On the eve of the U.S. Women's Open here's a time line and some fun facts for your entertainment and enjoyment. There's also a couple of links to help you find more interesting info. Yes, we know and realize that Ms. Bivens and the LPGA are having a bit of a cat fight at the present, but we'll have none of that here. We just want to examine the biggest women's tournament of the year.
U.S. Women’s Open Timeline
1946 – First U.S. Women’s Open conducted by the Women’s Professional Golf Association in Spokane, WA. The tournament was held at match play and won by Patty Berg who defeated Betty Jameson in the final, 5 and 4.
1947 & 1948 – Event still conducted by the Women’s Professional Golf Association.
1949 to 1952 – Ladies Professional Golf Association assumes administration..
1950 - Babe Zaharias becomes the first multiple-time winner.
1953 – At the request of the LPGA, the USGA assumed the administration and running of the U.S. Women’s Open. Betsy Rawls won the first USGA conducted tournament.
1954 - Babe Zaharias wins the 1954 Women’s Open becomes the first three-time winner of the event and also the oldest at age 43 years and six months and remains the championship’s oldest winner to this day.
1960 – Betsy Rawls becomes the first four-time winner.
1967 – Catherine Lacoste of France wins the U.S. Women’s Open becoming the first and only amateur to win the event. Other amateurs have come close most recently Jenny Chuasiriporn in 1998 who lost a memorable 20-hole playoff to Se Ri Pak.
2008 - Inbee Park becomes the youngest winner of the U.S. Women’s Open at the age of 19 years, 11 months and 18 days. Park surpassed country woman Se Ri Pak who won in 1998 at 20 years, 9 months.
U.S. Women’s Open Fun Facts
FORMAT – 72 holes at stroke play; a cut after 36 holes to the 60 lowest scorers and ties, and anyone within 10 strokes of the leader. If the championship is tied after four rounds, a three-hole playoff will take place immediately following the conclusion of the fourth round. If the playoff results in a tie, play will immediately continue hole-by-hole until a champion is determined. This revised playoff format, departing from an 18-hole playoff on the following day, began with the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open.
PLAYOFFS – Ten 18-hole playoffs have been conducted in the history of the Women's Open. The 1998 playoff was the first to go extra holes. Only one player, JoAnne Carner, has been involved in more than one playoff – she won a playoff against Sandra Palmer in 1976 and lost to Laura Davies in 1987. The new playoff format started with the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open. If the championship is tied after four rounds, a three-hole playoff will take place immediately following the conclusion of the fourth round.
Back-to-Back Winners
Mickey Wright – 1958 & 1959
Donna Caponi - 1969 & 1970
Susie Berning - 1972 & 1973
Hollis Stacy - 1977 & 1978
Betsy King - 1989 & 1990
Annika Sorenstam - 1995 & 1996
Karrie Webb - 2000 & 2001
Multiple Winners
Four-Time Champions
Mickey Wright (1958, 1959, 1961, 1964)
Betsy Rawls (1951, 1953, 1957, 1960)
Three-Time Champions
Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1948, 1950, 1954)
Susie Berning (1968, 1972, 1973)
Hollis Stacy (1977, 1978, 1984)
Two-Time Champions
Louise Suggs (1949, 1952)
Donna Caponi (1969, 1970)
JoAnne Carner (1971, 1976)
Betsy King (1989, 1990)
Patty Sheehan (1992, 1994)
Juli Inkster (1999, 2002)
Karrie Webb (2000, 2001)
Meg Mallon (1991, 2004)
Youngest to Play
Beverly Klass, 1967 - 10 years, 7 months, 21 days
Lowest Score, 18 Holes
63 - Helen Alfredsson, first round, 1994
Lowest Score, 72 Holes
272 - Annika Sorenstam (70-67-69-66), 1996
272 - Juli Inster (65-69-67-71), 1999
Best Final-Round Comeback to Win
5 strokes - Murle Lindstrom, 1962
5 strokes - Donna Caponi, 1969
5 strokes - Jane Geddes, 1986
5 strokes - Betsy King, 1990
5 strokes - Lauri Merten, 1993
5 strokes - Annika Sorenstam, 1995
Much of this Info we found at the following locations. They deserve a big shout out.
http://golf.about.com/; http://www.usga.org/; http://www.lpga.com/
U.S. Women’s Open Timeline
1946 – First U.S. Women’s Open conducted by the Women’s Professional Golf Association in Spokane, WA. The tournament was held at match play and won by Patty Berg who defeated Betty Jameson in the final, 5 and 4.
