Women’s Golf

On March 16, 2001 Annika Sorenstam scored an incredible 59 in the second round of the Standard Register Ping at Moon Valley in Phoenix, Arizona.

So far this is the only sub-60 round in LPGA Tour history.

Annika Sorenstam won the tournament with a total score of -27. Runner up was Se Ri Pak at -25.

Nearly two years later Meg Mallon had the chance to equal this record with a birdie on her final hole, a par 3, in the second round of the 2003 Welch’s-Fry’s Classic in Arizona.

Meg missed the birdie putt and played par for the first round of 60 in the history of the LPGA.

How many majors has Annika Sörenstam won?

Annika has won eight Player of the Year awards.

• Annika won the LPGA Rookie of the year award in 1994. She won the Player of the Year award the very next year in 1995 and went on to win eight in the eleven years between 1995 and 2005.
• She also won the Vare Trophy for low scoring average six times during the same period.
• Annika is the only women golfer to date to shoot a 59 in professional competition.
• She has 90 international wins as a professional including 10 majors and 72 LPGA tournaments.
• Watch highlights of Annika winning her 3^rd US Women’s Open title in a playoff with Pat Hurst.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Sörenstam began playing golf at the age of 12 and quickly excelled, becoming a member of the Swedish national team from 1987 to 1992. She attended the University of Arizona, where she won the NCAA Division I Individual Championship in 1991 and earned All-America honors.

Professional Achievements

Turning professional in 1992, Sörenstam made an immediate impact on the Ladies European Tour, earning Rookie of the Year honors in 1993. She joined the LPGA Tour in 1994, where she won her first major title at the 1995 U.S. Women’s Open. Throughout her career, she won the Rolex Player of the Year award a record eight times and was the only female golfer to shoot a 59 in competition.

In 2003, she made headlines by becoming the first woman to participate in a PGA Tour event in 58 years, playing at the Bank of America Colonial. Sörenstam completed a career Grand Slam in 2003, winning all four major championships during her career. After her retirement from regular tournament play in 2008, she returned to competitive golf in 2021, winning the U.S. Senior Women’s Open in her debut at that level.

Honors and Recognition

Sörenstam's contributions to golf have been recognized with numerous accolades, including induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003 and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2021. She has also been involved in various philanthropic efforts, including the ANNIKA Foundation, which promotes women's golf and youth sports.

Sörenstam's legacy extends beyond her tournament victories; she has significantly influenced the perception and coverage of women's golf, paving the way for future generations of female athletes.

Karrie Webb was born in the town of Ayr in the state of Queensland, Australia.

• Karrie was born in the country town of northern Queensland, a sub tropical environment that includes the Great Barrier Reef.
• Karrie has won seven Women’s major championships putting her on the top of the table of Australian golfers and majors wins.
• With 57 professional wins around the world her success goes well beyond the majors and she is generally recognised as one of the greatest women golfers to have played the game.
• Karrie Webb’s World Golf hall of Fame entry.

Early Career and Achievements

Webb began playing golf at the age of eight and turned professional at 19. She won her first major title at the Women's British Open in 1995, shortly after joining the LPGA Tour in 1996. In her debut season, she made history becoming the first rookie to earn over $1 million in a single season, winning the LPGA Rookie of the Year award.

Major Milestones

Youngest Woman to Win All Four Modern Majors: In 2001, she became the youngest player to win all four major championships in women's golf.

World Golf Hall of Fame Inductee: Webb was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2005, highlighting her significant contributions to the sport.

Awards and Honors: She has received numerous accolades, including being named Player of the Year multiple times and being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her services to golf and the community.

Legacy

Karrie Webb is often regarded as one of the greatest female golfers in history, comparable to her male counterparts in terms of impact and success. Her achievements have inspired many young female golfers, and she continues to be involved in the sport, promoting women's golf and mentoring upcoming players.

The Solheim Cup is a biennial transatlantic match play competition for professional women golfers featuring the 12 best European players from the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the 12 best U.S. players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.

The Solheim Cup is named after Karsten and Louise Solheim, the founders of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, which makes PING golf equipment.

The first Solheim Cup was staged in 1990.

Team captains are recently retired female professional golfers with Solheim Cup playing experience

The 2023 Solheim Cup was played at Finca Cortesin, Spain. It was a tied.

The 2021 Solheim Cup was played at Inverness Club, Ohio, USA. Team Europe won 15-13.

