This Mother's Day, while many families are planning brunch, a special group of LPGA stars has their sights set on something else entirely: a late tee time at the Mizuho Americas Open. For four moms in the field, the best gift would be a strong finish on the leaderboard.
The tournament has a special connection to motherhood this year, as retired legend and tournament host Michelle Wie West is playing on a sponsor invitation. "For Mother's Day, hopefully we can do things here to make them feel extra special," said Wie West, who knows firsthand the challenges of balancing family and elite competition.
Chella Choi is making an inspiring return, playing her first full season after giving birth to son Si-heon Cha in 2024. Fresh off a final-round 66 in Mexico, the 35-year-old opened with a 1-under 71 at Mountain Ridge Country Club—a course players are calling "major-like" with its demanding conditions. But for Choi, the toughest part isn't the rough; it's the distance from her baby, who stays in South Korea with family. "I miss my baby so much," she shared. "But I want to show him how proud he can be of me later on. I want to prove that I still had him and went on tour and was able to do all of these things."
The mom club at Mountain Ridge also includes Gemma Dryburgh, whose partner Anne-Lise Bidou gave birth to son Léo this winter. Dryburgh, from Scotland, is making her ninth start of the 2026 season and is finding her rhythm on tour.
Then there's Alison Lee, whose son Levi just turned 1. His favorite birthday gift? A set of plastic golf clubs—which he promptly used to whack mom in the head several times. Lee, who tied for 13th in her first event back near L.A., has big goals: making another Solheim Cup team this fall and finally securing her first LPGA win. "I'm not expecting any special treatment from Angela (Stanford)," said Lee of the 2026 U.S. captain. "I want to earn my spot."
It's been a while since an LPGA mom hoisted a trophy—Stacy Lewis was the last, winning the 2020 Scottish Open, preceded by Maria McBride in 2011 and Catriona Matthew in 2009. But with this determined group of mothers teeing it up, that drought could end any day now. For these athletes, balancing diapers and dimples isn't just possible—it's proof that on the LPGA, moms can still chase greatness.