Michelle Wie West Plays Final Round As Professional At US Women's Open
The legendary American golfer missed the cut but signed off in style at the last hole in her final professional round at Pebble Beach
Michelle Wie West signed off her final round as a professional with a remarkable par putt on the last hole at the US Women’s Open.
Before the tournament started, Wie West announced that this US Women’s Open - held at the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links for the first time - would be the last of her illustrious golfing career.
Despite consecutive rounds of 79 on Thursday and Friday, meaning the American missed the cut by eight shots, there was a moment to savour at the end as she poured in a 30-foot-putt for par on the 18th hole.
A post shared by U.S. Women's Open (@uswomensopen)
A photo posted by on
"The game is a funny game, and making that long putt on 18 definitely was a sweeter sendoff,” Wie West said after her round. "It was such an emotional day starting from the first tee. I’ve definitely held back tears the entire round. It was fun. It was great to have my last round here at Pebble Beach. It definitely feels surreal right now.”
Wie West has spent almost her entire life in the public eye, having become the youngest player - male or female - to qualify for a USGA Amateur Championship event when she played in the US Women’s Amateur Public Links aged 10.
At 12, she became the youngest player to qualify for an LPGA event before returning to win the US Women’s Amateur Public Links the following year, aged 13. Having turned professional in 2005, she had to wait until 2009 to become an LPGA Tour member due to her age.
Injuries eventually plagued the 33-year-old’s career but, she still went on to win five times on the LPGA Tour, including, most notably, her only Major triumph in the 2014 US Women’s Open at Pinehurst No.2. That victory was historic as it represented the first year a men’s and women’s US Open was held on the same course.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
In that sense, it was perhaps equally poignant that Pebble Beach, hosting its first US Women’s Open in an important step forward for the women’s game, served as the backdrop for the final tournament of one of women’s golf’s most iconic trailblazers.
"It was great to have my final round here at Pebble Beach," stated Wie West. “I would have loved to have played better, but this whole experience was truly remarkable. The thing that stands out the most for me was having my husband on the bag. He's my partner in life, and to have him walk down 18 with me this week, to have him there by my side the whole week just meant everything to me, to have my family out here, to be at the US Open at Pebble Beach. Everything was just incredible."
Playing alongside Wie West was the equally legendary Annika Sorenstam, who was also featuring in her final Major. The ten-time Major champion officially announced her retirement in 2008 but accepted an invitation to return this year and play at Pebble Beach.
Like Wie West, the 52-year-old Swede missed the cut, shooting rounds of 80 and 79 to end at +15, but shared her appreciation at the opportunity she was afforded to compete in the tournament.
"It's been a great week in so many ways,” she said. “Thank you to USGA. Thank you to Pebble Beach for hosting this big championship here. And to all the fans out there today, I just really felt the love and the support.
“It was just great to come down here the last few holes just feeling welcome and appreciated and having the family here and friends. It's been a special week in so many ways."
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...
Amazon Prime Day is next week, and we at Golf Monthly have been searching through all the early offers to find the best ones for you, to check them out go to our Amazon Prime Day Golf Deals post.
Ben joined Golf Monthly having completed his NCTJ in multimedia sports journalism at News Associates, London. He is now a freelance journalist who also works for The Independent, Metro, UEFA and Stats Perform.
-
Jon Rahm Calls For Links Event To Be Added To LIV Golf Schedule
The Legion XIII captain has told Golf Digest a links event immediately before The Open would offer the ideal preparation for LIV Golf players
By Mike Hall Published
-
How One UK Golfer Defied The Odds To Set A New World Record...
The incredible story of how Steven Dashevsky broke the world record for playing one round of golf on all six continents in the shortest period of time
By Mark Townsend Published
-
Listen To The Official Anthem Of The AIG Women’s Open
'Rising Up' has been crafted to drive new energy to the sport and give the AIG Women's Open a memorable sound for years to come
By Alison Root Published
-
How To Watch The Olympic Golf Events At Paris 2024
Find out how to watch a star-studded men's and women's Olympic Golf event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in both the USA and UK
By Paul Higham Published
-
CPKC Women’s Open Prize Money Payout 2024
Many of the world’s best are competing at the Canada event, including defending champion Megan Khang
By Mike Hall Published
-
Star Wars Fan Ayaka Furue Takes Inspiration From Iconic Quote To Snatch Evian Championship Victory Via Late Burst
The Japanese golfer went five under through her final five holes to snatch the win away from her rivals at Evian Resort - all while thinking about six influential words...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Amundi Evian Championship Prize Money Payout 2024
The penultimate women's Major of the 2024 season offers up its highest-ever prize purse - almost double what it was in 2019
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
7 Big Names To Miss The Cut At The Amundi Evian Championship
The fourth women's Major of 2024 has made it to the halfway stage, with a number of big names set to head home for the weekend
By Matt Cradock Published
-
The 19 Golfers To Have Made The Cut In Every Women's Major So Far This Year
We take a look at the best scores from the 19 players who have made the cut in all three women's Majors so far in 2024
By Paul Higham Published
-
‘The Rules Need To Be Enforced’ - Nelly Korda Reaffirms Stance On Slow Play Ahead Of Evian Championship
The World No.1 once again spoke out about the need for slow play rules to be enforced ahead of the fourth Major of the year
By Joel Kulasingham Published