US Women’s Open Preview 2019

US Women’s Open Preview 2019

When: May 30 – June 2, 2019
Where: Country Club of Charleston, Charleston, SC
Field: 156 golfers
2018 Champion: Ariya Jutanugarn
Purse: $5.5 million

How Ariya Jutanugarn Won The 2018 US Women’s Open Championship

Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand overcame a near-record collapse on Sunday, surrendering a seven-stroke lead to hot-putting Hyo-Joo Kim in the final round before rebounding from a one-stroke deficit in extra holes to claim the 73rd U.S. Women’s Open Championship at Shoal Creek in Alabama on the fourth playoff hole.

“I played like absolutely like great my front nine. Like to me, it’s unbelievable. I’m never going to play that good again, I felt like,” said Jutanugarn when asked to reminisce about that day in Alabama. “And then turn on No. 10, all I’m thinking about, you know what? I’m in a seven-shot lead. I’m going to keep the seven-shot lead until the last hole. It should be easy for me to win the tournament, but that’s not a good way to think about that.”

Title Defense

Since 1991, two players have successfully defended their championship (Annika Sorenstam, 1995 and 1996; Karrie Webb, 2000 and 2001), and only three other players have finished in the top 10 in the championship following their victory (2002 winner Juli Inkster, eighth in 2003; 1992 winner Patty Sheehan, sixth in 1993; 1991 winner Meg Mallon, fourth in 1992).

The Field

Among the 156 golfers in the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open, there are:

U.S. Women’s Open champions (12) Na Yeon Choi (2012), In Gee Chun (2015), Paula Creamer (2010), Laura Davies (1987), Eun-Hee Ji (2009), Ariya Jutanugarn (2018), Cristie Kerr (2007), Brittany Lang (2016), Inbee Park (2008, 2013), Sung Hyun Park (2017), So Yeon Ryu (2011), Karrie Webb (2000, 2001)

U.S. Women’s Open runners-up (9) Hye-Jin Choi (2017), Cristie Kerr (2000), Hyo-Joo Kim (2018), Brittany Lang (2005), Stacy Lewis (2014), Anna Nordqvist (2016), Morgan Pressel (2005), Angela Stanford (2003), Amy Yang (2012, 2015)

U.S. Senior Women’s Open champions (1) Laura Davies (2018)

U.S. Women’s Amateur champions (6) Danielle Kang (2010, 2011), Lydia Ko (2012), Jane Park (2004), Morgan Pressel (2005), Jennifer Song (2009), Emma Talley (2013)

U.S. Women’s Amateur runners-up (9) Sierra Brooks (2015), Brooke Henderson (2014), Jaye Marie Green (2012), Jiwon Jeon (2018), Moriya Jutanugarn (2011), Jessica Korda (2010), Azahara Munoz (2008), Jane Park (2003), Albane Valenzuela (2017)

U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champions (1) Shannon Johnson (2018)

U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur runners-up (1) Shannon Johnson (2016)

U.S. Girls’ Junior champions (6) Ariya Jutanugarn (2011), Minjee Lee (2012), Amy Olson (2009), Inbee Park (2002), Jenny Shin (2006), Lexi Thompson (2008)

U.S. Girls’ Junior runners-up (7) Dottie Ardina (2011), Jennifer Chang (2017), Andrea Lee (2016), Alexa Pano (2018), Inbee Park (2003, 2005), Jane Park (2004), Angel Yin (2015)

U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball champions (2) Megan Furtney (2019), Kaitlyn Papp (2016)

U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champions (1) Jennifer Song (2009)

U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links runners-up (1) Jennifer Song (2008)

USA Curtis Cup Team members (19) Sierra Brooks (2016), Paula Creamer (2004), Lindy Duncan (2012), Austin Ernst (2012), Cristie Kerr (1996), Jessica Korda (2010), Jennifer Kupcho (2018), Brittany Lang (2002), Andrea Lee (2016, 2018), Stacy Lewis (2008), Ally McDonald (2014), Amy Olsson (2012), Annie Park (2014), Jane Park (2004, 2006), Jennifer Song (2010), Mariah Stackhouse (2014), Angela Stanford (2000), Emma Talley (2014), Lexi Thompson (2010)

GB&I Curtis Cup Team members (8) Laura Davies (1984), Georgia Hall (2014), Charley Hull (2012), Bronte Law (2012, 2014, 2016) Leona Maguire (2010, 2012, 2016), Stephanie Meadow (2012, 2014), Jodi Ewart Shadoff (2008), Charlotte Thomas (2014, 2016)

NCAA Division I champions (7) Austin Ernst (2011, Louisiana State University), Maria Fassi (2019, University of Arkansas), 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), Emma Talley (2015, University of Alabama)

