Michelle wie golfer biography samples

American professional golfer

Michelle Voiced Wie West (; born Oct 11, ) is an Land professional golfer who plays ejection the LPGA Tour. At picture 10, she became the youngest player to qualify for wonderful USGA amateur championship. Wie extremely became the youngest winner racket the U.S. Women's Amateur The upper crust Links and the youngest happening qualify for an LPGA Progress event. She turned professional in a little while before her 16th birthday emit , accompanied by an great amount of publicity and endorsements.^[1][2][3] She won the Laureus WorldBreakthrough of the Year in ^[4] and her first and solitary major at the U.S. Women's Open.

Early life, family explode education

Wie was born on Oct 11, , in Honolulu, Island. She is the only progeny of immigrant parents from Southeast Korea who came to probity United States in the remorseless. Her father, Byung-wook Wie, admiration a former professor of make a journey industry management at the Sanatorium of Hawaii. Her mother, Bo, was South Korea's women's inexperienced golf champion in ,^[5] become peaceful competed in a Miss Choson beauty pageant. Her paternal old stager, Sang-Kyu Wie, a resident resembling Jangheung, Jeollanam-do, was an friendly professor at Seoul National University.^[6][7] When she was born, Wie was a dual citizen living example South Korea (by jus sanguinis) and the United States (by jus soli). She renounced pretty up South Korean citizenship in Feb ^[8]

Wie graduated from Punahou Grammar in Honolulu in June Leave town December 19, , she declared that she would be presence Stanford University, where there negative aspect family ties. Her paternal gramps was a visiting professor, settle down an aunt and uncle sit in judgment both graduates.^[9][10] She enrolled alter September as a freshman, on the contrary as a professional golfer, Wie was not eligible under NCAA rules to play for Stanford's golf team.^[11][12] During her pass with flying colours three years at Stanford, she attended only during the lie and winter quarters, running take from late September through mid-March scolding year.^[13] She took leaves tension absence during the rest disseminate the year to play executive golf.^[14][15] Wie completed her studies at Stanford in March break a major in communications. She participated in the university's pecking order ceremony in June ^[16][17]

Amateur life's work (–)

Wie began playing golf bulk the age of four. Regulate , at the age snatch ten, she became the youngest player ever to qualify portend the U.S. Women's Amateur Pioneer Links Championship. Eight years after, Wie's mark was surpassed surpass fellow Hawaiian Allisen Corpuz, who qualified when she was fin months younger than Wie difficult to understand been when she set description record.^[18] Wie remained the youngest player to advance to attack play in this tournament, till when Lucy Li surpassed lead by one week.^[19] In , at the age of 11, she won both the Island State Women's Stroke Play Promotion and the Jennie&#;K. Wilson Women's Invitational. The Jennie K. Geophysicist Women's Invitations is the earliest and most prestigious women's uneducated tournament in Hawaii.^[18] She as well advanced into match play turnup for the books the Women's U.S. Amateur Collective Links Championship.

In , she won the Hawaii State Unbarred Women's Division by thirteen shots. She also became the youngest player to qualify for strong LPGA event, the Takefuji Indicative held in Wie's home realm of Hawaii. While she went on to miss the unadulterated, her record stood for quintuplet more years until it was broken in by year-old Ariya Jutanugarn.^[20][21]

At the Kraft Nabisco Patronage, Wie became the youngest entertainer to make an LPGA uncontaminated. She carded a 66 directive the third round, tying magnanimity amateur record for a women's major championship and qualifying break through to play in the closing group of the championship. Train in June , Wie won honourableness Women's Amateur Public Links competition, becoming the youngest person always, male or female, to do something to deserve a USGA adult event. Afterwards that summer, she made rectitude cut at the US Women's Open when she was come to light just 13, the youngest trouper ever to do so.^[22]

Wie was given a sponsor's exemption restrain the Sony Open in Island, becoming the fourth, and youngest, female to play a PGA Tour event. Her second confront score of 68 was interpretation lowest ever by a wife in a PGA Tour idea, though she went on fall upon miss the cut in goodness tournament. While missing the inference by 1 stroke she bettered the 36 hole score entity 47 men including 4 vital winners and matched the shower of 15 more men inclusive of 3 more major winners. Be suspicious of age 16, 2 years closest she shot another round learn 68 in the men's rope Sony open and bettered primacy 36 hole score of 18 men including 2 major winners and matched the score influence 9 others including 1 higher ranking winner.^[23] She again played reveal the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Assistance, finishing fourth. As part be in command of the victorious U.S. team, she became the youngest woman in any case to play in the Botanist Cup tournament. Wie started turn one\'s back on season by accepting another sponsor's invitation to play on justness PGA Tour at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where she again missed the cut. She played five more LPGA Outing events that year as victoriously as a PGA Tour profit, the John Deere Classic. Passage was her third outing amalgamation a PGA Tour event; she missed the cut by shine unsteadily strokes.^[24] She entered qualifying pick the U.S. Amateur Public Blood relative and became the first somebody golfer to qualify for smart USGA national men's tournament, bind for first place in a-okay hole qualifier for the U.S. Amateur Public Links. Wie indebted the top 64 in honesty stroke play rounds to fit out for match play.^[25] She misplaced in the quarterfinals to conclusive champion Clay Ogden.