The 2019 Solheim Cup was played September 13-15, at Gleneagles, Scotland. Team Europe won 14.5-13.5.

Unofficially known as the ‘Dinah Shore’, the ANA Inspiration is one of the LPGAs five Majors.

• Dinah Shore didn’t take up golf until the age of 52 but quickly became hooked. Her contribution to women’s golf was so significant she was posthumously made an honorary member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
• In its first year the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner’s Circle was the richest event in women’s golf.
• Regardless of prize money, up to and including 1982 it was not considered a Major. In 1983.
• The tournament has been played at the same course every year since inception – the Mission Hills Country Club in California.
• Three of the last four tournaments and four of the last seven have been won in a play off suggesting a high quality competition!
• Read Dinah Shore’s World Golf Hall of Fame entry
• The ANA Inspiration page on the LPGA website provides more information, photos, and videos.

Pioneering Membership

Shore broke barriers by becoming the first female member of the Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles. This achievement underscores her role in advancing women's participation in golf beyond just professional tournaments.

Industry Recognition

Shore received the 1993 Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, which is the GCSAA's highest honor. This award further demonstrates the golf industry's appreciation for her contributions to the sport.

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) was founded in 1950.

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is an American organisation for female golfers.

It is also known as the LPGA Tour.

The LPGA is a series of golf tournaments for women professional golfers from around the world. In 2023 there were 32 tournaments.

Ariya Jutanugarn won the 2018 U.S. Womens Open.

• The 72 holes finished in a tie after Hyo-Joo Kim made up 6 shots on Ariya with a wonderful final round 5 under par. The playoff, over 4 holes, was decided by one shot, 16 to 17.
• Ariya is developing a very impressive resume:
  • With this win she became only the 6^th player to win both the US Girls Junior and the US Women’s Open.
  • She is the first Thai player, male or female, to win a major championship. And this win, with the 2016 British Open, gives her two.
  • At 11 years of age Ariya became the youngest player to qualify for an LPGA event when she qualified for the Honda LPGA Thailand.
• In June 2017 Ariya became the number 1 ranked player in the world.
• This video is a nice 2 minute interview with Ariya shortly after her win.

Ariya Jutanugarn is a highly accomplished professional golfer from Thailand. Below is a summary at September 2024:

Major Achievements

• Won 12 LPGA Tour events, including 2 major championships:
• 2016 Women's British Open
• 2018 U.S. Women's Open

Career Milestones

• Turned professional in 2012 at age 17
• Qualified for an LPGA event at age 11 in 2007, becoming the youngest player ever to do so
• Won 5 LPGA tournaments in 2016, including her first major
• Named LPGA Player of the Year in 2016 and 2018

Playing Style

• Known for her aggressive and fearless approach
• Powerful player, ranking high in driving distance on the LPGA Tour
• Famously does not use a driver in her bag

Joyce Wethered.

• The Exhibition Match was played over the Old Course at St, Andrews. Joyce played off the men’s back markers alongside Bobby Jones and shot 75.
• Jones then made the statement, “I have not played golf with anyone, man or woman, amateur or professional who made me feel so utterly outclassed.
• Joyce was influential in getting the Curtis Cup started and was the playing captain of the Great Britain and Ireland team in the first year the event was played, 1932.
• She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975. This is the Hall of Fame entry for Joyce Wethered.

Early Life and Career

• Birth: Joyce Wethered was born on November 17, 1901, in Brook, England.
• Introduction to Golf: She started playing golf at a young age and quickly displayed a natural talent for the game.

Achievements

• British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship: Wethered won this prestigious title four times (1922, 1924, 1925, and 1929). Her dominance in this championship highlighted her exceptional match play skills.
• English Ladies Amateur Championship: She won this championship five times in a row (1920-1924), showcasing her consistent high-level performance.

Playing Style

• Swing: Joyce Wethered was renowned for her smooth and powerful swing. Her technique was admired by many of her contemporaries, including legendary male golfers.
• Match Play: She excelled in match play, known for her mental toughness and ability to perform under pressure.

Personal Life

• Marriage: She married Sir John Heathcoat-Amory in 1937, becoming Lady Heathcoat-Amory.
• Later Years: After her marriage, she played golf less competitively but remained involved in the sport through various capacities.

Joyce Wethered's remarkable achievements and her contribution to golf are celebrated to this day, and she remains an iconic figure in the history of women's golf.

How many majors has Bobby Jones won?