CARLSBAD, Calif.; – Michelle Wie West struggled through a 9-over 81 run in her first tournament in nearly two years, while Inbee Park shot at 6-under 66 to take the lead of the first round Thursday in the Kia Classic at Aviara.
Park had a hard, unobtrusive walk in rainy, wet weather in the afternoon. South Korean partner Hyo Joo Kim had a stroke behind him, and Sophia Popov, In Gee Chun, Stephanie Meadow and Mel Reid shot 68.
The focus was on 31-year-old Wie West in her first episode since daughter Makenna was born nine months ago. This is her first competition since Hazeltine’s Women’s PGA Championship in June 2019, when she fired 84-82.
She had hoped to return to the tour but finished the tied round with Yani Tseng for 142nd in the 144-player range. Wie West opened with her only birdie and then put seven bogeys in her next 13 holes. She made a double bogey 6 on No. 15 and closed with a bogey on 18.
Full-range scores from the Kia Classic
“I put the first hole in, so that was great,” Wie West said. “I hit a lot of good pictures today. Just feeling like I would have an unfortunate kick or two here and there that could have made a huge difference. At the same time, I couldn’t get my putter going. I haven’t had many confident strokes out there today and I know I can improve it for tomorrow. “
Wie West said she had no apologies.
“I take a lot of the positive things out of it, and there was a lot. It wasn’t like that, but I’m excited, ”she said. “I’m grateful to be back out here, thankful I have another day tomorrow to prepare my game for ANA. I hope to make a lot of birdies tomorrow. “
The ANA Inspiration, first major season, is next week at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage.
Even though her parents went over from Hawaii to care for her daughter, Wie West said maternity applications will affect the amount of time she can spend on the course.
“I mean, I would spend an hour on this putting green, but I have to go back and do some bath time now,” she said. “So there are definitely priorities, they are different, and that’s just the way I am … I mean, I had a big smile on my face all day today because life is good. I’m out here playing again; I have a beautiful daughter. ”
Wie West was plagued by a hand injury in 2019 and said she was considering retiring, until she found out she had a daughter. She is married to Jonnie West, basketball operations director for the Golden State Warriors and the son of big basketball jerry West.