kids encyclopedia robot

U.S. Women's Open facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
U.S. Women's Open
Tournament information
Location Lancaster, Pennsylvania
(in 2024)
Established 1946, 78 years ago
Course(s) Lancaster Country Club Meadowcreek/Dogwood Course
(in 2024)
Par 70 (in 2024)
Length 6,546 yd (5,986 m) (in 2024)
Organized by USGA (since 1953)
Tour(s) LPGA Tour
Format Stroke play
Prize fund $12 million (in 2024)
Month played May/June
Tournament record score
Aggregate 271 Minjee Lee (2022)
To par –16 Juli Inkster (1999)
Current champion
Japan Yuka Saso
2024 U.S. Women's Open

The U.S. Women's Open, one of 15 national golf championships conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA), is the oldest of the LPGA Tour's five major championships, which includes the Chevron Championship, Women's PGA Championship, Women's Open Championship, and The Evian Championship.

Established 78 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. Since 2018, the tournament has normally been held the week after Memorial Day. The U.S. Women's Open is the second major of the LPGA season and has the highest purse in women's golf. The most recent increase, announced in January 2022, saw the purse nearly double from its previous $5.5 million (2019–2021) to $10 million starting in 2022. The 2022 purse increase came about when the nonprofit health care company ProMedica was announced as the tournament's presenting sponsor.

For 2020, it was the final major of the year and be held for the first time over two courses, as it was postponed to December, due to the COVID-19 pandemic that postponed golf tournaments from March through June.

In 2007, international players outnumbered Americans for the first time. The 2008 tournament was won South Korean Inbee Park, who became the event's youngest winner ever at age 19 years, 11 months, 17 days. In 2021, Yuka Saso matched Park as the youngest winner ever.

Since 2018, the U.S. Women's Open has normally been held prior to its men's counterpart rather than following it and the U.S. Senior Open. In announcing this schedule change, the USGA stated that it would "provide optimum playing conditions for the world's best players across a broader variety of the country's finest golf courses."

The playoff format was modified in 2018, reduced from three to two aggregate holes, followed by sudden death. The last 18-hole playoff was in 2006; the three-hole playoff was introduced the following year and used in 2011 and 2016.

The USGA announced on May 29, the men's and women's open winner for 2024 now earns 20% of the total purse; $2.4 million for this year's Women's Open winner.

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, lowered in 2014 from 4.4 in 2013. 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.

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

Winners of major amateur tournaments are also exempt. Currently, winners of the U.S. Girls' Junior, and U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur and the finalist of the U.S. Women's Amateur (all USGA events) are exempt provided they did not turn professional beforehand. Winners of the Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship will qualify effective with the inaugural tournament in 2019. The U.S. Women's Amateur champion is exempt, regardless of turning professional between the Women's Amateur and the U.S. Women's Open as a result of an August 2019 rule change by the USGA.

