Michelle Wie West spoke honestly about the challenges LPGA moms face and did not hide how difficult it can be.

The retired golf star and tournament host spoke on May 8 at the Mizuho Americas Open at Mountain Ridge Country Club about the growing challenges LPGA moms face on tour.

According to Beth Ann Nichols of Golfweek, West said the numbers tell a story the tour can't ignore.

"It's hard. It's really hard," West said. "I think, sadly, you kind of see the number of moms being out here dwindling. I think that is just the harsh reality, that being a mom out here is tough."

She didn't stop at acknowledging the problem. West said she has been in active discussions with the current LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler about what the tour can do to better support its mothers.

"We never want to make it feel like the tour is too hard or not helping the moms out enough where they feel like they need to make a choice," she said. "It comes back to I really want to help empower women to feel like they can be out here."

There are just four LPGA moms in the field this week at Mountain Ridge Country Club, including West, Chella Choi, Gemma Dryburgh, and Alison Lee, with West saying moms must juggle childcare gear along with the usual demands of tournament life.

No LPGA mom has won since Stacy Lewis at the 2020 Scottish Open, while the last mom to win a major was Catriona Matthew at the 2009 Women's British Open, just 11 weeks after giving birth. Even so, West made it clear she does not see motherhood as a burden on the course.

"Being a mom gives you such a fresh perspective on everything," she said. "Your kids really give you energy."

This tension makes Chella Choi's return a focal point of the tournament.

LPGA Mom Chella Choi Is Returning to the Tour

At 35, Chella Choi is back for her first full LPGA season after giving birth in 2024 and arrived at Mountain Ridge Country Club following a tied-27 finish at the Riviera Maya Open.

In New Jersey, she opened with a 1-under 71 in very tough playing conditions, which many players said felt like a major championship.

Her son stays home in South Korea with her husband and family while she competes. The distance is hard.

"I miss my baby so much," Choi said through an interpreter. "But since there's a support system in Korea, I'm relying on that and trying to focus on golf. I want to show my kid how proud he can be of me later on."

West described the moms competing this week simply. "The moms out here are super moms. I see it firsthand."

Read more at Club Golf!

Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav