Michelle Wie West said she questioned her purpose after retiring from the LPGA Tour in 2023 and has spent the past two years rebuilding a life centered on family, advocacy and selective professional commitments.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Post, Wie West, now 35, described the transition from a childhood defined by golf to a period of reassessment that followed her decision to step away after the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach. "What’s my purpose?" she said she asked herself at 33. "It’s been over two years now and it has been an amazing journey so far." She spoke as part of a promotional partnership with ACUVUE, Johnson & Johnson Vision.
Wie West said one of the clearest benefits of retirement has been the removal of an enduring sense of guilt she felt while balancing elite competition and motherhood. The 2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion and Stanford graduate recalled returning quickly to training after the birth of her first child, hitting balls 10 days after giving birth and carrying a bag while walking a course with a stroller. She and her husband, Jonnie West, have two children: daughter Makenna Kamalei Yoona West, 5, and son Jagger Jerry YooJun West, who will turn 1 next month. Jonnie West is the senior director of pro personnel for the Golden State Warriors.
Wie West said retirement allowed her to be "almost guilt free" and more present with her children, adding that the need to compartmentalize her life as an athlete has eased. "You know, obviously there was a time period where I was like, ‘Okay, so now what? What am I supposed to do? What’s my vision here? What’s my purpose? What’s my path?’ But it’s really been amazing to take the time and be almost guilt free in the sense of being able to be present with my children," she said.
Her retirement came after more than two decades in the spotlight. Wie West began playing golf at age 4 and became the youngest player to qualify for an LPGA event at 12, when she played in the 2002 Takefuji Classic. She was among the most scrutinized young athletes in the sport and said she cannot imagine experiencing that early prominence in today’s nonstop social media environment.
"Oh my God, I can’t even imagine what it would have been like if I decided to play in a LPGA Tour event if I was 14 right now," she said. She noted the difference between periodic coverage in newspapers during her youth and the constant online commentary younger players face today, adding that she thinks the current generation of children will have to learn to navigate persistent digital exposure.
Wie West also spoke candidly about the physical toll of elite competition. Injuries accumulated toward the end of her playing career, and she said the regimented, pain-focused workouts she endured left her wary of the gym. After retiring, she "swore off the gym for a while," and later returned to training for different goals: to play with and keep up with her children. Earlier this year she completed a half-marathon after joining a training program, and she said she has enjoyed reconnecting with her body through activities such as tennis and pickleball.
Beyond family and fitness, Wie West has pursued business and advocacy roles tied to women’s sports. She recently became an investor in Togethxr, a media and commerce company focused on investing in and covering women’s sports, and she signed a multi-year deal as a Mizuho brand ambassador and tournament host for the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey. She said the tournament — which she has described jokingly as "my third child" — has been extended for an additional five years. Wie West also maintains corporate partnerships and makes selective work trips, noting that travel now is considerably less than when she was competing.
"I have a lot of sponsors. I do a lot [of] corporate work. I’m a tournament host for an LPGA event called Mizuho America’s Open," she said, adding that she and her husband have coordinated schedules to manage family and work commitments.
Wie West praised how the game of golf has broadened its appeal, citing the role of content creators and new formats in making the sport more accessible. "YouTube golf is such an amazing platform now. It’s making golf so much more inviting for kids," she said. She pointed to entertainment-driven venues such as Topgolf and simulator-based events tied to TGL as part of that shift. Her own social media presence, more than 600,000 followers on Instagram, has featured golf and lifestyle content that she said resonates with fans.
The tournament host and investor said she has tried to focus her post-playing career on initiatives that promote women’s sports and create opportunities for the next generation. She emphasized that her decision to retire came on her own terms, and that the subsequent period of reflection has been driven by deliberate choices rather than a sudden end.
Wie West’s remarks frame a broader pattern of athletes transitioning from full-time competition into roles that combine family life, selective business interests and advocacy work. For Wie West, the shift has included rethinking physical routines, parenthood, and how to use her platform to support women’s sports while preserving a measure of privacy and presence at home.
She continues to be visible in golf through events, endorsements and media partnerships while describing a quieter daily life than the one that shaped her as a prodigy. "It’s been really nice to just not have any of that, not feel the need to feel the guilt of not practicing when I’m with my kid," she said, "but also not feeling guilty not being with her when I’m practicing."
