WEST CALDWELL, N.J. — Michelle Wie West is juggling a busy schedule this week. The 36-year-old is not only serving as tournament host for the Mizuho Americas Open but also playing in the event.
On Wednesday at Mountain Ridge Country Club, she balanced a press conference, a short-game clinic with Rose Zhang, a quick lunch, and a pro-am warm-up in the drizzle, all while chatting with fans and stakeholders.
In typical Wie West fashion, she’s embracing the chaos. “I can use this experience to hopefully become a better tournament host,” she said. “It’s almost like I’m an undercover employee this week, so I’m really enjoying it.”
Pulling double duty is challenging, especially since she hasn’t played a competitive round in nearly three years. With her 10-year exemption from winning the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open expiring this summer, she announced plans to tee it up at Riviera in June and is using a sponsor exemption this week to prepare.
To get back in shape, Wie West has focused on three key areas: relearning purposeful practice, using the SportsBox AI swing analysis app to monitor her sway, and strengthening her body in the gym with glute activation and rotational exercises.