List and earning just $158,546 that season.{{cite web |title=Michelle Wie Profile and Statistics |publisher=LPGA |date=July 11, 2014 |url=http://www.lpga.com/golf/players/w/michelle-wie/stats.aspx?y=2012 |access-date=July 11, 2014}} In January 2013, Wie employed Mark Wallington, who caddied for another LPGA professional and European Solheim Cup player, Sophie Gustafson, for three tournaments. Wie then began working with Duncan French, who has continued caddying for her exclusively since.

In the first week of February 2007, it was reported that Wie hurt her left wrist in a fall while running.{{cite news |agency= Advertiser News Services |title=Wie out 4–6 weeks with wrist injury |newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=February 10, 2007 |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Feb/10/sp/FP702100343.html |access-date=May 27, 2007}} However, little information was provided to the public due to concerns about her privacy.{{cite news |last=Hewitt |first=Brian |title=Wie's Camp Adds a Spin Doctor |work=Golf Channel |date=February 15, 2007 |url=http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=15100&select=21753 |access-date=May 27, 2007}} Initially, her public relations staff reported that she would be away from golf for four to six weeks{{cite news |agency= Associated Press |title=Wie's wrist injury will take 4–6 weeks to heal |work=ESPN |date=February 9, 2007 |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/news/story?id=2760571 |access-date=May 27, 2007}} but the injury lasted until the end of May.

In response to the lack of information and prolonged absence, Brittany Lincicome questioned whether Wie and her parents had fabricated the injury in order to give her a reason to take a break from golf.{{cite news |last=Manahan |first=Kevin |title=Putting along: Lincicome is little recognized alongside LPGA's best |newspaper=Newark Star Ledger |date=May 17, 2007 |url=http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1179377952198390.xml&coll=1 |access-date=May 27, 2007}}{{cite web |last=Stasch |first=Bruce |title=Michelle Wie's Return to the LPGA is a Non-Event |publisher=WorldGolf.com |date=April 28, 2007 |url=http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/golf-gear-news/2007/04/28/michelle_wie_s_return_to_the_lpga_is_a_n |access-date=May 27, 2007}}{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Ferd |title=Is her game mired in a bad lie? |newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=June 1, 2007 |url=http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070601/COLUMNISTS06/706010375/1142/SPORTS |access-date=June 3, 2007}} At the Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika in May 2007, Wie's playing partner, Alena Sharp, questioned Wie's withdrawal from the tournament due to wrist injury.{{cite magazine |last=Baldry |first=Beth Ann |title=Down and out |magazine=GolfWeek |date=May 31, 2007 |url=http://www.golfweek.com/commentaries/baldy_053107 |access-date=February 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928015325/http://www.golfweek.com/commentaries/baldy_053107 |archive-date=September 28, 2007}} However, Wie's other playing partner, Janice Moodie, stated that she heard Wie say "Ouch!" after hitting her tee shot, and confirmed "She didn't swing as hard from that point on."{{cite web |last=Boone |first=Grant |title=For Michelle Wie, It Really May Be All In The Wrist |publisher=PGA of America |date=June 6, 2007 |url=http://www.pga.com/2008/news/features/01/14/gmt_060607/index.html |access-date=October 7, 2008}}

In April 2008, she announced that she had three broken bones in her wrist, despite her agent's March 2007 announcement that the wrist was not broken.{{cite news |last=Hewitt |first=Brian |title=Wie Likely to Miss Kraft Nabisco - 03/06/2007 |work=Golf Channel |date=March 6, 2007 |url=http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=15100&select=21915 |access-date=May 10, 2008}} A 2009 article about Wie's injury stated that the original misinformation resulted from Wie and her family failing to "understand or accept the severity of the injury," and that during the entire 2007 season, Wie played under a great deal of pain, taking four to five pain killers a day.{{cite news |title=Wie Opens Up About Wrist Injury |first=Eric |last=Adelson |date=July 11, 2009 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/sports/golf/12wie.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=August 29, 2010}}

