Bailey Tardy leads at the US Women’s Open through 36 holes, but Friday’s most notable finish might have been the career of Michelle Wie West.
The longtime pro, who enjoyed a decorated amateur career, made waves with her competition in men’s tournaments and won the 2014 US Women’s Open, finishing her final tournament after not making the cut.
Little went according to plan for the 33-year-old Wie West during the tournament, as evidenced by a score of 14-over through 36 holes, but she at least managed to end things on a good note, with a 30-foot putt to save par on the 18th green at Pebble Beach.
Wie West was already more or less retired after not competing in an event since last year’s US Women’s Open, but she used this year’s tournament to say farewell at Pebble Beach. The USGA used the occasion to assemble a series of tributes that left Wie West in tears before the tournament.
While Wie West — who took the name of her husband Jonnie West, son of NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West, in 2019 — was expected to win more than one major, her career remains a notable chapter in the history of women’s golf.
Wie West found success as an amateur at a historically young age, qualifying for her first USGA amateur championship at age 10, qualifying for her first LPGA event at 12 and making her first LPGA cut and qualifying for her first USGA event at 13.
She turned pro at 16 years old but continued to compete in men’s events, something that garnered her an enormous amount of attention for a young golfer. She eventually went full-time on the LPGA Tour, winning five tournaments and one major. She also competed in five Solheim Cups, winning three of them with the US
Wie West’s career can be endlessly debated as far as what she did and didn’t do, but the fact is that for years, she was the most notable name on the LPGA Tour, and that’s nothing.