Ex-LPGA Star-Turned-Mom Is Grateful to Lydia Ko as Their Bond Breaks Retirement Barriers
The game of golf might have given Michelle Wie West a lot of recognition. But it has also refrained her from living a normal life. This was why she was forced to retire after the 2023 US Open in the professional realm of sport. She was scared of all the criticism, and would often hide her feelings even when in pain. However, despite leaving the game, she said she kept in touch with some of her friends from the Tour. Lydia Ko was one of her closest friends during her days as a golfer.
She would often post pictures of themselves on social media to congratulate Lydia Ko every time she won an event. Take the 2021 LOTTE Championship for instance. After Ko secured her 15th career LPGA win, Wie West took to Instagram, sharing a touching tribute to her long-time friend. She posted a picture of herself and Ko, congratulating her on the win and reflecting on their friendship and the journey they had been on together since their teenage years. Michelle’s message went beyond just a congratulatory post; she expressed her admiration for Ko’s resilience and growth, both on and off the course. And as it seems, the duo are still in touch.
Michelle Wie West and her husband Jonnie West recently welcomed their second child, a son named Jagger Jerry YooJun West, on October 19, 2024. A few hours ago, she shared Lydia Ko’s gift for her baby. The ex-LPGA Tour player took to her official Instagram account and shared a story of her baby wearing an adorable onesie gifted by Lydia Ko. She wrote, “Baby boy fancyyyyy today with his Burberry onesie Thank youu @lydsko”.
Michelle Wie West had earlier also stated that due to golf she could not have a regular childhood, and she regrets it a little. But she has always shown support for the LPGA Tour and its members.
Michelle Wie West takes a stand for the LPGA Tour for the 2022 CME Group Dinner
The 2022 LPGA Tour season came to a close in November with Lydia Ko’s impressive victory at the CME Group Tour Championship, where the New Zealander claimed the first-place prize of $2 million, the largest ever awarded in a women’s golf tournament. However, the win was somewhat overshadowed by a controversy surrounding the CME Group’s dinner event. None of the players attended the dinner, which led to CME Group CEO Terry Duffy expressing his disappointment over their absence. Just a few days after the incident Michelle Wie West spoke about it on the No Laying Up Podcast.
“First of all, I can understand Terry’s point of view. To go up on stage and to go through that in front of his friends is very embarrassing. I wasn’t there, so I don’t know firsthand, but I’m sure there has to have been some big misunderstanding between the LPGA, the players, and Terry,” she said. The 33 YO also added that neither the LPGA Tour nor the players would ever do something like that on purpose since she is well aware of how much respect they have for the company. What are your thoughts on Michelle Wie West and the relationship that she maintains with the players on the Tour? Let us know in the comments section below!