In March 2019, Wie announced that she was engaged to Jonnie West, who is Director of Basketball Operations for the Golden State Warriors{{cite web |title=Michelle Wie marries Warriors exec Jonnie West, son of NBA legend Jerry West |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/michelle-wie-marries-warriors-exec-jonnie-west-son-of-nba-legend-jerry-west-123955114.html |website=Yahoo Sports |first=Cassandra |last=Negley |date=August 12, 2019 |access-date=5 September 2019}} and the son of NBA legend Jerry West. They married on August 10, 2019, at a private home in Beverly Hills, California.{{cite news |url=https://www.golfchannel.com/news/i-do-wie-ties-knot-west-big-beverly-hills-ceremony |title=I do: Wie ties the knot with West in big Beverly Hills ceremony |work=Golf Channel |first=Randall |last=Mell |date=August 11, 2019|access-date=August 12, 2019}} In January 2020, she announced she was pregnant,{{Cite magazine |url=https://golfweek.com/2020/01/09/michelle-wie-pregnant-first-child-with-husband-jonnie-west/ |title=Michelle Wie pregnant with first child, due this summer |last=Nichols |first=Beth Ann |magazine=Golfweek |date=January 9, 2020 |access-date=2020-01-12}} while expressing interest in eventually returning to competitive golf.{{Cite magazine |url=https://golfweek.com/2020/01/10/michelle-wie-pregnant-wants-daughter-to-watch-her/ |title=Expectant Michelle Wie wants daughter to see her do it all| last=Nichols |first=Beth Ann |magazine=Golfweek |date=January 10, 2020 |access-date=2020-01-12}} On June 19, 2020, she gave birth to a daughter named Makenna.{{Cite magazine |url= https://people.com/parents/michelle-wie-welcomes-daughter-makenna/| title= Pro Golfer Michelle Wie Welcomes Daughter Makenna: 'I Have Waited My Entire Life to Meet You' |last=Juneau |first=Jen |magazine=People |date=June 20, 2020 |access-date=2020-06-20}} In October 2024, she gave birth to her second child, a son.{{cite magazine |title=Retired Pro Golfer Michelle Wie West Welcomes Baby No. 2, a Boy, with Husband Jonnie West: 'Makenna's Lil Bro' |url=https://people.com/pro-golfer-michelle-wie-west-welcomes-baby-boy-a-boy-8731822 |magazine=People |first=Ingrid |last=Vasquez |date=October 21, 2024 |access-date=October 25, 2024}}

• 2002 Hawaii State Open, Women's Division (67-71-70=208 −8), 13 strokes over Cindy Rarick{{cite web |title=2002 Hawaii State Open & Oakley Pro-Am |publisher=Golf800 |date=November 17, 2002 |url=http://www.808golf.com/insidehawaiigolf/hawaiistateopen/ihghso_02.htm |access-date=May 17, 2007}}
• 2003 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links (Stroke play: 73-71=144 (E). 18-hole matches: 2&1, 2&1, 5&4, 6&5, 5&4. 36-hole final: 1 up over Virada Nirapathpongporn){{cite web |title=2003 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship Results |publisher=USGA |date=June 22, 2003 |url=http://www.uswapl.org/2003/results/ |access-date=May 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416023113/http://www.uswapl.org/2003/results/ |archive-date=April 16, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}

Wie won several other Hawaiian local and junior events during the years 2000 through 2002.{{cite web |last=Neal |first=Laura |title=Michelle Wie Profile and Statistics |publisher=LPGA |date=January 16, 2007 |url=http://www.lpga.com/content/MichelleWieProfileStats.pdf |access-date=June 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810141152/http://www.lpga.com/content/MichelleWieProfileStats.pdf |archive-date=August 10, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}{{cite web |title=Michelle Wie Awards/Accomplishments/Other |publisher=Golf800 |date=May 31, 2003 |url=http://www.808golf.com/michellewie/mw_aw-accomp.htm#HAWAII%20STATE%20WOMENS/WOMENS%20DIVISION%20PROFESSIONAL%20&%20AMATEUR%20TOURNAMENTS |access-date=June 3, 2007}}

