75th U.S. Women’s Open Championship: Notebook and Storylines

This is the 75th U.S. Women’s Open Championship and the second in the state of Texas. Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth hosted the 1991 U.S. Women’s Open when Meg Mallon defeated Pat Bradley by two strokes to win her first of two U.S. Women’s Open titles.

The first U.S. Women’s Open, played at Spokane (Wash.) Country Club in 1946 and won by Patty Berg, was the only one conducted at match play. The Women’s Professional Golfers Association (WPGA) conducted the Women’s Open until 1949, when the newly formed Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) took over operation of the championship. The LPGA ran the Women’s Open for four years, but in 1953 asked the United States Golf Association (USGA) to conduct the championship, which it has done ever since.

The youngest winner of the U.S. Women’s Open is Inbee Park, who won the 2008 championship at age 19 years, 11 months and 17 days. Babe Didrikson Zaharias, who won the 1954 Women’s Open at age 43 years and 7 days, is the oldest winner.

In 1967, Catherine Lacoste, of France, the daughter of hall-of-fame tennis player Rene Lacoste and 1927 British Ladies Amateur champion Simone Thion de la Chaume, became the only amateur to win the U.S. Women’s Open. Seven other amateurs, most recently Hye-Jin Choi in 2017, have had runner-up or co-runner-up finishes.

WHO’S HERE

Among the 156 golfers in the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open, there are:

U.S. Women’s Open champions (9)

In Gee Chun (2015), Eun Hee Ji (2009), Ariya Jutanugarn (2018), Cristie Kerr (2007), Brittany Lang (2016), Jeongeun Lee6 (2019), Inbee Park (2008, 2013), Sung Hyun Park (2017), So Yeon Ryu (2011)

U.S. Women’s Open runners-up (11)

Hye-Jin Choi (2017), Cristie Kerr (2000), Brittany Lang (2005), Stacy Lewis (2014), Anna Nordqvist (2016), Morgan Pressel (2005), So Yeon Ryu (2019), Angela Stanford (2003), Lexi Thompson (2019), Amy Yang (2012, 2015), Angel Yin (2019)

U.S. Women’s Amateur champions (5)

Kristin Gillman (2014, 2018), Danielle Kang (2010, 2011), Lydia Ko (2012), Morgan Pressel (2005), Gabriela Ruffels (2019), Jennifer Song (2009), Rose Zhang (2020)

U.S. Women’s Amateur runners-up (6)

Jaye Marie Green (2012), Brooke Henderson (2014), Moriya Jutanugarn (2011), Jessica Korda (2010), Azahara Munoz (2008), Gabriela Ruffels (2020)

U.S. Girls’ Junior champions (8)

Ariya Jutanugarn (2011), Minjee Lee (2012), Yealimi Noh (2018), Amy Olson (2009), Inbee Park (2002), Jenny Shin (2006), Lexi Thompson (2008), Lei Ye (2019)

U.S. Girls’ Junior runners-up (4)

Ina Kim-Schaad (2000), Andrea Lee (2016), Inbee Park (2003, ‘05), Angel Yin (2015)

U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champions (1)

Ina Kim-Schaad (2019)

U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champions (2)

Mina Harigae (2007), Jennifer Song (2009)

U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links runners-up (1)

Jennifer Song (2008)

U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball champions (1)

Kaitlyn Papp (2016)

U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball runners-up (1)

Lei Ye (2018)

USGA Champions (25)

In Gee Chun (2015 U.S. Women’s Open), Kristin Gillman (2014, 2018 U.S. Women’s Amateur), Mina Harigae (2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links), Eun Hee Ji (2009 U.S. Women’s Open), Ariya Jutanugarn (2018 U.S. Women’s Open, 2011 U.S. Girls’ Junior), Danielle Kang (2010, 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur), Cristie Kerr (2007 U.S. Women’s Open), Ina Kim-Schaad (2019 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur), Lydia Ko (2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur), Brittany Lang (2016 U.S. Women’s Open), Minjee Lee (2012 U.S. Girls’ Junior), Jeongeun Lee6 (2019 U.S. Women’s Open), Yealimi Noh (2018 U.S. Girls’ Junior), Amy Olson (2009 U.S. Girls’ Junior), Kaitlyn Papp (2016 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball), Inbee Park (2008, 2013 U.S. Women’s Open, 2002 U.S. Girls’ Junior), Sung Hyun Park (2017 U.S. Women’s Open), Morgan Pressel (2005 U.S. Women’s Amateur), Gabriela Ruffels (2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur), So Yeon Ryu (2011 U.S. Women’s Open), Jenny Shin (2006 U.S. Girls’ Junior), Jennifer Song (2009 U.S. Women’s Amateur, 2009 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links), Lexi Thompson (2008 U.S. Girls’ Junior), Lei Ye (2019 U.S. Girls’ Junior), Rose Zhang (2020 U.S. Amateur)

