News leaked last week that Sorenstam was the newest member at the historic club when the season opened on Oct. 1, making her the first LPGA pro and seventh woman to join. She spoke publicly Wednesday about it for the first time.

“I’m extremely honoured,” she said. “It was a surprise. I must say that. I was just so excited. One of the happiest days in my golf life.

“As you know, it’s super new so I am a total rookie. I’m just learning the ropes, so I’m not really sure where this will lead. I’m thrilled and excited about the opportunity to not just play the course, but just to get to know the members.”

King, winner of 12 Grand Slam tennis singles titles, member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and a longtime gender equality advocate, wasted little time mentioning what she’d like to see happen at the home of the Masters.

“My prayer for Augusta is to have a women’s LPGA event,” King said. “That’s been my prayer. I know they have the amateur girls [Augusta National Women’s Amateur], but I want to see a pro tournament.

“I hope that happens. I think you will make a big difference. You stand for so much and people listen to you and appreciate you.”

King then closed with a simple, “no pressure.”

Sorenstam was then asked what she thought of King’s comments, but King realized she put Sorenstam in a difficult position and helped ease the transition.

“Don’t put her on the hot spot yet,” King said. “Got to give her a couple years, man. She’s got get to know the members first. Get to know how it works. It’s a lot of hard work.”

No pressure.

Main image: Kevin C. Cox

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According to a report in Golfweek, the 72-time LPGA winner and 10-time major champion became a member at Augusta National Golf Club earlier this month, making her the first LPGA professional to join the club. Sorenstam’s husband and manager, Mike McGee, declined to comment when asked by Golf Digest. An email sent to Augusta National seeking comment was not returned as of this writing. The club historically has not commented on issues pertaining to membership.

Sorenstam, 53, officially started membership in October when the club opened for the season. She joins former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina philanthropist Darla Moore, who both became the club’s first women members in 2012 under then-chairman Billy Payne’s watch. The club was founded in 1932.

Co-chair of the Pebble Beach Co, Heidi Ueberroth, former USGA president Diana Murphy, former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty and executive chairman of the Santander Group Ana Botin have all since joined the club.

“They have been great contributors to our organisation, both I would say substantively and things they are doing to help us, both with the Masters and otherwise,” Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said when asked about female membership prior to the 2022 Masters. “But I think, more importantly, our culture is better. And I’m confident in saying to a person: we are a better club, we are a better organisation and we’re very proud to have women among our membership.

Ridley then concluded his answer by saying: “Our women members are a very important part of our membership, and you will continue to see over the years, if you look, more green jackets that are women. I’m going to make sure of that.”

Sorenstam retired from competitive golf in 2008 having won 90 tournaments worldwide. She remains the only woman to shoot 59 on the LPGA, having done so back in 2001. Two years later, in 2003, she played in the PGA Tour event at Colonial, making her the first woman to play in a tour event since 1945.

Sorenstam was one of the first tee starters before the final round of the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2019, when she joined Lorena Ochoa, Nancy Lopez and Se Ri Pak. In 2021, after turning 50, Sorenstam played in the US Senior Women’s Open, shot an opening 67, a final-round 68 and walked away with the trophy, winning by eight shots. She played in the US Women’s Open earlier this year at Pebble Beach, saying it was the final time she’d ever play in the championship that she won three times.

“I just really felt the love and the support,” she said. “It’s been a special week in so many ways.”

Main image: Ezra Shaw

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1. The right “approach” pays off

Hyo-Joo Kim and Xiyu Lin shared the Day 1 lead with matching four-under 68s. Kim and Lin were also first (4.48) and third (3.77), respectively, in SG/putting. Only Nasa Hataoka (eighth) of the six players at T-3 is in the top 10 of SG/putting.

However, the majority of players in the top 10 on the leaderboard are also in top 12 in SG/approach with amateur Aine Donegan in first (4.35), Allisen Corpuz in fourth (3.78), Bailey Tardy in fifth (3.58), Hae Ran Ryu in sixth (3.58), Leona Maguire in eighth (3.28), and Hataoka in 12th (3.05). Surprisingly, the leaders trail by a decent margin, with Kim in 25th (1.9) and Lin in 38th (1.43).

2. Annika Sorenstam’s still got it … around the green

Ezra Shaw

Posting an 80, even for Sorenstam at 52, seems inconceivable for one of the game’s all-time greats. Sorenstam finished in last in SG/off the tee, making sense, given she only hit one fairway. A lone bright spot was ending up with 2.51 SG/around the green, the sixth-best in the field. While her capabilities on a major venue are different from what they were in her prime, the 72-time winner needed no data to know the best part of her game Thursday.

“I’m disappointed in that [80], but I fought really hard,” Sorenstam said. “I thought I made some great saves. It sounds funny when you have this score, but I did.”

3. An amateur leads the field in this SG stat

Donegan, an amateur from Ireland who plays college golf at LSU, posted a 69 despite her clubs not arriving until Tuesday. That makes her 4.35 SG/approach stat even more impressive, particularly too considering she hit only 12 greens in regulation. The Irishwoman bested defending US Women’s Open champion Minjee Lee in the category, with the Australian sitting at 4.05 SG/approach.

Donegan’s driver clubhead also arrived smashed to Pebble Beach, but she raved about the replacement one she put into her bag this week, saying it fueled her ability to play well into the greens by outperforming the field from the tee box as well. Donegan sits in second in SG/off the tee (1.58).

