Major champion comes out of retirement to play one last golf tournament this June
Former US Women's Open champion Michelle Wie West is coming out of retirement to compete in the Riviera major this June.
Former US Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie West has confirmed she will come out of retirement to compete in the 2026 edition.
The five-time LPGA winner, whose sole major title came at Pinehurst in 2014, has not played competitively since the 2023 US Women’s Open.
Now 36, Wie West has announced she will tee it up once more when the championship heads to famed Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, from 4–7 June 2026.
Tiger Woods' annual Genesis Championship on the PGA Tour is staged on the same course.
The 81st US Women's Open will mark a historic milestone, as Riviera hosts the coveted ladies major for the very first time.
It will also mark the first staging of the US Women's Open in the Greater Los Angeles area.
Nelly Korda, Jeeno Thitikul and Hyo-joo Kim will start amongst the betting favourites, while Sweden's Maja Stark will look to become the first player to successfully defend the title since Karrie Webb in 2001.
Wie West earns her place in the field through her 2014 victory, which grants champions a 10-year exemption.
That window has been extended to 2026 in her case due to maternity leave.
Announcing her decision on her official Instagram page on 31 March, Wie West said the opportunity to return for “one final year of eligibility” at a venue with personal significance made the comeback especially meaningful.
"With one final year of eligibility from my victory in 2014 and the Championship headed to an iconic venue that means so much to me, I am excited to announce that I’ll be teeing it up at the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera in June!" she captioned her latest Instagram post, which included seven photos.
Former US Open champion Justin Rose was one of the first to comment on the post.
"Amazing news... let's go!" he wrote.
A former prodigy, Wie West rose to global prominence at a young age.
At age 10, she became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship.
Wie also became the youngest winner of the US Women's Amateur Public Links and the youngest to qualify for an LPGA event.
Early in her career, she was widely tipped to follow a path similar to Woods in terms of impact on the sport, but that never materialized.
She did win five times on the LPGA though, highlighted by her 2014 US Women's Open triumph at Pinehurst.
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nov 15, 2009 | Lorena Ochoa Invitational | −13 (70-66-70-69=275) | 2 strokes |
2 | Aug 29, 2010 | CN Canadian Women’s Open | −12 (65-69-72-70=276) | 3 strokes |
3 | Apr 19, 2014 | LPGA Lotte Championship | −14 (70-67-70-67=274) | 2 strokes |
4 | Jun 22, 2014 | U.S. Women’s Open | −2 (68-68-72-70=278) | 2 strokes |
5 | Mar 4, 2018 | HSBC Women’s World Championship | −17 (67-73-66-65=271) | 1 stroke |
After more than two decades in the spotlight, she decided to step away from professional golf, citing the physical toll on her body.
Wie West chose to retire from the sport after the 2023 US Women's Open at the age of 33.
But three years later, she's back, at least for one last dance.
Her return to competition comes shortly after she confirmed plans to participate in the women’s version of TGL later this season, signalling a renewed involvement in the game.
Away from the sport, Wie West has built a family life with husband Jonnie West, whom she married in 2019.
The couple have two children: daughter Makenna, born in 2020, and son Jagger, born in 2024.
Her comeback at Riviera is expected to be one of the standout storylines of the 2026 season, as one of the game’s most recognisable figures prepares for a final major appearance.
Andy Roberts first joined GolfMagic on a month's work experience back in April 2011.
Andy then assumed the role of GolfMagic Editor in 2015.