USA Curtis Cup Team members (17)

Cydney Clanton (2010), Austin Ernst (2012), Kristen Gillman (2018), Mina Harigae (2008), Cristie Kerr (1996), Jessica Korda (2010), Jennifer Kupcho (2018), Brittany Lang (2004), Andrea Lee (2016, 2018), Stacy Lewis (2008), Ally McDonald (2014), Amy Olson (2012), Annie Park (2014), Jennifer Song (2010), Angela Stanford (2000), Lauren Stephenson (2018), Lexi Thompson (2010)

GB&I Curtis Cup Team members (8)

Jodi Ewart Shadoff (2008), Georgia Hall (2014), Charley Hull (2012), Lily May Humphreys (2018), Bronte Law (2012, 2014, 2016), Meghan MacLaren (2016), Olivia Mehaffey (2016, 2018), Mel Reid (2006).

NCAA Division I champions (7)

Austin Ernst (2011, Louisiana State University), Maria Fassi (2019, University of Arkansas), Caroline Hedwall (2010, Oklahoma State University), Jennifer Kupcho (2018, Wake Forest University), Stacy Lewis (2007, University of Arkansas), Azahara Munoz (2008, Arizona State University), Annie Park (2013, University of Southern California)

Women’s World Amateur Team Championship Competitors (57)

Pajaree Anannarukarn (2014, 2016, Thailand), Ana Belac (2012, 2014, 2016, Slovenia), Nicole Broch Larsen (2012, Denmark), Ashleigh Buhai (2004, 2006, South Africa), Celine Boutier (2012, 2014, France), Hye-Jin Choi (2014, 2016, Republic of Korea), Carlota Ciganda (2006, 2008, 2010, Spain), Cydney Clanton (2010, USA), a-Caterina Don (2018, Italy), Austin Ernst (2012, USA), Jodi Ewart Shadoff (2008, England), Maria Fassi (2016, 2018, Mexico), Kristen Gillman (2014, 2018, USA), a-Linn Grant (2018, Sweden), Hannah Green (2016, Australia), Nasa Hataoka (2016, Japan), Caroline Hedwall (2008, 2010, Sweden), Brooke Henderson (2012, 2014, Canada), Esther Henseleit (2016, 2018, Germany), Mamiko Higa (2010, Japan), Moriya Jutanugarn (2008, Thailand), Danielle Kang (2010, USA), Minami Katsu (2014, Japan), Frida Kinhult (2018, Sweden), Katherine Kirk (2002, Australia), Nanna Koerstz Madsen (2012, 2014, Denmark), Jessica Korda (2006, Czech Republic; 2010, USA), Jennifer Kupcho (2018, USA), a-Agathe Laisne (2016, 2018 France), Bronte Law (2014, England), Andrea Lee (2016, USA), Minjee Lee (2012, 2014, Australia), Pernilla Lindberg (2008, Sweden), Gaby Lopez (2010, 2014, Mexico), Teresa Lu (2004, Chinese Taipei), Caroline Masson (2006, 2008, Germany), Meghan MacLaren (2016, England), a-Olivia Mehaffey (2016, 2018, Ireland), Azahara Munoz (2008, Spain), a-Alessia Nobilio (2018, Italy), Anna Nordqvist (2006, 2008, Sweden), Su Hyun Oh (2014, Australia), Eri Okayama (2014, Japan), Hee Young Park (2004, Republic of Korea), Emily Kristine Pedersen (2014, Denmark), Sophia Popov (2010, 2012, Germany), a-Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (2016, 2018 France), Madelene Sagstrom (2012, 2014, Sweden), Alena Sharp (2000, Canada), Marianne Skarpnord (2002, 2004 Norway), Sarah Jane Smith (2004, Australia), a-Emma Spitz (2016, 2018, Austria), Linnea Strom (2014, 2016, Sweden), Kelly Tan (2012, Malaysia), Maria Torres (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, Puerto Rico), Anne van Dam (2012, 2014, Netherlands), a-Beatrice Wallin (2018, Sweden)

