United States Women's Open Championship (golf)

U.S. Women's Open
Tournament information
Location San Martin, California
in 2016
Established 1946, 70 years ago
Course(s) CordeValle Golf Club in 2016
Par 72 in 2016
Length 7,333 yd (6,705 m) in 2016
Organized by USGA   (since 1953)
Tour(s) LPGA Tour
Format Stroke play
Prize fund $4.5 million in 2016
Month played July in 2016
Tournament record score
Aggregate 272 Annika Sörenstam (1996)
272 Juli Inkster (1999)
272 Chun In-gee (2015)
To par –16 Juli Inkster (1999)
Current champion
South Korea Chun In-gee
2016 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship

The United States Women's Open Golf Championship, one of thirteen national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA), is the oldest of the LPGA Tour's five major championships, which includes the Kraft Nabisco Championship, Women's PGA Championship, Women's British Open, and The Evian Championship.

Established 70 years ago in 1946, the U.S. Women's Open is the only event to have been recognized as a major by the LPGA since the group's founding in 1950. Originally operated by the Women's Professional Golfers Association (WPGA) for its first three years and the LPGA for the next four, it became a USGA event in 1953.[1] Usually held in early July, the U.S. Women's Open is the third major of the LPGA season and has the highest purse in women's golf, at $4.5 million in 2015.

Unlike the U.S. Open, the U.S. Women's Open is not globally recognized as a major championship. The Ladies European Tour does not sanction any of the three majors held in the United States, and the LPGA of Japan Tour has its own set of majors. The significance of this is limited, as the LPGA Tour is the dominant tour in women's golf.

In 2007, international players outnumbered Americans for the first time.[2] The 2008 tournament was won by 19-year-old South Korean Inbee Park, who became the event's youngest winner ever.

The 2012 championship, won by Choi Na-yeon, was played July 5–8 at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wisconsin, which previously hosted the event in 1998, won by Pak Se-ri in a Monday playoff that extended to 20 holes.[3] The Original Championship Course for 2012 played just under 7,000 yards (6,400 m), over 500 yards (460 m) longer than in 1998.[4]

Qualification

The U.S. Women's Open is open to any professional or amateur female golfer. Amateurs must have an up-to-date USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4,[5] lowered in 2014 from 4.4 in 2013.[6] Players may obtain a place by being exempt or by competing successfully in qualifying.

In 2002, a two-stage method of qualification was introduced: 18 holes for local qualifying and 36 holes for sectional qualifying. In 2010, the qualification process reverted to a single sectional stage of 36 holes played on a single day.

The criteria for exemption from qualifying has changed through the years. In 2010, there were eleven exemption categories, including winners of the U.S. Women's Open for the last ten years, winners of the other three majors for the last five years, the top 50 from the previous year's LPGA Tour money list, the top five from the previous year's Japan LPGA Tour, Korea LPGA Tour, and Ladies European Tour money lists, and official winners of LPGA co-sponsored events for the 52-week period prior to the U.S. Women's Open.[7]

There is no upper or lower age limit. The youngest-ever qualifiers were 11-year-old Lucy Li in 2014,[8] and 12-year-old Lexi Thompson in 2007.[9]

Winners

The number following some winners' names indicates the cumulative number of U.S. Women's Open wins for that player.