Winners

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

Year Champion Score To Par Margin of
Victory
Runner(s)-up Purse
($)
Winner's
share ($)
Venue Location
2024 Japan Yuka Saso (2) 276 −4 3 strokes Japan Hinako Shibuno 12,000,000 2,400,000 Lancaster Country Club , Meadowcreek/Dogwood Course Lancaster, Pennsylvania
2023 United States Allisen Corpuz 279 −9 3 strokes England Charley Hull
South Korea Jiyai Shin
11,000,000 2,000,000 Pebble Beach Golf Links Pebble Beach, California
2022 Australia Minjee Lee 271 −13 4 strokes United States Mina Harigae 10,000,000 1,800,000 Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club Southern Pines, NC
2021 Philippines Yuka Saso 280 −4 Playoff Japan Nasa Hataoka 5,500,000 1,000,000 Olympic Club, Lake Course San Francisco, CA
2020 South Korea Kim A-lim 281 −3 1 stroke South Korea Ko Jin-young
United States Amy Olson
5,500,000 1,000,000 Champions Golf Club Houston, TX
2019 South Korea Lee Jeong-eun 278 −6 2 strokes South Korea Ryu So-yeon
United States Lexi Thompson
United States Angel Yin
5,500,000 1,000,000 Country Club of Charleston Charleston, SC
2018 Thailand Ariya Jutanugarn 277 −11 Playoff South Korea Kim Hyo-joo 5,000,000 900,000 Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club Shoal Creek, AL
2017 South Korea Park Sung-hyun 277 −11 2 strokes South Korea Choi Hye-jin (a) 5,000,000 900,000 Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, NJ
2016 United States Brittany Lang 282 −6 Playoff Sweden Anna Nordqvist 4,500,000 810,000 CordeValle Golf Club San Martin, CA
2015 South Korea Chun In-gee 272 −8 1 stroke South Korea Amy Yang 4,500,000 810,000 Lancaster Country Club Lancaster, PA
2014 United States Michelle Wie 278 −2 2 strokes United States Stacy Lewis 4,000,000 720,000 Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 2 Pinehurst, NC
2013 South Korea Inbee Park (2) 280 −8 4 strokes South Korea I.K. Kim 3,250,000 585,000 Sebonack Golf Club Southampton, NY
2012 South Korea Na Yeon Choi 281 −7 4 strokes South Korea Amy Yang 3,250,000 585,000 Blackwolf Run, composite course Kohler, WI
2011 South Korea Ryu So-yeon 281 −3 Playoff South Korea Hee Kyung Seo 3,250,000 585,000 Broadmoor Golf Club, East Course Colorado Springs, CO
2010 United States Paula Creamer 281 −3 4 strokes South Korea Na Yeon Choi
Norway Suzann Pettersen
3,250,000 585,000 Oakmont Country Club Plum, PA
2009 South Korea Ji Eun-hee 284 E 1 stroke United States Candie Kung 3,250,000 585,000 Saucon Valley Country Club Upper Saucon Township, PA
2008 South Korea Inbee Park 283 −9 4 strokes Sweden Helen Alfredsson 3,250,000 585,000 Interlachen Country Club Edina, MN
2007 United States Cristie Kerr 279 −5 2 strokes Brazil Angela Park
Mexico Lorena Ochoa
3,100,000 560,000 Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club Southern Pines, NC
2006 Sweden Annika Sörenstam (3) 284 E Playoff United States Pat Hurst 3,100,000 560,000 Newport Country Club Newport, RI
2005 South Korea Birdie Kim 287 +3 2 strokes United States Brittany Lang (a)
United States Morgan Pressel (a)
3,100,000 560,000 Cherry Hills Country Club Cherry Hills Village, CO
2004 United States Meg Mallon (2) 274 −10 2 strokes Sweden Annika Sörenstam 3,100,000 560,000 The Orchards Golf Club South Hadley, MA
2003 United States Hilary Lunke 283 −1 Playoff United States Angela Stanford
United States Kelly Robbins
3,100,000 560,000 Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Witch Hollow Course North Plains, OR
2002 United States Juli Inkster (2) 276 −4 2 strokes Sweden Annika Sörenstam 3,000,000 535,000 Prairie Dunes Golf Club Hutchinson, KS
2001 Australia Karrie Webb (2) 273 −7 8 strokes South Korea Pak Se-ri 2,900,000 520,000 Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club Southern Pines, NC
2000 Australia Karrie Webb 282 −6 5 strokes United States Cristie Kerr
United States Meg Mallon
2,750,000 500,000 Merit Club Libertyville, IL
1999 United States Juli Inkster 272 −16 5 strokes United States Sherri Turner 1,750,000 315,000 Old Waverly Golf Club West Point, MS
1998 South Korea Pak Se-ri 290 +6 Playoff United States Jenny Chuasiriporn (a) 1,500,000 267,500 Blackwolf Run, composite course Kohler, WI
1997 England Alison Nicholas 274 −10 1 stroke United States Nancy Lopez 1,300,000 232,500 Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Witch Hollow Course North Plains, OR
1996 Sweden Annika Sörenstam (2) 272 −8 6 strokes United States Kris Tschetter 1,200,000 212,500 Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club Southern Pines, NC
1995 Sweden Annika Sörenstam 278 −2 1 stroke United States Meg Mallon 1,000,000 175,000 Broadmoor Golf Club, East Course Colorado Springs, CO
1994 United States Patty Sheehan (2) 277 −7 1 stroke United States Tammie Green 850,000 155,000 Indianwood Golf and Country Club, Old Course Lake Orion, MI
1993 United States Lauri Merten 280 −8 1 stroke Sweden Helen Alfredsson
United States Donna Andrews
800,000 144,000 Crooked Stick Golf Club Carmel, IN
1992 United States Patty Sheehan 280 −4 Playoff United States Juli Inkster 700,000 130,000 Oakmont Country Club Plum, PA
1991 United States Meg Mallon 283 −1 2 strokes United States Pat Bradley 600,000 110,000 Colonial Country Club Fort Worth, TX
1990 United States Betsy King (2) 284 −4 1 stroke United States Patty Sheehan 500,000 85,000 Atlanta Athletic Club, Riverside Course Duluth, GA
1989 United States Betsy King 278 −2 4 strokes United States Nancy Lopez 450,000 80,000 Indianwood Golf and Country Club, Old Course Lake Orion, MI
1988 Sweden Liselotte Neumann 277 −7 3 strokes United States Patty Sheehan 400,000 70,000 Baltimore Country Club, Five Farms, East Course Baltimore, MD
1987 England Laura Davies 285 −3 Playoff Japan Ayako Okamoto
United States JoAnne Carner
325,000 55,000 Plainfield Country Club Edison, NJ