Olympic Medalists (2)

Lydia Ko (2016, silver, New Zealand), Inbee Park (2016, gold, Republic of Korea)

Players with Most U.S. Women’s Open Appearances (2020 included)

Cristie Kerr (25), Angela Stanford (21), Morgan Pressel (17), Christina Kim (16), Katherine Kirk (16), Brittany Lang (16), Brittany Lincicome (16), Stacy Lewis (14), Inbee Park (14), Lexi Thompson (14), Amy Yang (14), Eun-Hee Ji (13), Jessica Korda (13), Jennifer Song (13)

Active Consecutive U.S. Women’s Open Appearances (2020 included)

Cristie Kerr (23, 1998-2020), Angela Stanford (21, 2000-20), Brittany Lang (16, 2005-20), Stacy Lewis (14, 2007-20), Lexi Thompson (14, 2007-20), Amy Yang (14, 2007-20), Eun Hee Ji (13, 2008-20), Jessica Korda (13, 2008-20), Inbee Park (13, 2008-20)

U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN DEBUT– There are 42 players in the 2020 championship field who are playing in their first U.S. Women’s Open. Frida Kinhult claimed the Symetra Tour Championship on Nov. 6, while Ana Belac was the Symetra Tour’s 2020 player and rookie of the year. Na Rin An has won twice on the LPGA of Korea Tour this season. Emily Toy defeated Amelia Garvey, 1 up, in the 2019 Women’s Amateur Championship, conducted by The R&A, at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland.

Only four players have won the U.S. Women’s Open in their first appearance: In Gee Chun (2015), Birdie Kim (2005), Kathy Cornelius (1956), Patty Berg (1946).

First-Time U.S. Women’s Open Competitors (42)
a-Ho Yu An, Na Rin An, Pajaree Anannarukarn, Saki Asai, Ana Belac, Perrine Delacour, a-Caterina Don, Ayake Furue, a-Amelia Garvey, Erika Hara, a-Lily May Humphreys, Mone Inami, Nuria Iturrioz, Asuka Kashiwabara, Yui Kawamoto, A Lim Kim, Ji Yeong2 Kim, a-Ina Kim-Schaad, Frida Kinhult, Cheyenne Knight, Sakura Koiwai, a-Agathe Laisne, Seung Yeon Lee, Hee Jeong Lim, a-Ingrid Lindblad, a-Lucie Malchirand, Kana Mikashima, a-Benedetta Moresco, Yuna Nishimura, a-Alessia Nobilio, Yealimi Noh, Bianca Pagdanganan, a-Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Hae Ran Ryu, Hinako Shibuno, a-Emma Spitz, a-Maja Stark, Linnea Strom, Yu Jin Sung, Sayaka Takahashi, a-Emily Toy, a-Beatrice Wallin

Countries Represented (26)

There are 26 countries represented in the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open. The United States has 41 players in the field, while Republic of Korea has 27 and Japan has 17.

Countries with players in the field – United States (41), Republic of Korea (27), Japan (17), Sweden (10), England (8), Australia (6), Thailand (6), France (5), People’s Republic of China (4), Spain (4), Denmark (3), Germany (3), Italy (3), Austria (2), Canada (2), Chinese Taipei (2), Mexico (2), New Zealand (2), Philippines (2), Malaysia (1), Netherlands (1), Northern Ireland (1), Norway (1), Puerto Rico (1), Slovenia (1), South Africa (1)

States Represented (16)

Alabama (1), Arizona (2), California (8), Colorado (1), Florida (9), Hawaii (1), Massachusetts (1), Mississippi (1), North Carolina (2), North Dakota (1), New Mexico (1), Nevada (1), New York (2), South Carolina (2), South Dakota (1), Texas (7)

Texans in the Field (7)

Kristen Gillman (Austin), Cheyenne Knight (Aledo), Brittany Lang (McKinney), Stacy Lewis (The Woodlands), Kaitlyn Papp (Austin), Angela Stanford (Saginaw), Lindsey Weaver (Celina)