YearChampionCountryVenueLocationScoreTo parPurse
($)[10]
Winner's
share ($)
2016 CordeValle Golf Club San Martin, CA 4,500,000 810,000
2015 Chun In-gee  South Korea Lancaster Country Club Lancaster, PA 272 −8 4,500,000 810,000
2014 Michelle Wie  United States Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 2 Pinehurst, NC 278 −2 4,000,000 720,000
2013 Inbee Park (2)  South Korea Sebonack Golf Club Southampton, NY 280 –8 3,250,000 585,000
2012 Choi Na-yeon  South Korea Blackwolf Run, composite courseKohler, WI 281 –7 3,250,000 585,000
2011 Ryu So-yeon  South Korea Broadmoor Golf Club, East Course Colorado Springs, CO 281 –3 PO 3,250,000 585,000
2010 Paula Creamer  United States Oakmont Country Club Oakmont, PA 281 –3 3,250,000 585,000
2009 Eun-Hee Ji  South Korea Saucon Valley Country Club Bethlehem, PA 284E3,250,000 585,000
2008 Inbee Park  South Korea Interlachen Country Club Edina, MN 283–93,250,000 585,000
2007Cristie Kerr United StatesPine Needles Lodge and Golf ClubSouthern Pines, NC 279 –5 3,100,000 560,000
2006Annika Sörenstam (3) SwedenNewport Country ClubNewport, RI 284E PO3,100,000 560,000
2005Birdie Kim South KoreaCherry Hills Country ClubCherry Hills Village, CO 287+33,100,000560,000
2004Meg Mallon (2) United StatesThe Orchards Golf ClubSouth Hadley, MA 274–103,100,000 560,000
2003Hilary Lunke United StatesPumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Witch Hollow CourseNorth Plains, OR283–1 PO 3,100,000 560,000
2002Juli Inkster (2) United StatesPrairie Dunes Golf Club Hutchinson, KS276–43,000,000 535,000
2001Karrie Webb (2) Australia Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club Southern Pines, NC 273–72,900,000 520,000
2000Karrie Webb AustraliaMerit ClubLibertyville, IL 282–62,750,000 500,000
1999Juli Inkster United StatesOld Waverly Golf ClubWest Point, MS 272–161,750,000 315,000
1998Pak Se-ri South KoreaBlackwolf Run, composite courseKohler, WI290+6 PO 1,500,000 267,500
1997Alison Nicholas EnglandPumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Witch Hollow CourseNorth Plains, OR274–101,300,000 232,500
1996Annika Sörenstam (2) SwedenPine Needles Lodge and Golf ClubSouthern Pines, NC272–81,200,000 212,500
1995Annika Sörenstam SwedenBroadmoor Golf Club, East CourseColorado Springs, CO278–2 1,000,000 175,000
1994Patty Sheehan (2) United StatesIndianwood Golf and Country Club, Old CourseLake Orion, MI277–7 850,000 155,000
1993Lauri Merten United StatesCrooked Stick Golf ClubCarmel, IN 280–4 800,000144,000
1992Patty Sheehan United States Oakmont Country ClubOakmont, PA280E PO700,000 130,000
1991Meg Mallon United StatesColonial Country ClubFort Worth, TX 283–1600,000 110,000
1990Betsy King (2) United StatesAtlanta Athletic Club, Riverside Course Duluth, GA[N 1] 284–4500,000 85,000
1989Betsy King United StatesIndianwood Golf and Country Club, Old CourseLake Orion, MI278–2450,000 80,000
1988 Liselotte Neumann SwedenBaltimore Country Club, Five Farms, East Course Baltimore, MD277–7400,000 70,000
1987 Laura Davies EnglandPlainfield Country ClubEdison, NJ285–3 PO 325,000 55,000
1986 Jane Geddes United StatesNCR Country ClubKettering, OH287–1 PO 300,000 50,000
1985 Kathy Baker United StatesBaltusrol Golf Club, Upper CourseSpringfield, NJ280–8250,000 41,975
1984 Hollis Stacy (3) United StatesSalem Country ClubPeabody, MA290+2225,000 36,000
1983 Jan Stephenson AustraliaCedar Ridge Country ClubBroken Arrow, OK290+6200,000 32,780
1982 Janet Alex United StatesDel Paso Country ClubSacramento, CA283–5175,000 27,315
1981Pat Bradley United StatesLa Grange Country ClubLa Grange, IL279–9150,000 22,000
1980Amy Alcott United StatesRichland Country ClubNashville, TN 280–4140,000 20,047
1979Jerilyn Britz United StatesBrooklawn Country ClubFairfield, CT284E125,000 19,000
1978Hollis Stacy (2) United StatesCountry Club of IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN289+5100,000 15,000
1977Hollis Stacy United StatesHazeltine National Golf ClubChaska, MN292+475,000 11,040
1976JoAnne Carner (2) United StatesRolling Green Golf ClubSpringfield, PA292+8 PO 60,000 9,054
1975 Sandra Palmer United StatesAtlantic City Country ClubNorthfield, NJ295+755,000 8,044
1974Sandra Haynie United StatesLa Grange Country ClubLa Grange, IL295+740,000 6,073
1973Susie Berning (3) United StatesCountry Club of RochesterRochester, NY290+240,000 6,000
1972Susie Berning (2) United StatesWinged Foot Golf Club, East CourseMamaroneck, NY299+1140,000 6,000
1971JoAnne Carner United StatesKahkwa ClubErie, PA288E31,000 5,000
1970Donna Caponi (2) United StatesMuskogee Country ClubMuskogee, OK287–130,000 5,000
1969Donna Caponi United StatesScenic Hills Country ClubPensacola, FL294+631,040 5,000
1968Susie Berning United StatesMoselem Springs Golf ClubFleetwood, PA289+525,000 5,000
1967Catherine Lacoste (a) FranceThe HomesteadHot Springs, VA294+625,000 0
1966Sandra Spuzich United StatesHazeltine National Golf ClubChaska, MN297+920,000 4,000
1965Carol Mann United StatesAtlantic City Country ClubNorthfield, NJ290+217,780 3,800
1964Mickey Wright (4) United StatesSan Diego Country ClubChula Vista, CA290–3 PO 9,900 2,090
1963Mary Mills United StatesKenwood Country ClubCincinnati, OH289–39,000 1,900
1962Murle Lindstrom United StatesDunes Golf and Beach ClubMyrtle Beach, SC 301+138,000 1,800
1961Mickey Wright (3) United StatesBaltusrol Golf Club, Lower CourseSpringfield, NJ293+58,000 1,800
1960Betsy Rawls (4) United StatesWorcester Country ClubWorcester, MA292+47,200 1,710
1959Mickey Wright (2) United StatesChurchill Valley Country ClubPittsburgh, PA287–17,200 1,800
1958Mickey Wright United StatesForest Lake Country ClubBloomfield, MI290–27,200 1,800
1957Betsy Rawls (3) United StatesWinged Foot Golf Club, East CourseMamaroneck, NY299+77,200 1,800
1956Kathy Cornelius United StatesNorthland Country ClubDuluth, MN302+11 PO 6,000 1,500
1955Fay Crocker UruguayWichita Country ClubWichita, KS299+117,500 2,000
1954Babe Zaharias (3) United StatesSalem Country ClubPeabody, MA291+37,500 2,000
1953Betsy Rawls (2) United StatesCountry Club of RochesterRochester, NY302+10 PO7,500 2,000
1952Louise Suggs (2) United StatesBala Golf ClubPhiladelphia, PA284+87,500 1,750
1951Betsy Rawls United StatesDruid Hills Golf ClubAtlanta, GA293+57,500 1,500
1950Babe Zaharias (2) United StatesRolling Hills Country ClubWichita, KS291–95,000 1,250
1949Louise Suggs United StatesPrince Georges Golf and Country ClubLandover, MD291–97,500 1,500
1948Babe Zaharias United StatesAtlantic City Country ClubNorthfield, NJ300E7,500 1,200
1947Betty Jameson United StatesStarmount Forest Country ClubGreensboro, NC295–97,500 1,200
1946Patty Berg United StatesSpokane Country ClubSpokane, WA5&419,700 5,600