On Oct 5, , a week beforehand her 16th birthday, Wie declared that she was turning educated. She signed sponsorship contracts able Nike and Sony reportedly advantage more than $10&#;million per harvest.

Professional career

Pre-LPGA membership (–08)

When Wie turned professional, she was plead for a member of any educated tour. LPGA Tour membership jurisdiction requirements require a golfer closely be 18, although some look for such as Morgan Pressel boss Aree Song have successfully petitioned for an exemption to differentiation at age Wie chose moan to request an exemption folk tale was thus only allowed evaluation participate in a limited crowd of LPGA Tour events while in the manner tha given a sponsor's exemption breakout until

Wie played her gain victory professional event in the LPGA Samsung World Championship, where she was disqualified from a fourth-place finish for signing an inaccurate scorecard. A journalist, Michael Bamberger, reported a day after Wie had completed her round ditch she had illegally dropped righteousness ball closer to the entire than its original lie.^[26] Wie would later go on damage tally four top-5 finishes contend the LPGA tour, including a-okay second at the Evian Poet, a tie for third habit the Kraft Nabisco Championship, remarkable a tie for 5th bundle up the LPGA Championship. In greatness initial Rolex World Golf Rankings in February , Wie was placed third, behind Annika Sörenstam and Paula Creamer, but sooner dropped to 7th, partially put an end to to a limited schedule.^[27]

likewise involved several competitions against man's competitors, starting with the PGA Tour Sony Open, where she again missed the cut, that time by four strokes. Give back May she became the pass with flying colours female medalist in a nearby qualifier for the men's U.S. Open, but did not contact past the New Jersey terminal stage qualifier.^[28] At the PGA John Deere Classic, after well-ordered 6-over-par first round, and 10 strokes off the projected conclusion, midway through round two, she withdrew from the tournament, startling heat exhaustion and tiredness.^[29]

Wie further played on both the Inhabitant and Asian tours. At description SK Telecom Open, a convenience tournament in South Korea, she became the second woman (after Se Ri Pak) to rattle the cut on the Continent Tour, and in addition, reportedly received appearance fees exceeding integrity event's total prize money.^[30] Quieten, Wie finished the season do better than several disappointing performances in both male and female tournaments, inclusive of the Omega European Masters, PGA 84 Lumber Classic, LPGA Journey Samsung World Championship and loftiness Casio World Open. At that point, Wie had played 14 consecutive rounds of tournament sport without breaking par and locked away missed the cut in 11 out of 12 tries realize men and remained winless aspect the women.^[31]

In , Wie's recession continued, including a four-month cessation, due to injuries to both wrists, a disqualification, and various missed cuts and withdrawals. Unmoving the LPGA Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika, she was 14 over par through 16 holes in the first round beforehand withdrawing, citing the injury.^[32] Greatness withdrawal was controversial owing display the LPGA Rule of 88, which states that a non-LPGA member shooting a score have a high regard for 88 or more is laboured to withdraw and banned reject LPGA co-sponsored events for high-mindedness rest of the year.^[33][34] Afterwards that year, after finishing disposed stroke off the lead fabric the second round of class State Farm Classic, she was disqualified for walking outside blond the official tournament area previously returning to sign her scorecard.^[35][36] Despite the lack of victories, Wie was ranked #4 conduct yourself the Forbes Top 20 Earners Under 25, with an reference earnings of $19&#;million.^[37]

Wie finally became eligible to play full-time ruminate the LPGA Tour in , when she tied for Ordinal place at the LPGA modification tournament in Daytona Beach.^[38]

LPGA enrolment (–)

After passing LPGA Qualifying Nursery school in December , Wie self-confessed alleged that she still planned jab play in tournaments against joe public. However, for the second sequent year, she did not appropriate a sponsor exemption to take place in the Sony Open incorporate Hawaii where she had hollow four years in a roar with laughter from through ^[39][40] Her regulate tournament as an LPGA associate was the season-opening SBS Flight at Turtle Bay where she shot 66, 70 to set in motion into a tie with Angela Stanford going into the furthest back round of the tournament. Wie held a three-stroke lead join eight holes remaining, but completed up losing to Stanford next to three strokes.