4. One of the most consistent US Women’s Open performers leads SG/off the tee

Harry How

Megan Khang has rattled off three consecutive top-10s at the US Women’s Open and is lurking at five shots off the pace after the first round. Her secret sauce might lie in her ability from the tee, as finding 13 of 14 fairways contributed to her leading 1.84 SG/off the tee. That’s .26 ahead of Donegan. In a reminder of how distinct SG/off the tee is, compared to driving distance, the longest player in the field Thursday, Amelia Garvey, sits in 114th in SG/off the tee at -.39.

5. Michelle Wie West didn’t lie—she doesn’t like putting drills

Entering Wie West’s final competitive start, she shared the thing she won’t miss the most.

“The putting drills that I’m doing, you’d best believe I’m not going to do another putting drill for the rest of my life if I don’t need to,” Wie West said.

Fitting, then, that the 2014 US Women’s Open winner finished last in the field in SG/putting at -4.18. Wie West carded a 79, sitting T-126. Impressively, she kept her touch, finishing 11th in SG/around the green (2.01).

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On Tuesday, the USGA announced the groupings for the US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach and they are highlighted by LPGA rookie sensation Rose Zhang playing with two former major champions Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson. The threesome drew one of the later tee times for the first round—2:35 p.m. PT, which will put them into all of USA Network’s live coverage for Thursday’s first round. The group tees off at 8:50 a.m. on Friday.

Among the other featured groups:

World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, No. 2 Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson.

Sei Young Kim, recent KPMG Women’s PGA Championship winner Ruoning Yin and Megan Khang.

Yuka Saso, the 2021 US Women’s Open champion at Olympic Club, two-time major winner So Yeon Ru, and amateur Anna Davis, the champion of the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

And in the tournament’s most nostalgic group, 52-year-old Annika Sorenstam is paired with Michelle Wie West, who has said this will be her last event, and In Gee Chun.

All times Pacific

7 a.m. / 12:45 p.m. – (a) Kelly Xu, Claremont, Calif.; Haeji Kang, Republic of Korea; Lindy Duncan, Plantation, Fla.

7:11 a.m. / 12:56 p.m. – Miyu Sato, Japan; Jaravee Boonchant, Thailand; Amanda Doherty, Atlanta, Ga.

7:22 a.m. / 1:07 p.m. – Azahara Muñoz, Spain; Amy Olson, Fargo, N.D.; Emma Spitz, Austria

7:33 a.m. / 1:18 p.m. – Na Rin An, Republic of Korea; (a) Benedetta Moresco, Italy; Amy Yang, Republic of Korea

7:44 a.m. / 1:29 p.m. – Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Denmark; Hae Ran Ryu, Republic of Korea; (a) Jeneath Wong, Malaysia

7:55 a.m. / 1:40 p.m. – Jenny Shin, Republic of Korea; Jeongeun Lee6, Republic of Korea; Alison Lee, Los Angeles, Calif.

8:06 a.m. / 1:51 p.m. – Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand; Mina Harigae, Monterey, Calif.; Gaby Lopez, Mexico

8:17 a.m. / 2:02 p.m. – Minjee Lee, Australia; (a) Saki Baba, Japan; Ashleigh Buhai, South Africa

8:28 a.m. / 2:13 p.m. – (a) Amari Avery, Riverside, Calif.; Ally Ewing, Fulton, Miss.; Angel Yin, Arcadia, Calif.

8:39 a.m. / 2:24 p.m. – Lilia Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif.; Danielle Kang, Las Vegas, Nev.; Charley Hull, England

8:50 a.m. / 2:35 p.m. – So Yeon Ryu, Republic of Korea; (a) Anna Davis, Spring Valley, Calif.; Yuka Saso, Japan

9:01 a.m. / 2:46 p.m. – Yuri Yoshida, Japan; Paula Reto, South Africa; Ryann O’Toole, San Clemente, Calif.

9:12 a.m. / 2:57 p.m. – Milagros Chaves, Paraguay; Harukyo Nomura, Japan; Aya Kinoshita, Japan

Thursday (July 6), Hole #1 / Friday (July 7), Hole #10

12:45 p.m. / 7 a.m. – (a) Krissy Carman, Eugene, Ore.; Laura Sluman, Panama; (a) Farah O’Keefe, Austin, Texas

12:56 p.m. / 7:11 a.m. – Ayako Uehara, Japan; Amelia Garvey, New Zealand; Therese Warner, Kennewick, Wash.

1:07 p.m. / 7:22 a.m. – Maria Fassi, Mexico; (a) Grace Summerhays, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Xiaowen Yin, People’s Republic of China

1:18 p.m. / 7:33 a.m. – Alice Hewson, England; Kana Mikashima, Japan; (a) Emilia Migliaccio, Cary, N.C.