1947 & 1948 – Event still conducted by the Women’s Professional Golf Association.
1949 to 1952 – Ladies Professional Golf Association assumes administration..
1950 - Babe Zaharias becomes the first multiple-time winner.
1953 – At the request of the LPGA, the USGA assumed the administration and running of the U.S. Women’s Open. Betsy Rawls won the first USGA conducted tournament.
1954 - Babe Zaharias wins the 1954 Women’s Open becomes the first three-time winner of the event and also the oldest at age 43 years and six months and remains the championship’s oldest winner to this day.
1960 – Betsy Rawls becomes the first four-time winner.
1967 – Catherine Lacoste of France wins the U.S. Women’s Open becoming the first and only amateur to win the event. Other amateurs have come close most recently Jenny Chuasiriporn in 1998 who lost a memorable 20-hole playoff to Se Ri Pak.
2008 - Inbee Park becomes the youngest winner of the U.S. Women’s Open at the age of 19 years, 11 months and 18 days. Park surpassed country woman Se Ri Pak who won in 1998 at 20 years, 9 months.
U.S. Women’s Open Fun Facts
FORMAT – 72 holes at stroke play; a cut after 36 holes to the 60 lowest scorers and ties, and anyone within 10 strokes of the leader. If the championship is tied after four rounds, a three-hole playoff will take place immediately following the conclusion of the fourth round. If the playoff results in a tie, play will immediately continue hole-by-hole until a champion is determined. This revised playoff format, departing from an 18-hole playoff on the following day, began with the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open.
PLAYOFFS – Ten 18-hole playoffs have been conducted in the history of the Women's Open. The 1998 playoff was the first to go extra holes. Only one player, JoAnne Carner, has been involved in more than one playoff – she won a playoff against Sandra Palmer in 1976 and lost to Laura Davies in 1987. The new playoff format started with the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open. If the championship is tied after four rounds, a three-hole playoff will take place immediately following the conclusion of the fourth round.
Back-to-Back Winners
Mickey Wright – 1958 & 1959
Donna Caponi - 1969 & 1970
Susie Berning - 1972 & 1973
Hollis Stacy - 1977 & 1978
Betsy King - 1989 & 1990
Annika Sorenstam - 1995 & 1996
Karrie Webb - 2000 & 2001
Multiple Winners
Four-Time Champions
Mickey Wright (1958, 1959, 1961, 1964)
Betsy Rawls (1951, 1953, 1957, 1960)
Three-Time Champions
Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1948, 1950, 1954)
Susie Berning (1968, 1972, 1973)
Hollis Stacy (1977, 1978, 1984)
Two-Time Champions
Louise Suggs (1949, 1952)
Donna Caponi (1969, 1970)
JoAnne Carner (1971, 1976)
Betsy King (1989, 1990)
Patty Sheehan (1992, 1994)
Juli Inkster (1999, 2002)
Karrie Webb (2000, 2001)
Meg Mallon (1991, 2004)
Youngest to Play
Beverly Klass, 1967 - 10 years, 7 months, 21 days
Lowest Score, 18 Holes
63 - Helen Alfredsson, first round, 1994
Lowest Score, 72 Holes
272 - Annika Sorenstam (70-67-69-66), 1996
272 - Juli Inster (65-69-67-71), 1999
Best Final-Round Comeback to Win
5 strokes - Murle Lindstrom, 1962
5 strokes - Donna Caponi, 1969
5 strokes - Jane Geddes, 1986
5 strokes - Betsy King, 1990
5 strokes - Lauri Merten, 1993
5 strokes - Annika Sorenstam, 1995
Much of this Info we found at the following locations. They deserve a big shout out.
http://golf.about.com/; http://www.usga.org/; http://www.lpga.com/
1 comment:
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