Amateur Players in the Field (24)

Ho Yu An, Allisen Corpuz, Caterina Don, Amelia Garvey, Linn Grant, Lily May Humphreys, Auston Kim, Ina Kim-Schaad, Agathe Laisne, Ingrid Lindblad, Lucie Malchirand, Olivia Mehaffey, Emilia Migliaccio, Benedetta Moresco, Alessia Nobilio, Kaitlyn Papp, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Gabriela Ruffels, Emma Spitz, Maja Stark, Emily Toy, Beatrice Wallin, Lei Ye, Rose Zhang

Top-Ranked Amateur Players in the Field

Eighteen amateurs are in the top 20 of the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking™ as of Nov. 25:

No. 1 – Rose Zhang

No. 3 – Pauline Roussin-Bouchard

No. 4 – Ingrid Lindblad

No. 5 – Linn Grant

No. 6 – Emilia Migliaccio

No. 7 – Ho Yu An

No. 8 – Alessia Nobilio

No. 10 – Gabriela Ruffels

No. 11 – Benedetta Moresco

No. 12 – Agathe Laisne

No. 13 – Lucie Malchirand

No. 14 – Maja Stark

No. 15 – Beatrice Wallin

No. 16 – Lei Ye

No. 17 – Lily May Humphreys

No. 18 – Olivia Mehaffey

No. 19 – Kaitlyn Papp

No. 20 – Emma Spitz

Notable Amateur Storylines

Allisen Corpuz, 22, of Kapolei, Hawaii, is competing in her third U.S. Women’s Open. The University of Southern California fifth-year senior was named a first-team All-American in 2019-20 and led a talented USC team with a 71.57 stroke average. In 2008, Corpuz surpassed Michelle Wie as the youngest qualifier in U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links history at 10 years, 3 months and 9 days. Earlier this summer, she was the runner-up to Rachel Kuehn in the Women’s North & South Amateur at Pinehurst No. 2, losing in 19 holes. Corpuz attended the Punahou School in Honolulu, the same high school that produced Wie and President Barack Obama.

Ingrid Lindblad, 20, of Sweden, is a sophomore at Louisiana State University. She became the first player in program history to earn Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors in the same season. She has earned two collegiate victories and opened the 2020-21 season by finishing second in the Blessings Invitational, an event that featured all 14 SEC teams.

Emilia Migliaccio, 21, of Cary, N.C., was a quarterfinalist at the U.S. Women’s Amateur this August. A senior at Wake Forest University, she is a three-time All-American and has earned five individual titles with the Deacons. She is competing in her second U.S. Women’s Open (2018, Shoal Creek). In 2019, she claimed the individual gold medal at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, and won a mixed team gold medal with USA teammates Rose Zhang, Stewart Hagestad and Brandon Wu.

Agathe Laisne, 21, of France, is a senior at the University of Texas. Laisne was the Big 12 individual champion and player of the year in 2019 for the Longhorns. The Paris native won two events on the LET Access Series in three starts this fall. She finished third in the 2020 European Ladies’ Amateur Championship, an event she won in 2017.

Olivia Mehaffey, 23, of Northern Ireland, was a member of the 2016 and 2018 GB&I Curtis Cup Teams. Mehaffey, a four-time All-American at Arizona State University, returned for a fifth year of eligibility with the Sun Devils this fall. She will be playing in her third professional major of the year after missing the cut in the AIG Women’s Open in August at Royal Troon and tying for 74th place at the ANA Inspiration in September.

Kaitlyn Papp, 22, of Austin, Texas, is the top-ranked amateur in Texas and a University of Texas senior. Papp won a USGA title in 2016 when she teamed with Hailee Cooper at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship. She is a three-time All-American with the Longhorns and was named 2018 Big 12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.

Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, 20, of France, is a sophomore at the University of South Carolina competing in her first U.S. Women’s Open. In October, Roussin-Bouchard won the individual title at The Ally by five strokes at 1999 U.S. Women’s Open venue Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss., while leading South Carolina to a seven-stroke team victory. She has two individual titles and five top-five finishes in nine career starts for the Gamecocks.