Olympic Medalists (3) Shanshan Feng (2016, bronze, People’s Republic of China), Lydia Ko (2016, silver, New Zealand), Inbee Park (2016, gold, Republic of Korea)

Players with Most U.S. Women’s Open Appearances (2019 included) Laura Davies (28), Cristie Kerr (24), Karrie Webb (24), Angela Stanford (20), Paula Creamer (17), Karine Icher (15), Brittany Lang (15), Jane Park (15), Shanshan Feng (13), Stacy Lewis (13), Inbee Park (13), Lexi Thompson (13), Amy Yang (13), Sandra Gal (12), Eun-Hee Ji (12), Jessica Korda (12), Jennifer Song (12), Na Yeon Choi (12)

Active Consecutive U.S. Women’s Open Appearances (2019 included) Karrie Webb (24, 1996-2019), Cristie Kerr (22, 1998-2019), Angela Stanford (20, 2000-19), Paula Creamer (17, 2003-19), Brittany Lang (15, 2005-19), Shanshan Feng (13, 2007-19), Stacy Lewis (13, 2007-19), Lexi Thompson (13, 2007-19), Amy Yang (13, 2007-19), Jessica Korda (12, 2008-19)

First-Time U.S. Women’s Open Competitors (47) Delfina Acosta, Emma Albrecht, Haruka Amamoto, Hina Arakaki, Dottie Ardina, Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso, Hayley Davis, Fatima Fernandez Cano, Brigitte Dunne (a), Megan Furtney (a), Megha Ganne (a), Hannah Green, Ingrid Gutierrez Nunez, Jenny Haglund, Leonie Harm (a), Esther Henseleit, Mamiko Higa, Paris Hilinski (a), Amanda Hollandsworth, Sabrina Iqbal (a), Jiwon Jeon (a), Shannon Johnson (a), Jiyu Jung, Minami Katsu, Jihyun Kim, Auston Kim (a), Naomi Ko (a), Yu Liu, Dasom Ma (a), Eri Okayama, Megan Osland, Alexa Pano (a), Kaitlyn Papp (a), Amy Ruengmateekhun, Gabriela Ruffels (a), Yuka Saso (a), Sarah Schmelzel, Karoline Stormo (a), Jasmine Suwannapura, Prima Thammaraks, Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras, Charlotte Thomas, Maria Torres Martinez, Nanako Ueno (a), Rachel Virgili, Yuri Yoshida (a), Reagan Zibilski (a)

Countries Represented (29) Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong China, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Republic of Ireland, Republic of Korea, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United States of America

States Represented (23) Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Dakota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia

Amateur Players in the Field (26) Ty Akabane, Sierra Brooks, Jennifer Chang, Celeste Dao, Brigitte Dunne, Maria Fassi, Megan Furtney, Megha Ganne, Leonie Harm, Paris Hilinski, Sabrina Iqbal, Jiwon Jeon, Shannon Johnson, Auston Kim, Gina Kim, Naomi Ko, Andrea Lee, Dasom Ma, Alexa Pano, Kaitlyn Papp, Gabriela Ruffels, Yuka Saso, Karoline Stormo, Patty Tavatanakit, Nanako Ueno, Albane Valenzuela, Yuri Yoshida, Reagan Zibilski

Top-Ranked Amateur Players in the Field Nine amateurs are in the top 50 of the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking™ as of May 22: No. 4 – Andrea Lee No. 8 – Albane Valenzuela No. 10 – Jiwon Jeon No. 14 – Leonie Harm No. 22 – Jennifer Chang No. 24 – Sierra Brooks No. 27 – Kaitlyn Papp No. 28 – Yuka Saso No. 41 – Karoline Stormo No. 44 – Auston Kim

15 PLAYERS RETURNING TO CHARLESTON

While the Country Club of Charleston is hosting its first major championship, it is not totally unfamiliar to several players in this week’s field. The club was the site of the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, with the LPGA’s Emma Talley taking a 2-and-1 victory over Yueer Cindy Feng. Talley is one of 15 players in the U.S. Women’s Open field to compete at the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur:

• Maria Fassi (lost in the third round)
• Brooke Henderson (lost in the first round)
• Megan Khang (lost in the first round)
• Jennifer Kupcho (did not reach match play)
• Andrea Lee (did not reach match play)
• Minjee Lee (lost in the first round)
• Yu Liu (did not reach match play)
• Gaby Lopez (lost in the first round)
• Leona Maguire (lost in the second round)
• Ally McDonald (lost in the second round)
• Stephanie Meadow (lost in the first round)
• Su Oh (lost in the quarterfinals)
• Annie Park (lost in the quarterfinals)
• Emma Talley (champion)
• Angel Yin (did not reach match play)

CHAMPIONSHIP SCORING RECORDS

• 18 holes: 63, Helen Alfredsson, first round, 1994
• 36 holes: 132, Helen Alfredsson, 1994
• 54 holes: 201, Juli Inkster, 1999
• 72 holes: 272, Annika Sorenstam, 1996; Juli Inkster, 1999; In Gee Chun, 2015

Course Setup

Country Club of Charleston will be set up at 6,535 yards and will play to a par of 36-35–71. Based on the setup, the Course Rating™ is 76.7 and the Slope Rating® is 141.