1:29 p.m. / 7:44 a.m. – (a) Chizuru Komiya, Japan; Jenny Coleman, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.; Hana Wakimoto, Japan

1:40 p.m. / 7:55 a.m. – (a) Jess Baker, England; Pajaree Anannarukarn, Thailand; Chella Choi, Republic of Korea

1:51 p.m. / 8:06 a.m. – Andrea Lee, Hermosa Beach, Calif.; Anna Nordqvist, Sweden; Cheyenne Knight, Aledo, Texas

2:02 p.m. / 8:17 a.m. – Madelene Sagstrom, Sweden; Hyo Joo Kim, Republic of Korea; Miyu Yamashita, Japan

2:13 p.m. / 8:28 a.m. – Ayaka Furue, Japan; Hannah Green, Australia; Linn Grant, Sweden

2:24 p.m. / 8:39 a.m. – Jennifer Kupcho, Westminster, Colo.; Atthaya Thitikul, Thailand; Leona Maguire, Republic of Ireland

2:35 p.m. / 8:50 a.m. – Brooke Henderson, Canada; Rose Zhang, Irvine, Calif.; Lydia Ko, New Zealand

2:46 p.m. / 9:01 a.m. – Mirim Lee, Republic of Korea; Teresa Toscano Borrero, Spain; (a) Angela Zhang, Bellevue, Wash.

2:57 p.m. / 9:12 a.m. – Brooke Matthews, Rogers, Ark.; (a) Julia Misemer, Overland Park, Kan.; Marissa Chow, Honolulu, Hawaii

Thursday (July 6), Hole #10 / Friday (July 7), Hole #1

7 a.m. / 12:45 p.m. – (a) Sadie Englemann, Austin, Texas; Gabriela Ruffels, Australia; Charlotte Thomas, England

7:11 a.m. / 12:56 p.m. – Bronte Law, England; Grace Kim, Australia; (a) Monet Chun, Canada

7:22 a.m. / 1:07 p.m. – Brittany Lang, Mckinney, Texas; Jill McGill, Denver, Colo.; Angela Stanford, Saginaw, Texas

7:33 a.m. / 1:18 p.m. – Patty Tavatanakit, Thailand; (a) Áine Donegan, Republic of Ireland; Sung Hyun Park, Republic of Korea

7:44 a.m. / 1:29 p.m. – (a) Zoe Campos, Valencia, Calif.; Moriya Jutanugarn, Thailand; Haruka Kawasaki, Japan

7:55 a.m. / 1:40 p.m. – Lizette Salas, Azusa, Calif.; Jodi Ewart Shadoff, England; (a) Yana Wilson, Henderson, Nev.

8:06 a.m. / 1:51 p.m. – Sei Young Kim, Republic of Korea; Ruoning Yin, People’s Republic of China; Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass.

8:17 a.m. / 2:02 p.m. – Carlota Ciganda, Spain; Xiyu Lin, People’s Republic of China; Hye-jin Choi, Republic of Korea

8:28 a.m. / 2:13 p.m. – Annika Sorenstam, Sweden; Michelle Wie West, Honolulu, Hawaii; In Gee Chun, Republic of Korea

8:39 a.m. / 2:24 p.m. – Celine Boutier, France; Georgia Hall, England; Nasa Hataoka, Japan

8:50 a.m. / 2:35 p.m. – Jin Young Ko, Republic of Korea; Nelly Korda, Bradenton, Fla.; Lexi Thompson, Delray Beach, Fla.

9:01 a.m. / 2:46 p.m. – Albane Valenzuela, Switzerland; Momoko Ueda, Japan; (a) Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Australia

9:12 a.m. / 2:57 p.m. – Yuna Nishimura, Japan; Pernilla Lindberg, Sweden; Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y.

Thursday (July 6), Hole #10 / Friday (July 7), Hole #1

12:45 p.m. / 7 a.m. – Bailey Tardy, Norcross, Ga.; Dottie Ardina, Philippines; (a) Kaili Xiao, Republic of Korea

12:56 p.m. / 7:11 a.m. – (a) Sarah Edwards, Jay, Fla.; Dewi Weber, Netherlands; Aline Krauter, Germany

1:07 p.m. / 7:22 a.m. – Mackenzie Hahn, Spring Grove, Ill.; (a) Sophie Linder, Carthage, Tenn.; Kumkang Park, Republic of Korea

1:18 p.m. / 7:33 a.m. – Ruixin Liu, People’s Republic of China; Daniela Darquea, Ecuador; (a) Minori Nagano, Japan

1:29 p.m. / 7:44 a.m. – Perrine Delacour, France; (a) Lauren Kim, Canada; Manon De Roey, Belgium

1:40 p.m. / 7:55 a.m. – DaYeon Lee, Republic of Korea; Minami Katsu, Japan; Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, Thailand

1:51 p.m. / 8:06 a.m. – A Lim Kim, Republic of Korea; Hinako Shibuno, Japan; Eun Hee Ji, Republic of Korea

2:02 p.m. / 8:17 a.m. – Allisen Corpuz, Kapolei, Hawaii; Jiyai Shin, Republic of Korea; Marina Alex, Wayne, N.J.

2:13 p.m. / 8:28 a.m. – (a) Tinghsuan Huang, Chinese Taipei; Chisato Iwai, Japan; Minji Park, Republic of Korea

2:24 p.m. / 8:39 a.m. – Mao Saigo, Japan; Maja Stark, Sweden; So Mi Lee, Republic of Korea

2:35 p.m. / 8:50 a.m. – Gemma Dryburgh, Scotland; Aditi Ashok, India; Akie Iwai, Japan

2:46 p.m. / 9:01 a.m. – Beatrice Wallin, Sweden; Joy Chou, Chinese Taipei; (a) Celeste Dao, Canada

2:57 p.m. / 9:12 a.m. – Allysha Mae Mateo, Mililani, Hawaii; Jing Yan, People’s Republic of China; (a) Megan Propeck, Leawood, Kan.