Gabriela Ruffels, 20, of Australia, nearly won back-to-back U.S. Women’s Amateur championships this August when she fell short in the final match to Rose Zhang in 38 holes. Ruffels won the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur title at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss., becoming the first Australian to win the championship. Ruffels, a junior at USC, was a second-team All-American as a sophomore, earning an individual title at the Bruin Wave Invitational. Her older brother, Ryan Ruffels, plays on the Korn Ferry Tour. Ruffels is the daughter of former University of Southern California women's tennis national champion Anna-Maria Fernandez and Ray Ruffels, a highly successful professional tennis player who for some time played mixed doubles with Hall of Famer Billie Jean King. This will be Gabriela’s third start in a major championship this year: she missed the cut by one stroke at the AIG Women’s Open and finished T-15 at the ANA Inspiration.

Rose Zhang, 17, of Irvine, Calif., won the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship this August, which earned her a spot in the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. Her incredible 2020 season also includes three American Junior Golf Association individual titles and an 11th-place finish and low-amateur honors in the ANA Inspiration in September. Zhang was awarded the McCormack Medal by the USGA and R&A earlier this year for being the leading female in the WAGR. She was recently named the AJGA Rolex Player of the Year for a second consecutive year. Zhang is making her second U.S. Women’s Open start after she was one of five amateurs to make the cut last year in Charleston.

Amateur Players in Recent U.S. Women’s Opens

YEAR NUMBER MADE CUT TOP FINISHER

2019 26 5 Gina Kim (T12)

2018 29 7 Patty Tavatanakit (T5)

2017 21 5 Hye-Jin Choi (2)

2016 26 3 Hye-Jin Choi (T38)

2015 23 5 Megan Khang (T35)

2014 36 6 Brooke Henderson (T10)

2013 19 6 Casie Cathrea (T25)

2012 28 3 Lydia Ko (T39)

2011 25 5 Moriya Jutanugarn (T32)

2010 29 6 Jennifer Johnson (T41)

2009 28 7 Jennifer Song (T13)

2008 26 7 Mariajo Uribe (T10)

2007 23 4 Jennie Lee and Jennifer Song (T39)

2006 29 4 Amanda Blumenherst and Jane Park (T10)

2005 18 6 Brittany Lang and Morgan Pressel (T2)

2004 16 4 Paula Creamer and Michelle Wie (T13)

2003 21 8 Aree Song (5)

2002 14 2 Angela Jerman and Aree Song (T51)

2001 19 4 Candy Hannemann (T30)

2000 16 2 Naree Song (T40)

Youngest Competitor

Ho Yu An (born 6-14-03), Rose Zhang (born 5-24-03) and Lucie Malchirand (born 2-21-03) are the three youngest, all age 17. Zhang won this year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur, defeating defending champion Gabriella Ruffels in 38 holes in the championship match.

Oldest Competitor

Cristie Kerr, at age 43 (born Oct. 12, 1977) and Angela Stanford, at age 43 (born Nov. 28, 1977), are the oldest players in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open field. Kerr won the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open by two strokes over Lorena Ochoa at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, in Southern Pines, N.C. Stanford was the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open runner-up with Kelly Robbins to champion Hilary Lunke in a three-way playoff at Pumpkin Ridge G.C., in North Plains, Ore.

Field for the Ages

There are 21 players in the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open field who will be 20 years old or younger when the first round begins on Thursday, Dec. 10. Yealimi Noh and Lei Ye, who won the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship in 2018 and 2019, respectively, are both age 19.

There are 12 players in the field who are 35 or older. Brittany Lang, 35, won the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open in a playoff with Anna Nordqvist at CordeValle, in San Martin, Calif. Stacy Lewis, 35, was the runner-up to Michelle Wie in the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club.

The average age of the 156-player field is 26.03.

Oldest U.S. Women’s Open Champions (years/months/days)

43/0/7 Babe Didrikson Zaharias, 1954

42/0/13 Juli Inkster, 2002

41/2/20 Meg Mallon, 2004

Youngest U.S. Women’s Open Champions (years/months/days)

19/11/17 Inbee Park, 2008

20/9/8 Se Ri Pak, 1998

20/11/2 In Gee Chun, 2015

Championship Birthdays

Seven players in the U.S. Women’s Open field will celebrate a birthday around the championship. Jennifer Song, a two-time USGA champion who has played in 12 U.S. Women’s Opens, turns 31 on Dec. 20, one week after the championship’s final round.

