Michelle Wie West on her recent move to Los Angeles, a new puppy, a nanny and teeing it up on the LPGA for the first time in six months

Michelle Wie West has new digs, a new nanny, a new puppy and the goal to play freely. Life has been somewhat of a whirlwind of changes in recent years for the one-time prodigy and she enters this week’s Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions as somewhat of a surprise entry.

For starters, Wie West, 32, hasn’t won on the LPGA since 2018. The TOC typically invites winners from the previous two seasons and last year, Wie West missed the event while still on maternity leave. Because the 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, winners from the previous three seasons were invited to the event in 2021.

“Before I committed,” said Wie West, “I texted Marina (Alex), ‘Hey, what’s up with this event? Do I really want to play in it? Something I should do?’ ”

Alex raved about the tournament’s celebrity component, and said it’s a fun way to celebrate a victory. Wie West recently teed it up with former tennis player Mardy Fish, last year’s winner of the celebrity portion of the TOC, and said he’s the best celebrity she’s ever played alongside. John Smoltz topped the celebrity field in 2019 and 2020.

This year’s event will be staged at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club and boasts a field of 29 players, including last year’s champion Jessica Korda and her sister, World No. 1 Nelly Korda. LPGA players will compete for a purse of $1.5 million with the winner’s portion of $225,000. The 50 celebrities compete in a modified stableford format for $500,000.

Michelle Wie arrives at Omega San Francisco Grand Opening VIP Celebration at de Young Museum on November 18, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images)

Wie West and husband Jonnie West, son of NBA legend Jerry West and an executive with the Golden State Warriors, recently moved from San Francisco to the Los Angeles area.

“Yeah, I guess we moved down south,” said Wie West during a pre-tournament press conference, “warmer weather I guess. But, yeah, it’s been a big change.”

Wie West, who signed with Excel Sports Management at the start of 2022, said she hasn’t put down roots yet as far as a membership near her new home, but noted that Hillcrest lets her use the range. She’s trying to nab a membership at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, California, a Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design that underwent a $10 million renovation in 2017. Rees Jones spearheaded the renovation of his father’s work.

As for time spent working on her game, Wie West said daughter Makenna is at an age where she runs around so much that she had to quit taking her to the range. That’s where the new nanny has been a “game changer,” allowing Wie West to get out to practice around two to two and a half hours each day.

“I’m not at the stage of my body where I can go and beat balls for four hours anymore,” she said. “So, yeah, definitely always taking into consideration my body and my wrist, neck.”

As for the new puppy, the Wests got another sheep dog like Gatsby and named her Daisy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CX5F8uwrxgD

Life is full for the businesswoman, wife, mom and competitor, who more than anything wants to be a good role model for Makenna. Last year the Stanford grad came back from maternity leave and competed in six events, making the cut in her last two. Her last competitive round on the LPGA was the KPMG Women’s PGA in June. When asked about this year’s schedule, Wie West said she hasn’t yet decided.

“Before her, golf was my number one priority,” she said. “I ate, slept, breathe everything golf. Now it’s her. Even the reason why I’m playing is because of her.”

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