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It is a landmark US Women’s Open, the first time the USGA has taken the biggest championship in women’s golf to Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of the most famous golf courses in the world. And this year’s is certain to be among the most memorable Opens in the 78-year history.

In celebrating the milestone, it felt right to reflect on the championship and spotlight the moments that have helped define the event through the years. There have been a variety of winners—from phenoms and Hall of Famers to dark horses and unknowns—winning in all sorts of ways. There have been tears of joy shed, and tears of heartbreak, too.

We recount it all in our countdown of the 18 most memorable US Women’s Opens, a ranking that is likely to inspire some debate. Before we begin, however, here are a few interesting historical facts about the championship.

• It was not a USGA event initially. It was started by the Women’s Professional Golfers Association, which held it for three years. Then the LPGA was formed and it staged it the next four years. In 1953, the LPGA asked the USGA to take it over.

• The first Women’s Open in 1946 had a field of only 39. Entries have topped 1,000 every year since 2004, with a record 2,107 coming this year for Pebble Beach.

• Mickey Wright and Betsy Rawls share the record for most US Women’s Open victories, with four.

• Forty-five of the first 77 Women’s Opens were won by those in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

• Among those who never won the Women’s Open: Kathy Whitworth, Nancy Lopez, Lorena Ochoa and Beth Daniel.

OK, on to the countdown.

18. Annika goes back-to-back (1996)

Annika Sorenstam had formally announced her arrival in women’s golf the year before at The Broadmoor but began to forge her legacy as the dominant golfer of her generation by winning the Women’s Open for a second straight year. This one came at Southern Pines, a convincing six-stroke victory over Kris Tschetter after shooting a closing 66 to break the Women’s Open 72-hole scoring record with an eight-under 272 total. “It’s a wonderful feeling to win this championship,” Sorenstam said through tears. “Once was wonderful. To win it twice was more than wonderful.” In 2006, she would add a third Open victory to her distinguished record of 72 LPGA titles and 10 majors.

• • •

17. No Open for Nancy (1997)

Nancy Lopez reacts to a missed par putt on the 17th hole at Pumpkin Ridge that, in part, kept her from finally claiming the Women’s Open title. Craig Jones

She was 40 and at the end of her reign, with 48 LPGA victories but none of them the US Women’s Open. Yet Nancy Lopez was tied for second after the second round at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club outside Portland, Ore., and solo second after the third, trailing by three. Lopez outplayed England’s Alison Nicholas in the final round (69 to 71), but ultimately came up one stroke short after two bogeys in her final four holes and missing a 15-foot birdie to force a playoff on the last. Finishing second for the fourth time in the national championship, Lopez knew she had missed her last best chance at victory: “This should have been the one, darn it.”

• • •

16. Grand Slam bid stymied (1986)

Pat Bradley had won the first two women’s majors that year, the Nabisco Dinah Shore and the LPGA Championship, but her try at a third straight, in the Women’s Open at NCR Country Club, came up three strokes short as she finished in fifth place. Bradley, 35 at the time, would go on to win the du Maurier Classic a few weeks later, becoming the first and only player to win three legs of the Grand Slam in one year in the modern era. History will note that the other major winner in 1986 was Jane Geddes, who prevailed over Sally Little in a playoff at NCR to win the Women’s Open, the first of her two career major victories.

• • •

15. A legend in a landslide (1949)

The Women’s Open in ’49 was played at Prince George’s Country Club in Landover, Md., a par-75 layout that was mastered by only a single player. Louise Suggs played 72 holes in nine-under-par 291 and won by a record 14 shots over Babe Zaharias. Suggs would win 61 tournaments, including a second Women’s Open in 1952 that helped her claim 11 majors in her Hall of Fame career.

• • •

14. First time on TV (1965)

The final round of the Women’s Open at Atlantic City (NJ) Country Club was nationally televised and it produced a worthy champion. Future Hall of Famer Carol Mann won by two, the third of her 38 LPGA wins and second of two majors. The Women’s Open has been televised every year since.

• • •

13. A playoff and a penalty (2016)

Rules officials explain to Brittany Lang (right) the two-shot penalty that Anna Nordqvist had just been assessed during the playoff at CordeValle. Jonathan Ferrey

Tied at six under at California’s CordeValle Golf Club after 72 holes, Brittany Lang and Anna Nordqvist continued on in a three-hole aggregate playoff. On the second extra hole, the 17th at CordeValle, Nordqvist inadvertently and unknowingly touched the sand with her club in a fairway bunker. The infraction was caught on TV, and Nordqvist incurred a two-stroke penalty, which she was told about while playing the next hole. Lang would go on to win the playoff by three. “Just focusing on hitting my shots, and apparently I touched the sand,” Nordqvist said afterwards. “It wasn’t on purpose. And just one of those things. I have to deal with the consequences. Unfortunately, it happened, but it’s not the end of the world.”

• • •

12. One sweetheart victory (2010)

Paula Creamer’s celebration after winning by four at Oakmont was emotional. Scott Halleran

One of the game’s most popular players, Paula Creamer had eight LPGA victories prior to arriving at Oakmont Country Club but was still in search of a major title to help validate her status as one of the top players. In the months preceding the Open, the 23-year-old nursed a hand injury that still bothered her throughout the week and wasn’t exactly conducive to playing in Oakmont’s gnarly rough. She prevailed nonetheless, winning by four and posting a 72-hole score of three-under 281.

