Michelle Wie West: The Mizuho Americas Open And Investing In TOGETHXR

Forbes

06-05-2025

JERSEY CITY, NJ - MAY 30: Michelle Wie West of the United States is interviewed prior the LPGA ... More Mizuho America's Open at Liberty National Golf Course on May 30, 2023 in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Any conversation about women in golf inevitably includes Michelle Wie West. A phenom who picked up clubs at age 4, she made history as the youngest player to make the cut at the U.S. Women's Open at age 13. As a teenager, she famously challenged golf's status quo by competing against men on the PGA Tour, firing a record-setting 68 in one round that still stands as the lowest by a woman in PGA history.
She went on to win the U.S. Women's Open and five other LPGA events, cementing her legacy as one of golf's most influential players.
Today, Wie West is focused on building the future of the game, especially for women and girls. As host of the Mizuho Americas Open, she's helping redefine what a professional golf tournament can look like. The event pairs top LPGA pros with elite junior players in a format that blends competition, mentorship, and community.
Wie West's impact stretches beyond the course. She has been announced as an active investor in TOGETHXR, the women-founded media company launched by sports icons Alex Morgan, Sue Bird, Simone Manuel, and Chloe Kim.
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY - MAY 19: Nelly Korda of the United States, right, and Gianna Clemente of ... More the United States, left, pose for a photograph with tournament host Michelle Wie West following the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club on May 19, 2024 in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by) Getty Images
Since its 2023 debut, the Mizuho Americas Open has earned a unique place in the LPGA schedule. The tournament draws an elite field and partners LPGA players with the top junior girls in the country. For Wie West, the event is the realization of a long-held dream.
'Hosting a tournament was always a bucket-list goal for me,' she told Forbes . 'Growing up watching Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tiger Woods host their own events—it left a huge impression on me. When I won my first LPGA title at Lorena Ochoa's tournament in Mexico, it made me think: I want to create something just as special.'
That vision is now a reality. The Mizuho Americas Open is not just another LPGA event—it's a platform for mentorship, innovation, and inclusion. The event continues to grow. Hosting an event like the Mizuho Americas Open is no small feat—but Wie West's efforts are being matched by sponsors who see the long-term value of supporting women's sports.
'Mizuho is a dream partner,' she said. 'They've committed not just to a five-year extension, but to increasing the purse each year. That kind of belief is how we keep moving forward.' The purse will increase to $3.25 million in 2026, with Mountain Ridge Country Club set to host in 2026–2027, and a return to Liberty National Golf Club from 2028–2030.
'I wanted to design a tournament that truly puts the players first,' she said. 'Everything from the hospitality to the practice areas to the locker room experience was built with the athletes in mind. I know what it feels like to play week in and week out, and I wanted this to feel like a deep breath.'
The tournament includes a unique mentorship program that pairs LPGA pros with rising stars from the American Junior Golf Association, offering rare access and meaningful connection.
'Some of these girls are 14, playing in their first LPGA event. They're not just watching their idols—they're teeing it up alongside them,' said Wie West. 'They're getting real advice and building real relationships. That kind of exposure can change everything for a young athlete.'
With support from Girls Inc., player accommodations covered at a five-star hotel, and a Michelin-starred chef in the dining area, every detail is designed to elevate the athlete experience.
One moment that captures the program's impact: 'Yana Wilson, our inaugural junior champion, just turned pro and won her first Epson Tour event last week,' Wie West shared. 'Now she's competing in the professional field this year. That full-circle moment is exactly what we envisioned.'
She added, 'Golf is a tough sport—it can be lonely. I know how much it would've meant to me at 13 or 14 to have someone like Lorena or Annika walk a hole with me, talk through strategy, or just say, 'You belong here.' I wanted to create that.' Michelle Wie West Investing In TOGETHXR
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 25: Michelle Wie West attends a game between the Indiana Fever and the Las ... More Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 25, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Fever 99-80. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) Getty Images
TOGETHXR was built to reframe how women in sports and culture are represented—prioritizing bold storytelling, diverse voices, and cultural relevance.
'I've been a fan since day one,' she said. 'When the opportunity came to invest, it was an immediate yes. Their mission—to challenge outdated narratives and make women's sports part of the mainstream conversation—is exactly what I believe in.'
For Wie West, the alignment was personal and strategic.
'I've spent my whole life trying to prove that I belonged in rooms that weren't built for women,' she said. 'So when I saw TOGETHXR saying, 'Actually, we're going to build our own rooms, and they're going to be louder, cooler, and more inclusive,' I thought, this is the future.'
TOGETHXR has garnered a loyal Gen Z and millennial following by creating high-quality digital content that centers underrepresented athletes and creators. The company's tagline 'Everyone Watches Women's Sports' isn't just aspirational. It's intentional.
'That message is everything,' she said. 'It's not 'support women's sports because it's the right thing to do.' It's: 'support women's sports because they're entertaining, compelling, and world-class.' That's a powerful shift.'
PINEHURST, NC - JUNE 22: Michelle Wie of the USA is drenched with champagne by Jessica Korda ... More (centre) and Jamie Kuhn after holing the winning putt at the par 4, 18th hole during the final round of the 69th U.S. Women's Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, Course No. 2, on June 22, 2014 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by) Getty Images
As an investor and advocate, Wie West sees TOGETHXR as a platform that can modernize golf's image and bring new fans into the sport.
'Golf has amazing athletes, powerful stories, and limitless potential,' she explained. 'But we need to meet the audience where they are. TOGETHXR gets that—it's built for the TikTok generation. It's quick, smart, emotional storytelling that actually connects.'
Wie West sees real momentum building for the LPGA and for women's sports more broadly.
'Women's sports are having a moment, but this isn't a trend—it's a shift,' she said. 'You look at the NWSL, NCAA, WNBA, viewership is up, sponsorship is up, and the fans are showing up. It's not fringe anymore.'
She's also a firm believer in the power of role modeling.
'The representation piece is huge. I'm raising a daughter, and I want her to grow up seeing women at the top of leaderboards, behind the camera, running businesses,' she said. 'When you see it, you believe it's possible for you.' Michelle Wie West: Investing In The Future
PINEHURST, NC - JUNE 22: Michelle Wie of the USA proudly holds the trophy after her victory during ... More the final round of the 69th U.S. Women's Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, Course No. 2, on June 22, 2014 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by) Getty Images
Michelle Wie West's journey, from teenage phenom to U.S. Women's Open champion, from advocate to investor, shows the evolving nature of women's sports leadership.
Her current focus is clear: expanding access, elevating voices, and investing in the future. 'I get to build things now. I get to be part of the conversation shaping where this sport goes next.'
What she's building is bigger than golf.
'This isn't just about one event or one platform. It's about changing the ecosystem. Making it normal to see women in leadership, women owning their stories, women taking up space.'
And she's not stopping anytime soon.