Subject of Death Threats as a Teen, LPGA Legend Decides to ‘Forgive’ Past Tormentors in Latest Selfless Act

Success in the golf world is a two-sided sword, on one hand, a pro will be getting all the attention and praise they deserve. However, on the other side, every little move will be watched and criticism follows thereafter. Whether it is Tiger Woods from the PGA Tour or Annika Sorenstam from the women’s side, both of them have shared their fair share of love and criticism from the media or the fans.

Similarly, when Michelle Wie West started becoming the next big thing in the game, many around her questioned her every move. When she decided to take up the sponsor exemption to participate in the PGA Tour events, it became a huge ruckus as people blamed her for taking away the chance from other golfers. But it has been many years since those days and now, the 5-time LPGA Tour winner has retired and enjoying entrepreneurship and growing her family.

Thus, when she was asked at the On the Road with Iona show if there was anybody she felt that she needed to forgive, she said, “I think a lot of media members… I think, I [sic am] just realizing that they’re just doing their job and you know they’re paid to have very strong opinions one way or another.” Reminiscing about her past, West noted that after resenting some people for the longest time, “You just kind of forgive and forget and kind of move on.”

It wasn’t just the media that had strong opinions about West but once the 35-year-old revealed that people even gave her death threats to her and her parents. Moreover, her classmates also bullied her as she was different, a bit heavier, and taller than most in her class. But after her statement, it certainly seems that the 5-time LPGA Tour winner has forgiven everyone and moved on from her bitter past. Being one of the best golfers in women’s golf has its pros and cons and for the longest time, it affected West, so much so that she even hid her injuries.

Michelle Wie West recalls hiding her injuries from the media

In 2022, Michelle Wie West’s career was coming to a close. The LPGA Tour star announced as a 32-year-old that she would be stepping away from the game and focusing on her health. That year, she played just two events and the 2023 US Women’s Open was the last. At the Nike’s No Off-Season podcast, West revealed just how much pressure she was under after winning the 2014 US Women’s Open.

The 35-year-old endured injuries in her wrist, which pushed her to take frequent breaks from the regular season. However, West wasn’t comfortable talking about those injuries. She said, “I remember not telling the media really honest answers about my injuries, kind of hiding it, just because I didn’t want to feel weak.” West grew up at a time when mental health wasn’t talked about and the only thing a golfer was told was, to be tough, laser-focused on the game, and be like a warrior.

So, talking about her injuries made her feel a bit inferior. But as she grew in her career, she accepted her injuries and started talking about it more. She revealed that they were the reason for her retirement and didn’t shy away from them this time. Needless to say, Michelle Wie West has moved past when she was just a teenager and skeptical of everything.