Michelle Wie West was meant for greatness in golf. She was a prodigy. At 10, she became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship. She also became the youngest U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links winner and the youngest to qualify for an LPGA Tour event. It was 2002 when she played her first Tour event; the LPGA Takefuji Classic. Then in 2005, she became a pro and was considered the ‘next big thing‘ in golf. Everyone believed that she would dominate the LPGA Tour, comparing her to Tiger Woods. Two years after this, the unexpected happened.

In the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open, 19-year-old Michelle Wie West battled through the first round with a score of 11-over par 71. Pretty poor score, right? At the time, she was suffering from a wrist injury and had to withdraw from the tournament. One could say that since then, the American pro hasn’t been the same as she failed to achieve the success she was destined for. She went on a four-month hiatus that year, and when she returned, several missed cuts, withdrawals, and disqualifications followed.

Her career got derailed. In a new conversation with ‘On the Road with Iona’ on YouTube, West shared an aspect she regrets. “I can only think of one. I just think it’s like the old-school belief that you got to hit balls until your hands bleed. I think, back in the day, before you had all the science and technology, it was quantity over quality, truthfully. And it’s just who can stay out there the longest and you know, you hear the Tiger Woods mentality of running on a treadmill with a weighted vest and all the stories about how you take the glove off and your hands are bleeding.”

“And that was the goal. And you know, I wish I hadn’t done that. I fell like I would have had a longer playing career with a healthier body. So that’s one thing that I definitely do regret is hitting that many balls on the mat. It wasn’t even grass. It was mat and you are hitting off a concrete at that point. I wish I had the science and technology that other kids have access to now,” she admitted.

Further, speaking about comparisons with Tiger Woods, she revealed how she used to think it was cool. But today, she looked back at her early career and laughed at her cockiness. At the same time, she admitted that it was her “stupid confidence” that helped her achieve her goals that young.

However, this isn’t the first time Michelle Wie West has talked about being dubbed as ‘the female Tiger Woods’. She had a similar conversation earlier this year. In a podcast for the Pablo Torre Finds Out YouTube channel, she discussed how these comparisons affected her career and how she would push herself past her limits.

This brings us to Tiger Woods. The world knows how great of a golfer Tiger Woods was before his injuries started to take a toll. He sure followed a rigorous workout routine.

The extreme fitness regime Tiger Woods once followed

A few years ago, Tiger Woods opened up about his fitness routine. “Well, I used to get up in the morning, run four miles. Then I’d go to the gym, do my lift. Then I’d hit balls for two to three hours. I’d go play, come back, work on my short game. I’d go run another four more miles, and then if anyone wanted to play basketball or tennis, I would go play basketball or tennis. That was a daily routine,” said Woods.

He does not follow a similar schedule now, but as per him, when he was at the peak of his career, he had to be the best.

His former coach, Hank Haney, also revealed the approach Woods took for his fitness. Haney revealed that the golfer didn’t sleep much, maybe 4-5 hours a night. The 15x major winner would wake up early, go to the gym by 6-6:30 in the morning, have breakfast, and be on the practice tee by 8:45 or 9.

Revealing his practice schedule, Haney said, “Usually, it’s short game first or pitch shots, and then he’d go to the full swing, hit a full swing on the driving range. Then he’d want to play nine holes, we’d go play nine holes. Go eat lunch. Back to the driving range, go hit balls. Go play nine more holes. Go work on the putting. After that, some more short game.” 

It sure is an extreme routine, something that West tried to follow as she was regarded as the female Tiger Woods. Unfortunately, it took its toll on her.

Do you think Michelle Wie West, who is now retired and a mom of two, would have been one of the greatest in the LPGA Tour if she had not injured herself? Let us know in the comments section!