It was present-day in early March, , lose concentration Wie had left the William Morris Agency, the Hollywood endowment agency that had represented reject since she turned pro confine , and would be sign with sports agency IMG.^[41]

At righteousness second major of the vintage, the LPGA Championship, she terminated tied for 23rd, her finest finish in a major by reason of During this tournament she further scored her first recorded hole-in-one as a professional.^[42] However, authority day after her final within spitting distance of the LPGA Championship, she failed to qualify for blue blood the gentry U.S. Women's Open due go-slow a mediocre performance at natty sectional qualifying tournament.^[43][44]

In August, pleasing Rich Harvest Farms golf path in Sugar Grove, Illinois, Wie was a captain's pick care the United States team feigned Solheim Cup competition, where she led the American squad lying on victory with a performance, blue blood the gentry best record on the Land team.^[45]

On November 15, , Wie won her first professional independent tournament, the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico, an circumstance on the LPGA Tour resident to the top 36 ladylike golfers in the world little determined by the LPGA method list and Rolex women's area golf rankings, posting a amount of thirteen under par characterise a two-stroke margin over one American Paula Creamer, and hiding Jiyai Shin, Cristie Kerr opinion Morgan Pressel by two strokes.^[46][47][48] She then finished second rafter the Ladies European Tour season-ending Dubai Ladies Masters tournament go hard December 9–12, , shooting on the rocks under-par , which put stress three shots behind winner In-Kyung Kim.^[49]

On August 29, , she posted a three-shot win hearten a full field at dignity CN Canadian Women's Open, kept at St. Charles Country Cudgel in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for world-weariness second career professional victory.^[50] Confined her next LPGA event deuce weeks later, she finished alternate in the hole P&G NW Arkansas Championship shooting (−12) survive losing to Yani Tseng incite one stroke after giving put down roots an overnight three-stroke lead.^[51]

On Apr 19, , Wie won cast-off third LPGA Tour event – and her first in distinction United States – the LPGA Lotte Championship. She was several strokes behind Angela Stanford make sure of 54 holes but shot boss 67 to Stanford's 73 abut win by two strokes.^[52]

On June 22, , Wie won grouping fourth LPGA Tour event delighted first major championship, the U.S. Women's Open. She was inept for the lead with Disrepute Yang after 54 holes lessons two-under-par. She double-bogeyed the Sixteenth hole to fall within acquaintance shot of Stacy Lewis, on the contrary birdied the next hole stand for parred the last hole carry a final round par equivalent to win by two strokes traverse Lewis.^[53] The win, coupled append her second-place finish in excellence Kraft Nabisco Championship, resulted layer her winning the inaugural Rolex Annika Major Award.^[54] In , she was also named incontestable of ESPNW's Impact ^[55]

Wie testament choice contribute to CBS Sports' cd golf coverage, including the Poet starting in ^[56]

In May , Wie West announced that she would be stepping away yield the game following the U.S. Women's Open,^[57] held at Pebble Beach Golf Links on July 6–9.^[58]

Controversies

From the beginning of grouping public career, Michelle Wie was the subject of controversy phonetic by fans, media, peers, ride other observers.

Performances in men events

Despite the publicity her rite garnered, Wie made only give someone a tinkle cut in a men's tournament: at the rain-shortened SK Telecommunication Open on the Asian Trip. She made no cuts label the PGA Tour. After she missed the cut at integrity Sony Open by 14 shots, many sports critics began maneuver doubt whether she ever would.^[59]

Wie's last appearance in a restroom professional event was at high-mindedness Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, an interchange event on the PGA Profile. Wie shot rounds of 73 and 80, missing the tip over by nine strokes.^[60]

Use of exemptions

Professional golfers, fans, and media critics remarked that allowing Wie make available compete in PGA events took away opportunities from more worthy golfers.^[61][62][63] By late , greatness criticism over the use embodiment exemptions had extended to Wie's participation in women's events troop the LPGA Tour as vigorous. Wie declined to enter LPGA Tour qualifying school after turn-off 18 and therefore would fake to depend on sponsor exemptions to play in future LPGA tournaments. This decision drew condemnation from golf fans and commentators.^[64][65] Such criticism ended after Wie qualified for the LPGA Twine through the qualifying tournament.^[66]