1986 United States Jane Geddes 287 −1 Playoff South AfricaUnited States Sally Little 300,000 50,000 NCR Country Club Kettering, OH
1985 United States Kathy Baker 280 −8 3 strokes United States Judy Clark 250,000 41,975 Baltusrol Golf Club, Upper Course Springfield, NJ
1984 United States Hollis Stacy (3) 290 +2 1 stroke United States Rosie Jones 225,000 36,000 Salem Country Club Peabody, MA
1983 Australia Jan Stephenson 290 +6 1 stroke United States JoAnne Carner
United States Patty Sheehan
200,000 32,780 Cedar Ridge Country Club Broken Arrow, OK
1982 United States Janet Alex 283 −5 6 strokes United States Beth Daniel
United States Donna White
United States JoAnne Carner
United States Sandra Haynie
175,000 27,315 Del Paso Country Club Sacramento, CA
1981 United States Pat Bradley 279 −9 1 stroke United States Beth Daniel 150,000 22,000 La Grange Country Club La Grange, IL
1980 United States Amy Alcott 280 −4 9 strokes United States Hollis Stacy 140,000 20,047 Richland Country Club Nashville, TN
1979 United States Jerilyn Britz 284 E 2 strokes United States Debbie Massey
United States Sandra Palmer
125,000 19,000 Brooklawn Country Club Fairfield, CT
1978 United States Hollis Stacy (2) 289 +5 1 stroke United States JoAnne Carner
South Africa Sally Little
100,000 15,000 Country Club of Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
1977 United States Hollis Stacy 292 +4 2 strokes United States Nancy Lopez 75,000 11,040 Hazeltine National Golf Club Chaska, MN
1976 United States JoAnne Carner (2) 292 +8 Playoff United States Sandra Palmer 60,000 9,054 Rolling Green Golf Club Springfield, PA
1975 United States Sandra Palmer 295 +7 4 strokes United States JoAnne Carner
Canada Sandra Post
United States Nancy Lopez (a)
55,000 8,044 Atlantic City Country Club Northfield, NJ
1974 United States Sandra Haynie 295 +7 1 stroke United States Beth Stone
United States Carol Mann
40,000 6,073 La Grange Country Club La Grange, IL
1973 United States Susie Berning (3) 290 +2 5 strokes United States Gloria Ehret
United States Shelley Hamlin
40,000 6,000 Country Club of Rochester Rochester, NY
1972 United States Susie Berning (2) 299 +11 1 stroke United States Kathy Ahern
United States Pam Barnett
United States Judy Rankin
40,000 6,000 Winged Foot Golf Club, East Course Mamaroneck, NY
1971 United States JoAnne Carner 288 E 7 strokes United States Kathy Whitworth 31,000 5,000 Kahkwa Club Erie, PA
1970 United States Donna Caponi (2) 287 +3 1 stroke United States Sandra Haynie
United States Sandra Spuzich
20,000 4,000 Muskogee Golf Club Muskogee, OK
1969 United States Donna Caponi 294 +2 1 stroke United States Peggy Wilson 31,040 5,000 Scenic Hills Country Club Pensacola, FL
1968 United States Susie Berning 289 +5 3 strokes United States Mickey Wright 25,000 5,000 Moselem Springs Golf Club Fleetwood, PA
1967 France Catherine Lacoste (a) 294 +6 2 strokes United States Susie Maxwell
United States Beth Stone
25,000 0 The Homestead Hot Springs, VA
1966 United States Sandra Spuzich 297 +9 1 stroke United States Carol Mann 20,000 4,000 Hazeltine National Golf Club Chaska, MN
1965 United States Carol Mann 290 +2 2 strokes United States Kathy Cornelius 17,780 3,800 Atlantic City Country Club Northfield, NJ
1964 United States Mickey Wright (4) 290 −2 Playoff United States Ruth Jessen 9,900 2,090 San Diego Country Club Chula Vista, CA
1963 United States Mary Mills 289 −3 3 strokes United States Louise Suggs
United States Sandra Haynie
9,000 1,900 Kenwood Country Club Cincinnati, OH
1962 United States Murle Lindstrom 301 +13 2 strokes United States Ruth Jessen
United States Jo Ann Prentice
8,000 1,800 Dunes Golf and Beach Club Myrtle Beach, SC
1961 United States Mickey Wright (3) 293 +5 6 strokes United States Betsy Rawls 8,000 1,800 Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course Springfield, NJ
1960 United States Betsy Rawls (4) 292 +4 1 stroke United States Joyce Ziske 7,200 1,710 Worcester Country Club Worcester, MA
1959 United States Mickey Wright (2) 287 +7 2 strokes United States Louise Suggs 7,200 1,800 Churchill Valley Country Club Pittsburgh, PA
1958 United States Mickey Wright 290 −2 5 strokes United States Louise Suggs 7,200 1,800 Forest Lake Country Club Bloomfield Hills, MI
1957 United States Betsy Rawls (3) 299 +7 6 strokes United States Patty Berg 7,200 1,800 Winged Foot Golf Club, East Course Mamaroneck, NY
1956 United States Kathy Cornelius 302 +7 Playoff United States Barbara McIntire (a) 6,000 1,500 Northland Country Club Duluth, MN
1955 Uruguay Fay Crocker 299 +11 4 strokes United States Mary Lena Faulk
United States Louise Suggs
7,500 2,000 Wichita Country Club Wichita, KS
1954 United States Babe Zaharias (3) 291 +3 12 strokes United States Betty Hicks 7,500 2,000 Salem Country Club Peabody, MA
1953 United States Betsy Rawls (2) 302 +6 Playoff United States Jackie Pung 7,500 2,000 Country Club of Rochester Rochester, NY
1952 United States Louise Suggs (2) 284 +8 7 strokes United States Marlene Bauer
United States Betty Jameson
7,500 1,750 Bala Golf Club Philadelphia, PA
1951 United States Betsy Rawls 293 +5 5 strokes United States Louise Suggs 7,500 1,500 Druid Hills Golf Club Atlanta, GA
1950 United States Babe Zaharias (2) 291 −9 9 strokes United States Betsy Rawls (a) 5,000 1,250 Rolling Hills Country Club Wichita, KS
1949 United States Louise Suggs 291 −9 14 strokes United States Babe Zaharias 7,500 1,500 Prince George's Golf and Country Club Landover, MD
1948 United States Babe Zaharias 300 E 8 strokes United States Betty Hicks 7,500 1,200 Atlantic City Country Club Northfield, NJ
1947 United States Betty Jameson 295 −9 6 strokes United States Polly Riley (a)
United States Sally Sessions (a)
7,500 1,200 Starmount Forest Country Club Greensboro, NC
1946 United States Patty Berg 5 & 4 United States Betty Jameson 19,700 5,600 Spokane Country Club Spokane, WA