• • •

11. The very first champion (1946)

The inaugural US Women’s Open was a match-play event that had a 39-player field to start, with the final coming down to two future World Golf Hall of Famers, Patty Berg and Betty Jameson. Berg, who won 36-hole stroke-play qualifying by seven shots, prevailed in the 36-hole final, 5 and 4, at Spokane (Wash.) Country Club. The 28-year-old, who four years later would be one of the founding members of the LPGA Tour, claimed a first prize of $5,600 in war bonds. The following year and from then on out, a 72-hole stroke play format was used.

• • •

10. An amateur beats the pros (1967)

France’s Catherine Lacoste, 22, made history with her two-stroke victory at The Homestead, becoming the first and only amateur to win the Women’s Open. That said, it didn’t come without some nerves; Lacoste, daughter of tennis star Rene Lacoste, took a five-stroke lead into the final round and shot 79, but hung on for the title. In 1969, she went on to win the British Ladies Amateur (a title her mother won in 1927) and the US Women’s Amateur, but by 1970 she had all but retired from competitive golf, never having turned professional. No other amateur has been able to match Lacoste’s feat, though others have come close, notably Morgan Pressel and Brittany Lang finishing tied for second in 2005 and Nancy Lopez tying for second in 1975.

• • •

9. Annika begins her reign (1995)

A second straight US Women’s Open title help solidify Annika Sorenstam’s burgeoning place in women’s golf. JD Cuban

Big things were expected from Sorenstam after she became the first international player to win the NCAA title in 1991 and finished runner-up at the 1992 US Women’s Amateur. But after joining the LPGA in 1994, she had failed to post a victory prior to arriving at The Broadmoor and didn’t look as though she would do it in Colorado, either, entering the final round trailing leader Meg Mallon by five. But Sorenstam closed with a 68, Mallon a 74 and Annika had the first of her 72 LPGA victories and 10 majors.

• • •

8. An unexpected champion (2003)

Hilary Lunke’s brief career had one shining moment when she shocked women’s golf by winning the Women’s Open at Pumpkin Ridge, defeating Angela Stanford and Kelly Robbins in a playoff. At 24, the Stanford grad was the first winner who had gone through local and sectional qualifying to play her way into the field. It was her only victory in an otherwise lacklustre career, and she retired five years later after only seven seasons on the LPGA Tour. In 24 career major starts, her next best finish was a T-37.

• • •

7. The ultimate birdie for Birdie (2005)

Birdie Kim celebrates after holing a bunker shot for birdie on the 72nd hole at Cherry Hills. Christian Petersen

Morgan Pressel, then a 17-year-old high schooler, was trying to accomplish the improbable at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver and become the second amateur to win the Women’s Open—and the youngest-ever winner of a major title. She was tied for the lead on the 72nd hole, standing in the fairway and watching the other co-leader, Birdie Kim, play her third shot on par 4 from a greenside bunker. The 23-year-old South Korean proceeded to shock everyone—particularly Pressel—when she holed the tricky sand shot for a birdie. “I was never a good bunker player,” Kim said. “Finally, I make it.” Pressel couldn’t regroup, bogeying the hole to allow Kim to win by two, her only LPGA victory.

• • •

6. A costly mistake (1957)

A dejected Jackie Pung (left) sits during the prize ceremony as Betsy Rawls is awarded the Women’s Open trophy at Winged Foot. Bettmann

Jackie Pung had the championship at Winged Foot Golf Club won by a stroke over Betsy Rawls, then lost it when it was revealed she had signed an incorrect scorecard. She made a bogey 6 on the fourth hole of the final round, yet her playing partner, Betty Jameson, marked Pung down for a 5. Pung, incidentally, made the same error on Jameson’s card and both were disqualified. “Winning the Open is the greatest thing in golf,” Pung, 35, said at the presentation ceremony. “I have come close before. This time I thought I’d won. But I didn’t. Golf is played by rules, and I broke a rule. I’ve learned a lesson. And I have two broad shoulders …” Herbert Warren Wind, writing for Sports Illustrated, noted: “You will probably never see an unhappier group of people at a golf championship than was gathered at the Winged Foot Golf Club.” Indeed, the members had become fond of Pung during the week, and after the mistake raised $3,000 among them to present to her, or $1,200 more than she would have earned with the victory.

• • •

5. The phenom delivers (2014)

Michelle Wie’s win at Pinehurst silenced those who doubted whether she would live up to her hype as a junior phenom. Scott Halleran

Expectations had been exceedingly high for Michelle Wie throughout her career, not long after having qualified for the US Women’s Amateur Public Links at 10 and missing the cut by one in the PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii at 14. Yet these expectations went largely unfilled until she won the Women’s Open, defeating Stacy Lewis by two, at Pinehurst No. 2, the week after Martin Kaymer had won the US Open there in the USGA’s memorable back-to-back Opens. The 24-year-old’s reaction told it all: “Oh, my God, I can’t even think straight. I’m so happy right now. I’m just unbelievably happy. I’m so honoured to have my name on the trophy. Just so grateful for everything. I’m just really happy. I’m really thankful, just everything, feeling every single emotion I can right now.”

