Michelle Wie West frustrated with WTGL tech on opening night: 'That was not a spinny shot'

Michelle Wie West was left questioning WTGL's technology after an unexpected result from a 98-yard wedge shot during the opening night of the new women's indoor golf league.

The five-time LPGA Tour winner appeared frustrated after watching her approach shot spin back underneath the hole, insisting the ball had not behaved as the simulator suggested.

WTGL got its inaugural season underway at the SoFi Center in Florida on Sunday, with Los Angeles Golf Club taking on New York Golf Club in the opening match.

Wie West, who is now retired from the LPGA Tour, represented Los Angeles alongside Alison Lee and Gaby Lopez and provided one of the night's most memorable talking points.

Wie West questions WTGL tech

Playing her approach into the 13th hole, the 37-year-old American watched in disbelief as her wedge shot spun back further than she expected.

Shaking her head, Wie West turned towards her playing partners and made her feelings clear.

"That wasn't a spinny shot. That wasn't a spinny shot. That was a low shot," she said.

Watch Wie West's reaction here:

TGL and WTGL use Toptracer optical cameras alongside Full Swing KIT radar launch monitors to track ball flight and capture key data, including club speed, spin rate and launch angle.

However, replicating the behaviour of a golf ball in real-world conditions remains a challenge, particularly with shorter shots, different lies and the amount of spin players expect to generate.

Wie West was subsequently asked for her thoughts on the technology and struck a more diplomatic tone when discussing the differences between indoor and traditional golf.

"I thought it was pretty accurate but obviously it's different," she said.

"It's as good as it can be and it's definitely a learning curve. It's just not something we can immediately relate to, especially those smaller shots, shots out the rough and shaping shots."

Watch Wie West's full comments here:

Wie West excited for WTGL future

The 2014 US Women's Open champion also revealed just how excited she is about WTGL and what the new league could mean for the future of women's golf.

Wie West believes the indoor format offers a fantastic opportunity to introduce the sport to a younger audience and inspire more girls to take up golf.

"This format introduces the game to a much younger crowd. I want young girls to watch this and say, this is pretty cool," she said.

Wie West so close to an ace

It wasn't all frustration for Wie West on the opening night, either.

The American came agonisingly close to making the first hole-in-one in WTGL history on an Annika Sorenstam-designed, Nordic-style par three.

Playing from 184 yards over a ship, Wie West struck a superb tee shot which clattered against the virtual flagstick.

Once again, she couldn't quite believe what she had just witnessed.

"I think we all thought it was going in," she said.

"I thought that was definitely in... I felt there was no way that was not going in."

Los Angeles win first WTGL match

Despite the technology frustrations and narrowly missing out on an ace, Wie West had plenty to celebrate as Los Angeles secured a 3-1 victory over New York.

Her team-mates Alison Lee and Gaby Lopez helped get the new competition off to a winning start against a New York line-up featuring Linn Grant, Lydia Ko and Rose Zhang.

WTGL is the women's equivalent of TGL, the indoor golf competition created by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and TMRW Sports co-founder Mike McCarley.

Five teams are competing in the inaugural season, although World No.1 Nelly Korda has opted against joining the new competition.

For Wie West, it was an eventful opening night, with a reminder that while simulator golf still has some convincing to do, she is firmly behind what WTGL is trying to achieve for the women's game.