Michelle Wie West to Return in Virtual Reality Golf League WTGL After 2023 Retirement

Michelle Wie West, who retired in 2023, will return as a player in the virtual reality golf league WTGL. [Photo=WTGL website capture]

Michelle Wie West, the Korean American golfer who retired in 2023, is returning to competition through WTGL, a virtual reality golf league.

TMRW Sports, which runs the league, announced on the 24th that Wie West will join WTGL, set to launch in the 2026-2027 season.

TMRW Sports, led by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, has operated TGL since last season, a virtual reality golf competition featuring PGA Tour players.

TGL matches combine screen-based simulator play with a purpose-built venue featuring a “Green Zone” designed to resemble a real putting surface.

WTGL, a women’s league, is scheduled to begin in the 2026-2027 season.

Players committed so far, in addition to Wie West, include world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, Charley Hull and Lottie Woad of England, Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Brooke Henderson of Canada, and Rose Zhang and Lexi Thompson of the United States.

In a statement, Wie West said, “As a TGL fan, I’m very excited to have the chance to compete again through WTGL. WTGL will be a powerful platform for women’s golf.”

Wie West rose to prominence as a teenager and became one of the sport’s biggest stars, winning five LPGA Tour titles, including the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. She retired after the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open.

* This article has been translated by AI.

Kang Sang Heon ksh@ajunews.com