• • •

4. A Hall-of-Fame career fulfilled (1999)

Juli Inkster was able to win her first Women’s Open without too much worry, in the process breaking the USGA scoring record in relation to par. Luke Frazza

A three-time winner of the US Women’s Amateur, Inkster seemed certain to one day claim a Women’s Open title when she embarked on her Hall of Fame career. Yet in her first 19 starts in the championship, she had only two top-10 finishes (including a painful playoff loss in 1992 when Patty Sheehan birdied her last two holes to force the extra round, then won by two shots). At age 38, in her 20th start, however, Inkster put together a stellar performance at Old Waverly Golf Club, shooting a USGA record 16-under-par score to win by five strokes. “The hardest part was it really was my tournament to lose. No one had the pressure on except me. I had no one to blame but myself,” Inkster said, having started the final round-up by four shots. It was the 20th of her 31 career LPGA victories and the first of two Women’s Open titles (she’d win again in 2002 at Prairie Dunes). “This is the ultimate tournament,” Inkster said. “No one can take away from me that I’m a US Open champion.”

• • •

3. A win that inspires a nation (1998)

Se Ri Pak’s victory at Blackwolf Run inspired a generation of golfers in South Korea. Craig Jones

She was only 20, still mostly an unknown outside of South Korea who’d surprised American fans by winning the LPGA Championship six weeks earlier. Yet Se Ri Pak probably would have been considered an underdog in the playoff at the Women’s Open at Blackwolf Run had it been not for the person she was facing. Jenny Chuasiriporn, a 20-year-old Duke undergrad, made a 40-foot putt on the 18th hole to force extra holes and was trying to write her own “can you believe this” story. Tied still after the 18-hole playoff, the pair went another two holes before Pak pulled out the victory with a birdie. The championship was televised in South Korea, and Pak’s victory ignited a movement that resulted in South Korea’s LPGA dominance. “Back then, there was not the communication there is today,” Pak said when recalling the win. “It wasn’t until a week after I won that I learned that all of Korea was watching. It was unbelievable to me.” Following Pak’s lead, 46 more South Korean golfers have won LPGA Tour titles and all told 18 South Koreans have combined to win 33 majors. “At that moment,” said 2011 US Women’s Open winner So Yeon Ryu of Pak’s win, “just golf is my hobby and violin my dream. But now the violin is my hobby, golf is my dream, my job. So totally changed.” Pak went on to win 25 LPGA events, including five majors, before retiring in 2016. She is in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

• • •

2. Comeback from cancer (1954)

Babe Zaharias’ comeback was inspirational to her and others dealing with cancer. Underwood Archives

Fifteen months after undergoing cancer surgery, Babe Zaharias, at 43, became the oldest player to win the Women’s Open, running away with the title by 12 strokes at Salem (Mass.) Country Club, her third Women’s Open victory. “My prayers have been answered,” said Zaharias, who had missed the 1953 Open due to the surgery. “I just told the Lord to let me play again, and I’d take care of the winning. Today, we sealed the bargain.” Indeed, her performance was described in Golf World magazine as “the greatest sustained golf ever in a women’s championship.” At year’s end, the Associated Press voted her the female athlete of the year for the sixth time. Zaharias would not have a chance to defend her title a year later, forced to miss the championship because of back surgery that revealed the cancer had returned. She died in September 1956, at 45.

• • •

1. The Open’s greatest champion shines once more (1964)

Mickey Wright’s connection to the USGA and the Women’s Open will continue on after her death, thanks to her donation of her estate and possessions to the governing body. PGA of America

Any US Women’s Open list has to include Mickey Wright, who won the last of her four Women’s Opens at San Diego Country Club, the golf course on which she grew up alongside friend Billy Casper. “That was a very personal tournament,” Wright said years later. “It was my home. It was the first tournament that my mother and father had both seen me play in a tournament.” Wright beat Ruth Jessen, who also had San Diego ties, by two shots in an 18-hole playoff. “I hate to lose,” Jessen said, “but there is some consolation in losing to the greatest woman golfer in the world.” Indeed, it was Wright’s seventh win of the season and she would add four more titles before the year was out. Wright eventually ran her LPGA victory total to 82, including 13 major championships. Wright died in 2020 but her connection to the Women’s Open will continue; in Wright’s will, she bequeathed her estate and possessions to the USGA, which then announced that it has named the medal the Women’s Open champion received after Wright.

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Twenty years ago Annika Sorenstam teed off in the PGA Tour’s Bank of America Colonial, marking the first appearance by a woman in a PGA Tour event in more than a half-century. Other women followed not long after, with varying degrees of success. But Sorenstam’s appearance in Fort Worth felt historic in its magnitude the moment it was announced, and it holds up as a landmark event two decades later.

At 32, the reserved Swede was not just a very good player on the LPGA Tour. She was the dominant player of her era, and arguably the greatest female player of all time. Whether she could approach the same success on a longer PGA Tour venue against top male players was, in the absence of any recent benchmark, a subject of genuine fascination.

Sorenstam ended up missing the cut, shooting 71 and 74 at Colonial Country Club, but that tells only a small part of the story. Here are 10 things you might not remember about this iconic moment in golf.