Name Birthdate Age (on birthday)

Hannah Green 12-20-96 24

Mi Jung Hur 12-5-89 31

Nuria Iturrioz 12-16-95 25

Pornanong Phatlum 12-4-89 31

Jennifer Song 12-20-89 31

a-Maja Stark 12-10-99 21

Maria Torres 12-15-94 26

Sisters in the Field

For the sixth consecutive year, and seventh time overall, sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn, of Thailand, are both in the field. Also in the field together for the fifth time are sisters Jessica and Nelly Korda. The Jutanugarns and Kordas are two of seven sets of sisters to have competed in the same U.S. Women’s Open.

Danielle and Dina Ammaccapane (8) – 1991-93, 1996, 1998-99, 2001-02

Alice Bauer and Marlene Bauer Hagge (12) – 1947, 1949-55, 1957-58, 1964, 1966

Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn (7) – 2011, 2015-20

Jessica and Nelly Korda (5) – 2013, 2016-20

Aree and Naree Song (2) – 2003, 2005

Annika and Charlotta Sorenstam (8) – 1997, 1999-2005

Hollis Stacy and Martha Stacy Leach (1) – 1980

A December Open

In April 2020, the 75th U.S. Women’s Open Championship, originally scheduled for June 4-7, 2020, was postponed to Dec. 10-13 due to evolving dynamics of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

This marks the first time that the U.S. Women’s Open will be played in December. Babe Didrikson Zaharias was crowned the 1950 champion on Sept. 30. Since the USGA has conducted the U.S. Women’s Open, starting in 1953, the championship has only been played in May, June and July.

Two Courses

For the first time in U.S. Women’s Open history, the championship will be played on two courses. To account for reduced daylight given the move to December, the Jackrabbit Course at Champions Golf Club will be used in conjunction with the Cypress Creek Course, which was originally slated to host all four rounds of championship play. The Jackrabbit will co-host Rounds 1 and 2.

Club History

Champions Golf Club was founded in 1957 by multiple major champions Jackie Burke Jr. and Jimmy Demaret in their hometown of Houston, Texas. They enlisted fellow Houstonian Ralph Plummer to be the architect of the esteemed Cypress Creek Course, which opened in 1959. Cypress Creek was carved into a beautiful forest featuring more than 70,000 trees, wide fairways and enormous greens. The Jackrabbit Course, designed by George Fazio, opened for play in 1964.

The first high-profile event the club hosted was the 1967 Ryder Cup when Ben Hogan captained the United States team to a 15-point victory. It has since held the 1969 U.S. Open, 1993 U.S. Amateur, two U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur championships and five PGA Tour Championships. It also hosted a PGA Tour event (the Houston/Champions International) five times between 1966 and 1971.

Longest Course in Championship History

7,047 yards The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2011

Shortest Course in Championship History

6,010 yards Brooklawn C.C., Fairfield, Conn., 1979

Longest Par-3 Holes in Championship History

252 yards 8th, Oakmont (Pa.) C.C., 2010

227 yards 8th, Interlachen C.C., Edina, Minn., 2008

211 yards 13th, Newport (R.I.) C.C., 2006

211 yards 5th, Pine Needles L. & G.C., Southern Pines, N.C., 2007

Longest Par-4 Holes in Championship History

459 yards 18th, Cherry Hills C.C., Cherry Hills Village, Colo., 2005

458 yards 16th, Pinehurst R. & C.C. (No. 2), Village of Pinehurst, N.C., 2014

455 yards 3rd, Blackwolf Run, Kohler, Wis., 2012

Longest Par-5 Holes in Championship History

603 yards 17th, The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2011

602 yards 12th, Oakmont (Pa.) C.C., 2010

602 yards 16th, Blackwolf Run, Kohler, Wis., 2012

590 yards 5th, Blackwolf Run, Kohler, Wis., 2012

What the Winner Receives

The champion will receive the Mickey Wright Medal, custody of the Harton S. Semple Trophy for the ensuing year and an exemption from qualifying for the next 10 U.S. Women’s Open Championships.

In 2019, the purse for the U.S. Women’s Open increased to $5.5 million, the largest in women’s golf, with the champion receiving $1 million, provided she is a professional.