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

Multiple champions

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

Career 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
Yuka Saso  Japan 2 2021, 2024

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

Future sites

Year Edition Course Location Dates Previous championships hosted
2025 80th Erin Hills Erin, Wisconsin May 29 – June 1
2026 81st Riviera Country Club Pacific Palisades, California TBD
2027 82nd Inverness Club Toledo, Ohio TBD
2028 83rd Oakmont Country Club Plum, Pennsylvania TBD 1992, 2010
2029 84th Pinehurst No. 2 Pinehurst, North Carolina TBD 2014
2030 85th Interlachen Country Club Edina, Minnesota TBD 2008
2031 86th Oakland Hills Country Club Bloomfield Township, Michigan TBD
2032 87th Los Angeles Country Club Los Angeles, California TBD
2033 88th Chicago Golf Club Wheaton, Illinois TBD
2034 89th Merion Golf Club Haverford, Pennsylvania TBD
2035 90th Pebble Beach Golf Links Pebble Beach, California TBD 2023
2036 91th Shinnecock Hills Golf Club Shinnecock Hills, New York TBD
  • Oakmont Country Club is also slated to host in 2038.
  • Pebble Beach Golf Links is also slated to host in 2040 and 2048.
  • Oakland Hills Country Club is also slated to host in 2042.
  • The Country Club (Brookline) is also slated to host in 2045.
  • Merion Country Club is also slated to host in 2046.

Source:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Abierto de los Estados Unidos Femenino (golf) para niños

  • Golf in the United States
kids search engine
U.S. Women's Open Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.