1. This whole thing began with another female golfer set to play the PGA Tour. In late 2002, a then unknown Connecticut club pro named Suzy Whaley won her local PGA of America section championship, thus earning an automatic berth in the next summer’s Greater Hartford Open. After Whaley (who would go on to become the first female president of the PGA of America in 2018) confirmed her intent to play, Sorenstam was asked if she also would want to try playing in a PGA Tour event. She said she would, and Colonial jumped on the opportunity to offer her a sponsor’s exemption.

2. Sorenstam was without rival in women’s golf at that point in her career. Midway through a Hall of Fame career, Sorenstam had won five of her eventual 10 majors and was the tour’s player of the year in five of the previous seven years. In 2001, she became the only LPGA player to shoot 59 in competition.

Annika Sorenstam in action. Andy Lyons

3. There was some blowback, including from her peers. While Sorenstam’s intentions to play were widely embraced, it wasn’t universal. Vijay Singh was the most notable player to express his opposition, saying that Sorenstam didn’t belong in the event, and if he drew her as a partner, he would withdraw. But even some of Sorenstam’s LPGA peers were resistant. In a first-person story for Sports Illustrated, Angela Stanford wrote the downside of Sorenstam faring poorly at Colonial would far outweigh any potential benefit.

4. The media attention around that year’s Colonial was as big as a major. More than 180 journalists sought credentials to cover Sorenstam’s appearance, forcing Colonial Country Club to shift the media centre to its indoor tennis courts. Sorenstam also made a series of appearances on national talk shows and even on “60 Minutes”. In a rather forgettable year in men’s major championships, she was the biggest story in golf.

The media gathers around Annika Sorenstam. Scott Halleran

5. The bond Sorenstam forged with her two rookie playing partners was immediate. A random computer pairing put her with Aaron Barber and Dean Wilson, both of whom sought to make Sorenstam comfortable from the start. For Barber, who lost his card a year later and now works in finance, it was his sole moment of notoriety on tour while Wilson ended up winning the 2006 International. Both are still better known for their experience with Sorenstam, eventually being reunited for a 2013 Golf Channel special.

Dean Wilson and Annika Sorenstam. Andy Lyons

6. Sorenstam’s opening tee shot ranks as maybe the most pressure-filled opening shot in golf history. Starting on Colonial’s 10th hole in front of throngs of cameras, and a massive gallery filled with girls wearing “Go Annika” buttons, Sorenstam crushed a 4-wood 255 yards into the fairway, then feigned falling over as if overcome by the moment.

7. She made a brief appearance on the leaderboard. After three pars to start her opening round, Sorenstam birdied the par-3 13th to move to one-under, giving her a spot near the lead, where she stood at the turn.

8. Sorenstam’s ball-striking was otherworldly. She made two bogeys on the back nine en route to her 71, but Sorenstam hardly missed a shot on the 7,080-yard Colonial layout. She missed just one fairway, hit 14 of 18 greens, and the four she missed were close enough she still putted for birdie. Sorenstam’s ball-striking was already legend on the LPGA Tour, but the way it translated to a PGA Tour was further validation.

9. The next day was a slight emotional let-down. Her 74 led to a missed cut, and she finished in 96th place, better than 11 men, including an eventual US Open champion in Geoff Ogilvy, and the previous year’s Players champion, Craig Perks.

Badges supporting Annika Sorenstam. Andy Lyons

10. It was Sorenstam’s only start in a PGA Tour event. While Annika never made another appearance in a men’s event, she did lead the way for several others to follow. Whaley played that year in Hartford, missing the cut with scores of 75 and 78, and the next year, Michelle Wie played the first of eight tournaments on the men’s tour. At age 14, her second round 68 in the Sony Open brought her within a stroke of making the cut, but that was as close as she got. Most recently, the LPGA’s Brittany Lincicome played in the 2018 Barbasol Championship, missing the cut with scores of 78-71.

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A little more than 15 years later, several of Sorenstam’s personal bests remain LPGA records that look like they’ll last for years to come. As she celebrates the 20th anniversary of her historic appearance in the PGA Tour’s Bank of America Colonial, here are several facts that are worth remembering to help give context to just how impressive a player Sorenstam truly was.

1. In 1991, while playing at the University of Arizona, Sorenstam became the first foreign-born player to win the NCAA individual title and the first freshman winner.

2. In 1998, she was the first LPGA player to finish the season with a sub-70 scoring average (69.99).

3. At the tournament in which she shot an LPGA record 59, Sorenstam recorded the lowest winning score in a 72-hole event, taking the 2001 Standard Register Ping at Moon Valley in Phoenix with a 27-under 261. It wasn’t until 17 years later that the record was finally broken, Sei Young Kim shooting a 31-under 257 at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.

Annika Sorenstam. Getty Images

4. Two years later, Sorenstam set the record for the lowest winning score in a 54-hole tournament at the 2003 Mizuno Classic with a 24-under 192. This record still stands.

5. She still shares the LPGA record for the largest come-from-behind win, overcoming a 10-stroke deficit to win the 2001 Office Depot.

6. She had the most wins of any LPGA player in the 1990s (18).

7. She had the most wins of any LPGA player in the 2000s (54).

Annika Sorenstam waves to the crowd. Sven Nackstrand3

8. Of her 72 career LPGA wins, 16 came in playoffs. Her overall playoff record was 16-6 (72.7 per cent).

9. Her eight player-of-the-year awards is the most of any player in LPGA history.

10. In 2002, she finished the season with a 68.70 scoring average, which remains the LPGA single-season record.

11. She holds the LPGA record for the most consecutive wins in a single tournament (5) at the Mizuno Classic.

12. Upon taking the title at the 2005 LPGA Championship, after winning in 2003 and 2004, she became the first LPGA player to claim the same major in three straight years. Only Inbee Park has matched that feat.

