Michelle Sung Wie is a famous Korean American professional golfer who is known for playing the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tours. Wei became the youngest golfer qualifying for the United States Golf Association amateur championship when she was just 10. She is also the youngest qualifier of the LPGA tour events and was named the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links’ youngest champion.
Wie started playing Golf professionally in 2005, shortly after she turned sixteen and was deemed as the next big thing in golf. She earned tremendous amounts of publicity and endorsements. We has also competed against male golf players at the ‘Sony Open’ event which is a part of the PGA tours and reached second position, defeating 46 male players. Wei also played at the 2004 Curtis Cup event as a member of the winning team. In 2014, Wei won her first major game at the U.S. Women’s open.
Early Life and Education
Wie was born on 11 November 1989 in Honolulu, Hawaii to a South Korean immigrant father Wie Byung-wook and his wife Bo Wei. Her parents immigrated to U.S.A in the 1980’s. Wei’s father served as a professor at the University of Hawaii, and her mother was an amateur golf Champion, winning the 1985 title in South Korea and a former beauty queen.
Wie attended the Punahou School in Honolulu from where she graduated in 2007. She later attended Stanford University after enrolling in September 2007 in the capacity of a freshman and professional golfer which although allowed her to get leaves of absence to participate in golf tournaments, meant that she could not play on the University’s golf team as per NCAA guidelines. Wie could attend college only from September to march, owing to her golfing career and ultimately graduated in 2012 earning a majors in communications.
Career Rise
Although, the 1.85 meter tall Wie started playing golf professionally in 2005, she did not receive much success until the 2006 LPGA tournament season where she had top 5 finishes. She participated in the Kraft Nabisco Championship of 2006 and was tied in the third place with Natalie Gublis. She also earned third position at U.S. Women’s open, once again tying with Stacy Prammanasudh and Se Ri Pak. In the same year Wie competed in the men’s tournament, becoming the second female to do so in South Korea. She finished in the first position at a local qualifying tournament meant for Men’s U.S. Open. 2008 proved to be a better year for Wie with her finishing the Ladies German Open in sixth position.
Wei won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, Guadalajara, Mexico in November 2009 which became her first professional individual victory at a tournament. She also finished second at the Ladies European Tour season that ended at the Dubai Ladies Masters tournament in December 2009. In the August of the following year, Wei earned her career’s second professional victory at the Canadian Women’s Open in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She finished second in her next LPGA event at the NW Arkansas Championship. Wei became the winner of her third LPGA tour in April 2014, the LPGA Lotte Championship, which was her first one in USA and in the June of the same year earned her fourth win and first major championship at U.S. Women’s Open.
Boyfriend
Wei was reported to be dating Robin Lopez of the Portland Trail Blazers. She was also said to be in a relationship with Adam Zahn, a former pro Hoopster in the year 2014. Since splitting with Zahn, Wei has preferred to keep her personal life private and low profile.
Wei had dual, American and South Korean citizenship until 2013 when she opted to remain an American citizen.
Michelle Wie- Salary and Net Worth
Wei has an estimated net worth of approximately $12 Million. Her annual salary account to an estimated $5 million.