The Last Time it Happened at a U.S. Women’s Open Championship

Last international winner: Jeongeun Lee6 (2019)

Last to defend title: Karrie Webb (2001)

Last winner to win Women’s Open on first attempt: In Gee Chun (2015)

Last winner to win Women’s Open on second attempt: Sung Hyun Park (2017)

Last amateur to win Women’s Open: Catherine Lacoste (1967)

Last start-to-finish winner: Annika Sorenstam (2006)

Last winner to win money title in same year: Inbee Park (2013)

Last winner to birdie the 72nd hole: So Yeon Ryu (2011)

Last winner to birdie the 72nd hole to force playoff: So Yeon Ryu (2011)

Last winner to birdie the 72nd hole to win by one stroke: Eun-Hee Ji (2009)

Last to win with four sub-par rounds: Jeongeun Lee6 (2019)

Last to win without a round in the 60s: Eun-Hee Ji (2009)

Last player to win after being in local qualifying: Hilary Lunke (2003)

Last player to win after being in final qualifying: Birdie Kim (2005)

Last winner younger than 20: Inbee Park, 19 (2008)

Last winner between ages 20-29: Jeonguen Lee6, 23 (2019)

Last winner between ages 30-39: Brittany Lang, 30 (2016)

Last winner over age 40: Meg Mallon, 41 (2004)

Last defending champion to miss the cut: Sung Hyun Park (2018)

Title Defense

Should Jeongeun Lee6 win, she would become the eighth player to successfully defend her championship title. She would join Mickey Wright (1958-59), Donna Caponi (1969-70), Susie Maxwell Berning (1972-73), Hollis Stacy (1977-78), Betsy King (1989-90), Annika Sorenstam (1995-96) and Karrie Webb (2000-01).

No defending champion has finished in the top 10 at the U.S. Women’s Open since Juli Inkster finished in eighth place in 2003.

Year Defending Champion Result in Defense

2019 Ariya Jutanugarn T26

2018 Sung Hyun Park Cut

2017 Brittany Lang T58

2016 In Gee Chun Cut

2015 Michelle Wie 11

2014 Inbee Park T43

2013 Na Yeon Choi T17

2012 So Yeon Ryu T14

2011 Paula Creamer T15

2010 Eun-Hee Ji T39

2009 Inbee Park T26

2008 Cristie Kerr T13

2007 Annika Sorenstam T32

2006 Birdie Kim Cut

2005 Meg Mallon T13

2004 Hilary Lunke 64

2003 Juli Inkster 8

2002 Karrie Webb Cut

2001 Karrie Webb Champion

First Win on Tour

Last year marked the sixth time since 2005 that a player’s first LPGA victory came in the U.S. Women’s Open. All six of those players were from the Republic of Korea, including Inbee Park in 2008.

1st LPGA Win at U.S. Women’s Open (Since 2005):

Year Champion Country

2019 Jeongeun Lee6 Korea

2017 Sung Hyun Park Korea

2015 In Gee Chun Korea

2011 So Yeon Ryu Korea

2008 Inbee Park Korea

2005 Birdie Kim Korea

Most Rounds Under Par

Inbee Park is one shy of tying the record for most career rounds under par in U.S. Women’s Open history.

Player USWO Rounds Under Par

Beth Daniel 24

Betsy King 24

Inbee Park 23

Meg Mallon 21

Pat Bradley 21

Patty Sheehan 21

USGA Championships in Texas

The 2020 U.S. Women’s Open will be the 31st USGA championship conducted in the state of Texas. Most recently, Champions Golf Club hosted the 2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, won by Kelsey Chugg. The only other U.S. Women’s Open held in Texas was in 1991 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, where Meg Mallon defeated Pat Bradley by two strokes to win her first of two U.S. Women’s Open titles.

USGA Championships at Champions Golf Club
1969 U.S. Open (Orville Moody)

1993 U.S. Amateur (John Harris)

1998 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur (Virginia Derby Grimes)

2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur (Kelsey Chugg)

2020 U.S. Women’s Open

Most USGA Championships Hosted by Venues in Texas

5 – Champions Golf Club, Houston

3 – Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands

2 – Brookhaven Country Club, Dallas

2 – Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth

2 – Shadow Hawk Golf Club, Richmond

Future U.S. Women’s Open Host Sites