Wie played her first professional event while still an amateur in February 2002. Prior to her first win in a professional tournament, on November 15, 2009, she played in a total of 80 professional events as either an amateur or a professional:

• 66 against women: 64 on the LPGA Tour, 1 on the Ladies European Tour, and 1 on the LPGA of Korea Tour.
• 14 against men: 8 on the PGA Tour, 2 on the Japan Golf Tour, 1 on the European Tour, 1 on the Asian Tour, 1 on the Nationwide Tour, and 1 on the Canadian Tour.

Results not in chronological order.

{{legend|lime|Win}}

{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}

{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}

LA = Low amateur

CUT = missed the half-way cut

WD = withdrew

NT = no tournament

T = tied

• Most consecutive cuts made – 13 (2003 Kraft Nabisco – 2007 LPGA)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 4 (2005 British Open – 2006 U.S. Open)

• As of 2023 season{{cite web |title=Michelle Wie Stats |publisher=LPGA |url=http://www.lpga.com/players/michelle-wie/88106/stats |access-date=December 19, 2023}}{{cite web |title=Michelle Wie results |publisher=LPGA |url=http://www.lpga.com/players/michelle-wie/88106/results |access-date=December 19, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.lpga.com/statistics/money/career-money |title=Career Money |publisher=LPGA |access-date=December 19, 2023}}
• Wie was not a member of the LPGA Tour before the 2009 season.

* Includes matchplay and other events without a cut.

^ Wie's $6,760 earnings at the 2013 Honda LPGA Thailand and $65,589 at the 2017 HSBC Women's Champions were considered unofficial under LPGA rules and are not included in yearly totals.

† Does not include non-member earnings from 2006 to 2008

Position in Women's World Golf Rankings at the end of each calendar year.

^ as of July 10, 2023

This table shows Wie's earnings as a professional, excluding LPGA Tour events.

*Tournament shortened to 56 holes because of rain.{{cite news |work=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/news/story?id=2436446 |title=2006 SK Telecom Open Final Results}}

Dates are span of competitive rounds, regardless of whether Wie participated in all rounds.

MC = missed halfway cut

WD = withdrew

Margin = strokes behind winner or cutline, not applicable in case of withdrawal.

Amateur

• Curtis Cup (representing the United States): 2004 (winners)

Professional

• Solheim Cup (representing the United States): 2009 (winners), 2011, 2013, 2015 (winners), 2017 (winners)
• International Crown (representing the United States): 2018

• The youngest winner (male or female) of an adult USGA-sanctioned tournament – Age 13 (2003 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links)
• The youngest player to make a cut in an LPGA tournament and major – Age 13 (2003 Nabisco Championship)
• The lowest round by a female in a PGA Tour event – 68 (2004 and 2006 Sony Open)
• The youngest player to play in Curtis Cup history – Age 14 (2004)
• The first female to qualify for a USGA championship that is generally played by males - Age 15 (2005 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship Pittsburgh sectional)
• The first female to make a cut on the Asian Tour - Age 16 (2006 SK Telecom Open)
• The first female medalist in a U.S. Open qualifying tournament – Age 16 (2006 U.S. Open Local Qualifying at Turtle Bay Hawaii)

Female golfers who have competed in men's PGA tournaments:

:*Annika Sörenstam

:*Suzy Whaley

:*Babe Didrikson Zaharias

:*Brittany Lincicome

{{Reflist}}

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• {{Official website}}
• {{LPGA player|michelle-wie/88106}}
• {{WWGR|1913}}

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{{Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year}}

{{U.S. Women's Open Champions}}

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