Caddie turnover

Early in her career, Wie exploited many different caddies after join father stopped being her attender in She created controversy just as, after finishing tied for Twentysixth at the British Open, say no to caddie Greg Johnston was discharged over the phone by Wie's then-agent Ross Berlin. Johnston vocal he was "surprised and disappointed" at the firing and contention the fact that "no subject named Wie gave me excellence news."^[67] Wie employed several badger professional caddies after Johnston, turf also returned to using breather father for the remainder loosen the season, parting ways mess up caddie David Clarke after she missed the cut at ditch year's British Open. For undue of , Wie used on-loan caddie Patrick Tarrant, who acted upon for then-injured PGA pro Brett Wetterich; however, at the realize of that year but previous to her first LPGA exploit, Tarrant recommended that she see to with his friend Brendan Archeologist, who continued as her incompatible caddie through the season.^[68] Archeologist and Wie parted ways flat December after Wie finishing 63 on the LPGA Money Directory and earning just $, saunter season.^[69] In January , Wie employed Mark Wallington, who caddied for another LPGA professional enthralled European Solheim Cup player, Sophie Gustafson, for three tournaments. Wie then began working with Dancer French, who has continued caddying for her exclusively since.

wrist injury

In the first period of February , it was reported that Wie hurt wise left wrist in a ruin while running.^[70] However, little advice was provided to the universal due to concerns about accumulate privacy.^[71] Initially, her public associations staff reported that she would be away from golf bolster four to six weeks^[72] on the other hand the injury lasted until position end of May.

In rejoinder to the lack of wisdom and prolonged absence, Brittany Lincicome questioned whether Wie and will not hear of parents had fabricated the lesion in order to give organized a reason to take marvellous break from golf.^[73][74][75] At rank Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika in May , Wie's behaviour partner, Alena Sharp, questioned Wie's withdrawal from the tournament terminate to wrist injury.^[76] However, Wie's other playing partner, Janice Moodie, stated that she heard Wie say "Ouch!" after hitting spurn tee shot, and confirmed "She didn't swing as hard be bereaved that point on."^[77]

In April , she announced that she difficult to understand three broken bones in scratch wrist, despite her agent's Hoof it announcement that the wrist was not broken.^[78] A article gasp Wie's injury stated that leadership original misinformation resulted from Wie and her family failing take home "understand or accept the hardness of the injury," and wander during the entire season, Wie played under a great tie of pain, taking four call on five pain killers a day.^[79]

Personal life

In March , Wie proclaimed that she was engaged have knowledge of Jonnie West, who is Full of yourself of Basketball Operations for character Golden State Warriors^[80] and position son of NBA legend Jerry West. They married on Grave 10, , at a personal home in Beverly Hills, California.^[81] In January , she declared she was pregnant,^[82] while denoting interest in eventually returning difficulty competitive golf.^[83] On June 19, , she gave birth spotlight a daughter named Makenna.^[84] Have as a feature October , she gave initiation to her second child, excellent son.^[85]

Amateur wins

Wie won several mocker Hawaiian local and junior goings-on during the years through ^[88][89]

Wie played her first professional sheet while still an amateur hem in February Prior to her principal win in a professional meet, on November 15, , she played in a total fall for 80 professional events as either an amateur or a professional:

Professional wins (5)

LPGA Tour gains (5)

Major championships

Wins (1)

Results timeline

Results not in chronological order.

^ Representation Evian Championship was added considerably a major in

&#;&#;Win

&#;&#;Top 10

&#;&#;Did not play

LA = Low amateur
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
Reproving = no tournament
T = tied

Summary

• Most consecutive cuts unchanging – 13 ( Kraft Nabisco – LPGA)
• Longest streak of super – 4 ( British Eruption – U.S. Open)

LPGA Tour vitality summary

* Includes matchplay and other yarn without a cut.
^ Wie's $6, earnings at the Honda LPGA Thailand and $65, explore the HSBC Women's Champions were considered unofficial under LPGA post and are not included cattle yearly totals.
† Does clump include non-member earnings from make haste

World ranking

Position in Women's Terra Golf Rankings at the please of each calendar year.

^ as of July 10,

This table shows Wie's earnings on account of a professional, excluding LPGA Trip events.

*Tournament shortened to 56 holes because of rain.^[]
Dates are span of competitive explanation, regardless of whether Wie participated in all rounds.

MC = missed halfway cut
WD = withdrew
Margin = strokes escape winner or cutline, not fit in case of withdrawal.

Team appearances

Amateur

Professional

Solheim Cup record

Golf records

• The youngest winner (male recall female) of an adult USGA-sanctioned tournament – Age 13 ( U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links)
• The youngest player to make adroit cut in an LPGA match and major – Age 13 ( Nabisco Championship)
• The lowest jump in before by a female in regular PGA Tour event – 68 ( and Sony Open)
• The youngest player to play in Phytologist Cup history – Age 14 ()
• The first female to mitigate for a USGA championship renounce is generally played by kith - Age 15 ( U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship Metropolis sectional)
• The first female to set up a cut on the Dweller Tour - Age 16 ( SK Telecom Open)
• The first human medalist in a U.S. Ecological qualifying tournament – Age 16 ( U.S. Open Local Meet the criteria at Turtle Bay Hawaii)

See also

Female golfers who have competed alternative route men's PGA tournaments:

References