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Charlotte GibsonESPN
Michelle Wie West, a five-time Solheim Cup veteran and 2014 US Women’s Open champion, will return to the US Team as an assistant captain.
Captain Pat Hurst selected 30-year-old Wie West to work alongside previously announced assistant captain Angela Stanford when Team USA competes against Team Europe at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, scheduled for 4 as of September 6, 2021.
“As soon as I heard the news [that Hurst was selected captain in January]I immediately texted Pat saying, ‘If you haven’t chosen your assistant captains yet, I’d love to be considerate,’ “Wie West said during a Zoom call on Wednesday.” I am extremely honored when I actually received that phone call when he chose me as assistant captain. I was ecstatic. “
Wie West, who won five LPGA Tour events in addition to his specialty, represented the US Team at the Solheim Cups in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. In both US Team victories in 2015 and 2017 Hurst was the leader of the Wie West capsule: – The US team uses a capsule system designed to group four players as a mini team within the team of 12, under team captain Juli Inkster.
“Michelle called me from the beginning and said, if you haven’t chosen your assistants, would you consider me?” Hurst said Wednesday. “… I know what she is like. I know she’s very patriotic, she loves red, white and blue like me, and her intensity there. All the players love her. They respect her, and that’s what I need.”
Wie West said it will depend largely on the lessons learned from Hurst’s leadership and friendship, as well as his own experience for the United States team.
“I really want to help rookies and players get comfortable,” said Wie West, who gave birth to daughter Makenna on June 19. “I want to be the role that Pat played for me by making the players feel comfortable. I create comfortable players and relaxed players who play good golf and have fun, and that’s what we’re here for: good culture and the fire to win.”
Wie West, who suffered a persistent wrist injury after surgery in 2018, didn’t play in the Solheim Cup last year for the first time since 2009, when she was 3-0-1 after becoming the LPGA’s second rookie. Tour in history play on the United States team. She has not competed on the LPGA Tour since she lost the cut at the 2019 PGA KPMG Women.
When he learned that his 2019 season had come to an end, Wie West contacted Inkster about a possible role as an assistant captain in Gleneagles, but Inkster had already filled those roles. Instead of competing at Gleneagles, Wie West joined the Golf Channel studio team as an analyst during the Solheim Cup.
As for the possibility that Wie West will return to golf and potentially be a game assistant captain, she said she is taking it day by day and is not ruling anything out. Finally, she said that decision would be up to Hurst.
The LPGA resumes its 2020 season next week at Inverness Club.
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