PO - Won in playoff
(a) = Amateur
† = Won 5 and 4 over Betty Jameson in 36-hole match play final

  1. The club is located in a portion of the Duluth postal area that became part of the newly incorporated city of Johns Creek in 2006. Although the club is still served by the Duluth post office, it now lists its mailing address as Johns Creek.

Multiple champions

This table lists the golfers who have won more than one U.S. Women's Open.

Deceased golfer †
Grand Slam winners ‡
Golfer Country Total Years
Betsy Rawls  United States 4 1951, 1953, 1957, 1960
Mickey Wright  United States 4 1958, 1959, 1961, 1964
Babe Zaharias  United States 3 1948, 1950, 1954
Susie Berning  United States 3 1968, 1972, 1973
Hollis Stacy  United States 3 1977, 1978, 1984
Annika Sörenstam  Sweden 3 1995, 1996, 2006
Louise Suggs  United States 2 1949, 1952
Donna Caponi  United States 2 1969, 1970
JoAnne Carner  United States 2 1971, 1976
Betsy King  United States 2 1989, 1990
Patty Sheehan  United States 2 1992, 1994
Karrie Webb  Australia 2 2000, 2001
Juli Inkster  United States 2 1999, 2002
Meg Mallon  United States 2 1991, 2004
Inbee Park  South Korea 2 2008, 2013

The defending champion has retained the title on seven occasions, most recently in 2001:

  • 2001 - Karrie Webb
  • 1996 - Annika Sörenstam
  • 1990 - Betsy King
  • 1978 - Hollis Stacy
  • 1973 - Susie Berning
  • 1970 - Donna Caponi
  • 1959 - Mickey Wright

Through 2015, three consecutive championships has not been achieved.

Champions by nationality

This table lists the total number of titles won by golfers of each nationality.

Nationality Wins
 United States 51
 South Korea 7
 Sweden 4
 Australia 3
 England 2
 France 1
 Uruguay 1

Future sites

  Year   Course Location Dates
2016 CordeValle Golf Club San Martin, California July 7–10
2017 Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, New Jersey July 13–16
2018 Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club Shoal Creek, Alabama May 31 – June 3
2019 Country Club of Charleston Charleston, South Carolina May 30 – June 2
2020 Champions Golf Club, Cypress Creek Course Houston, TexasJune 4–7
2021 The Olympic Club, Lake Course San Francisco, CaliforniaJune 3–6

Source:[4][11]

See also

References

  1. "U.S. Women's Open: History". USGA. 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  2. "U.S. Women's Open Notebook". PGA Tour. Associated Press. June 26, 2007. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  3. Clarke, Liz (July 7, 1998). "Pak wins Open on 92nd hole". Spokesman-Review. p. C1. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  4. 1 2 "2012 U.S. Women's Open: Fact Sheet". USGA. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  5. "U.S. Women's Open sectional qualifying complete". USGA. June 4, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  6. "2013 Women's Open Fact Sheet". USGA. 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  7. "2010 U.S. Open Qualifying".
  8. "Lucy Li, 11, qualifies for U.S. Open". ESPN. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  9. Dixon, Peter (June 30, 2007). "Thompson proves that youngsters can have fun". The Times (London). Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  10. "1946-2010 - US Women's Open - history - purses & winners' shares" (PDF). LPGA. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  11. "U.S. Women's Open to be played at Shoal Creek in Alabama in 2018". PGA of America. Associated Press. Retrieved May 30, 2014.

External links

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