It has been more than a year since Michelle Wie West left the professional greens. After being regarded as the Tiger Woods of the women’s league, the 35-year-old last played at the 2023 US Women’s Open and diverted her focus to entrepreneurship and her family. While she is growing as an investor, West’s family has also grown in the past month.

The 5-time LPGA Tour winner had her first child in 2020, Makenna, and after three years welcomed another child in October 2024, Jagger Jerry YooJun West. Currently on maternity leave, West has been enjoying her time with her newborn child. And also updating her fans on Instagram. In one recent Instagram story, the 35-year-old former golfer shared how her time after the first pregnancy was different from what she is going through this time around.

West posted an adorable picture of her cuddling her son and wrote, “Forgot how lovely this newborn phase is. Having a newborn during the pandemic was so stressful, that I’m truly enjoying this phase this time.” Thankfully, West will be able to make more memories with her son as there will not be many restrictions stopping her from going out and enjoying which she could not do with Makenna in the initial months since it was the peak of the pandemic. The entire world was falling apart at that time, and it is only natural for a new mother to feel stressed.

West’s motherhood journey has been anything but inspiring. The 35-year-old previously shared how Jagger West was a rainbow baby and it took a team to ensure her son’s secure birth as it was a struggle with infertility in the years after her daughter’s birth. Initially, when West announced her retirement, it was rumored that it was because she was becoming a mother. However, the reality is different than what the people perceive.

Michelle Wie West extended her career after motherhood

In 2019, Michelle Wie West was at the lowest point of her career. She couldn’t win any tournaments and finished outside the top position consistently. Eventually, doubts crept in, and the 5-time LPGA Tour winner wondered if she could ever play on a high competitive level. And then she found out that she was pregnant.

Although West was extremely delighted by the news, on the other hand, she was tensed about her injured body carrying the baby to full term. However, as Makenna grew inside, West’s confidence in her body strength returned and instead of retiring in 2019, she decided to continue her career. West expressed, “I would’ve probably retired before [I had] her. But she actually extended my career. I really wanted to come back and play with her. So I’m really glad I got that experience.”

However, after giving birth and returning to the LPGA Tour, West still couldn’t replicate her top results and this eventually pushed her to hang up her cleats. She decided to focus more on her family and said, “Honestly, being home with her more — it’s priceless. I don’t regret it.” Indeed, West is enjoying her time being a mother and has been thankful for all the good times her pro career offered.