Note: Yardages subject to change.

About the Country Club of Charleston

The Country Club of Charleston was designed by Seth Raynor and opened for play in 1925. Known for its challenging green complexes and sweeping Lowcountry vistas, the course features well-known template holes, including the signature “Redan” par-3 No. 11, where Sam Snead once famously carded a 13. The 2019 U.S. Women’s Open will be the second USGA championship conducted at the club, with Emma Talley winning the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, defeating Cindy Feng, 2 and 1, in the final. Beyond its USGA history, the Country Club of Charleston boasts a long legacy of championship play. The Azalea Invitational, one of the nation’s premier amateur events, as well as the Beth Daniel Junior invitational and the Azalea Senior are hosted annually at the Club. The Club has also hosted 27 state championships.

REVERSE REDAN HOLE IS A HOT TOPIC AT USWO

A major talking point ahead of Thursday’s opening round at the Country Club of Charleston has been the iconic par-3 11th, a reverse Redan hole which is dramatic in its setting and already has most of the players thinking about damage limitation here: somehow eke out a par and move on. With a false front of about 25 yards, the elevated green slopes from front left to back right and two very deep bunkers guard either side of the putting complex. This is the designated Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole for the week and risk abounds if an imprecise shot is hit here off the tee.

“It’s kind of the hole where, okay, you accept bogey,” said Morgan Pressel, who at age 12 in 2001 became the then-youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open. “If it happens, give yourself a good look at par, and I think that’s probably everybody’s strategy going into the week. Being aggressive doesn’t really help you on that hole. I hit a lot of shots from the right bunker. I’d say missing right is probably better than left. Going long is better than short. It’s kind of weird to think about missing a green on a par 3, where you have your best opportunity to make an up and down, but you definitely need a different mindset going into that hole.”

The 11th hole is course designer Seth Raynor’s version of the original Redan hole, the par-3 15th at North Berwick in Scotland. Sam Snead once ping-ponged his way to an ugly 13 on the 11th while Ben Hogan suggested that the green should be blown up after he ran up a bogey here.

“When I got to No. 11, I thought, ‘Wow, this is the biggest hill on this golf course!’ I was trying to figure out if that was a green or just a big hill,” said 2008 and 2013 U.S. Women’s Open champion Inbee Park. “You don’t want to be short of that hill off the tee. I’m kind of hitting like a low iron or a hybrid into the green, and it’s going to be definitely a tough green to hit all week. You don’t want to be to the left side. You don’t want to be in that (left) bunker. It’s far, and it’s a very high bunker shot.”

Championship History

This is the 74th U.S. Women’s Open Championship. The first U.S. Women’s Open, played at Spokane (Wash.) Country Club in 1946, was the only one conducted at match play. The Women’s Professional Golfers Association (WPGA) conducted the inaugural championship, won by Patty Berg. The 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 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 the age of 19 years, 11 months, 18 days. Babe Didrikson Zaharias, who won the 1954 Women’s Open at age 43 years, 6 months, is the oldest winner.

In 1967, Catherine Lacoste, daughter of French 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 finished as runner(s)-up.

TV TIMES (all times Eastern)

Wednesday, May 29	12-1 p.m.	Wednesday at the U.S. Women’s Open	FS1
Thursday, May 30	10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	First round, streaming coverage	USGA.org
	2:30-7:30 p.m.	First round, broadcast coverage	FS1
	2:30-7:30 p.m.	First round, featured group	USGA.org
	7:30-8:30 p.m.	Michelle Wie: Breakthrough at Pinehurst	FS1
Friday, May 31	10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	Second round, streaming coverage	USGA.org
	2:30-7:30 p.m.	Second round, broadcast coverage	FS1
	2:30-7:30 p.m.	Second round, featured group	USGA.org
Saturday, June 1	2-7 p.m.	Third round, broadcast coverage	Fox
	2-7 p.m.	Third round, featured group	USGA.org
Sunday, June 2	2-7 p.m.	Fourth round, broadcast coverage	Fox
	2-7 p.m.	Fourth round, featured group	USGA.org

US Women’s Open Preview 2019 via LPGA and USGA