Michelle Wie West is back in competitive golf—and she's already learning that the transition from mom mode to tournament mode comes with a few choice words. After shooting a 10-over 82 in her first competitive round since the 2023 U.S. Women's Open, the 36-year-old major winner and tournament host admitted that even the most seasoned players can feel the jitters.

"I wasn't nervous going in, and I get to the first tee and I'm like, 'Holy s- - -!' I now spell my curse words because I'm a mom," Wie West said with a laugh. "I was like, 'Wow.' Hole all of a sudden looks so small. Got to a two-footer and I'm like, 'I'm not going to hit the hole. No way.'"

Playing in the Mizuho Americas Open at Mountain Ridge Country Club, Wie West opened with a promising even par on the par-4 first hole. But the tough greens quickly took their toll. She bogeyed the next three holes, then stumbled with a triple bogey on the par-5 fifth and a double on the ninth, leaving her 8-over at the turn.

"The greens are very tough as it is. I got so nervy out there. I think I was just shocked at how nervous I got, then double down on these greens are tough," she explained, pointing to putting as the main culprit for her slow start.

But it wasn't all frustration for the tournament host, who had her husband Jonnie on the bag. Wie West found her rhythm on the back nine, birdieing the 13th and 15th holes—a glimpse of the form that once made her a household name. Those bright spots, she believes, are signs of good things to come as she prepares for this year's U.S. Open at Riviera.

"So happy that I played today ahead of the U.S. Open. I think—I mean, as much practice as you can do, as many money games as you can play, there is literally nothing in the world that compares to the first round of a tournament," she said. "So I thought today was great experience. I felt like the back nine I made some good putts, hit some good shots, almost brought it back."