Annika Sorenstam knew it was her third straight LPGA Championship title when she won in 2005. Al Tielemans

13. In 2005, she won 10 tournaments in 20 starts. In six of those tournaments, she defended her title from the previous season.

14. In 311 career LPGA starts, she missed just 11 cuts.

15. In addition to 72 wins on the LPGA Tour, she had 46 runner-up finishes and 24 third-place showings. In other words, in 46 per cent of her career LPGA starts, she finished in the top three. She also recorded 209 top-10 finishes overall, 68 per cent of her career starts.

16. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame at age 33. At the time, she had 47 LPGA career wins, meaning she won 25 more times after already getting into St. Augustine.

17. In 2021, she came out of retirement to play in her first LPGA in 15 years as a tune-up for the summer’s U.S. Senior Women’s Open … and proceeded to make the cut at age 50. She also went on to win the USGA event in August by eight shots.

18. She ended her career ranked No. 2 in the world.

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“I am excited and honoured to accept this special exemption into the US Women’s Open,” the 32-year-old South Korean native said in a release. “This championship means so much to me, and to be able to compete in it again, and to do so at a place as special as Pebble Beach, is thrilling, and I am so grateful to the USGA for this opportunity. I look forward to teeing it up there in July.”

A six-time LPGA Tour winner, including the 2017 ANA Inspiration, Ryu has been a consistent top performer over her 13 career starts at the US Women’s Open, posting top-25 finishes 12 times. That run includes six top-fives. However, given her past success at the major, Ryu surprisingly missed the cut at Pine Needles last year.

So Yeon Ryu holds the trophy after winning the 2011 US Women’s Open in a playoff. Mike Ehrmann

That missed cut exemplified the rapid change in Ryu’s results in 2022. She posted two top-10s in 20 starts on the LPGA despite a career 39 percent top-10 rate. The challenging end to the 2022 season for the former World No. 1 has continued into early 2023, as Ryu has missed seven straight cuts dating back to the LPGA Mediheal Championship last October. The only event she played without a cut over that stretch was the BMW Ladies Championship, where she finished T-66 in a 78-player field. As a result, her world ranking tumbled down to 112.

In addition to Ryu and Sorenstam, 10 other US. Women’s Open champions are currently exempt into the field, while two more will attempt to qualify. The USGA will host a Reunion of Champions during championship week, an event that is bringing together many of the 46 living US Women’s Open champions for the first time since 2014.

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Annika Sorenstam is ready to give the US Women’s Open another go, saying she just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to play at Pebble Beach.

The 72-time LPGA winner and 10-time major champion accepted a special exemption into the Women’s Open July 6-9, making it her 17th appearance in the championship.

“I am incredibly grateful to the USGA for the opportunity to play in this year’s US Women’s Open,” Sorenstam said. “It is a championship that has helped to define my career, and to play in the first one at Pebble Beach, which will be a defining moment for women’s golf, with my family by my side will be a week we never forget.”

Sorenstam, 52, captured her first professional victory at the 1995 US Women’s Open in Colorado where she defeated Meg Mallon by a shot. A year later she defended her title at Pine Needles, then won again in 2006 at Newport (Rhode Island) Country Club, where she topped Pat Hurst in a Monday, 18-hole playoff. Sorenstam is one of four golfers in the championship’s history to claim three victories. Only Betsy Rawls and Mickey Wright, both with four, have more.

Two years ago, after turning 50, Sorenstam returned to competitive golf and easily won the US Senior Women’s Open by eight shots. That gave her an exemption into last year’s US Women’s Open, where she missed the cut at Pine Needles, site of her 1996 Women’s Open victory. It was the first one she had played since 2008.

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Now she gets set to embark on another pursuit: radio show host.

Tuesday night on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, Sorenstam, 52, debuts a new program titled “Annika.” Alongside her co-host, husband Mike McGee, Sorenstam will take calls from listeners, discuss her experiences in golf and business, provide instruction tips and break down today’s game and players on the men’s and women’s tours.

“I am really looking forward to hosting the show with Mike,” she said. “We will discuss the latest happenings in golf, including women’s, amateur and junior golf. We look forward to having guests join us and to talking about what the listeners want as the phone lines will be open. Of course, we will also touch on our Foundation and family.”

The program is scheduled to air twice a month, and the launch coincides well with one of the more memorable moments of Sorenstam’s playing career. Later this month, Sorenstam celebrates the 20th anniversary of when she competed against men’s professionals at the Bank of America Colonial.

Annika Sorenstam is joined by her husband Mike McGee and her children Ava and William after winning the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship. Rich Schultz

This isn’t the first time Sorenstam has had a program on SiriusXM. In 2014, along with former Golf Digest writer Ron Sirak, she co-hosted “The Annika Hour.”

The opportunity to offer commentary about the game is something that seems particularly appealing at this moment in time. “It’s an exciting time in the golf world, especially in women’s golf. Look at the great ratings the Chevron Championship got. That is fantastic.”

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