Wie West, Zhang intersect at Pebble Beach

Michelle Wie West (left) and Rose Zhang walk the sixth hole Tuesday during a U.S. Women's Open practice round at Pebble Beach. Kathryn Riley, USGA

It was 23 years ago that Jack Nicklaus found himself at Pebble Beach, playing his final U.S. Open, as Tiger Woods was just getting started, that week winning the first leg of what would become known as the Tiger Slam, one of the great achievements in the game’s history.

At age 60, Nicklaus was saying goodbye as Woods’ remarkable career was still ascending. As Nicklaus played his final hole on Friday, Woods was preparing to start his second round, reinforcing where the two men were on their respective timelines.

This week at Pebble Beach, which will host its first U.S. Women’s Open, it’s Michelle Wie West’s turn to wave goodbye to the national championship just as her fellow Stanford standout Rose Zhang is playing her first Women’s Open as a professional.

Wie West’s career doesn’t compar...