Photo credit: USGA/Kirk H. Owens
This is the 76th U.S. Women’s Open Championship and the fourth in the state of California.
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 2021 U.S. Women’s Open, there are:
U.S. Women’s Open champions (13)
Na Yeon Choi (2012), In Gee Chun (2015), Paula Creamer (2010), Eun Hee Ji (2009), Ariya Jutanugarn (2018), Cristie Kerr (2007), A Lim Kim (2020), Brittany Lang (2016), Jeongeun Lee6 (2019), Inbee Park (2008, 2013), Sung Hyun Park (2017), So Yeon Ryu (2011), Michelle Wie West (2014)
U.S. Women’s Open runners-up (11)
Cristie Kerr (2000), Jin Young Ko (2020), Brittany Lang (2005), Stacy Lewis (2014), Anna Nordqvist (2016), Amy Olson (2020), So Yeon Ryu (2019), Angela Stanford (2003), Lexi Thompson (2019), Amy Yang (2012, 2015), Angel Yin (2019)
U.S. Women’s Amateur champions (6)
Kristin Gillman (2014, 2018), Danielle Kang (2010, 2011), Lydia Ko (2012), Jennifer Song (2009), Emma Talley (2013), Rose Zhang (2020)
U.S. Women’s Amateur runners-up (4)
Brooke Henderson (2014), Moriya Jutanugarn (2011), Jessica Korda (2010), Azahara Munoz (2008)
U.S. Girls’ Junior champions (8)
Ariya Jutanugarn (2011), In-Kyung Kim (2009), Minjee Lee (2012), Yealimi Noh (2018), Amy Olson (2009), Inbee Park (2002), Jenny Shin (2006), Lexi Thompson (2008)
U.S. Girls’ Junior runners-up (3)
Alison Lee (2012), Inbee Park (2003, ‘05), Angel Yin (2015)
U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champions (3)
Mina Harigae (2007), Jennifer Song (2009), Michelle Wie West (2003)
U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links runners-up (2)
Jennifer Song (2008), Michelle Wie West (2004)
U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball champions (1)
Kaitlyn Papp (2016)
USGA Champions (27)
Na Yeon Choi (2012 U.S. Women’s Open), In Gee Chun (2015 U.S. Women’s Open), Paula Creamer (2010 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), In-Kyung Kim (2009 U.S. Girls’ Junior), 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), 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), Emma Talley (2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur), Lexi Thompson (2008 U.S. Girls’ Junior), Michelle Wie West (2003 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, 2014 U.S. Women’s Open), Lei Ye (2019 U.S. Girls’ Junior), Rose Zhang (2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur)
USA Curtis Cup Team members (20)
Austin Ernst (2012), Paula Creamer (2004), Ally Ewing (2014), Kristen Gillman (2018), Mina Harigae (2008), Cristie Kerr (1996), Jessica Korda (2010), Jennifer Kupcho (2018), Brittany Lang (2004), Allison Lee (2018), Stacy Lewis (2008), Lucy Li (2018), Amy Olson (2012), Jennifer Song (2010), Angela Stanford (2000), Lauren Stephenson (2018), Lexi Thompson (2010), Emma Talley (2014), Monica Vaughn (2016), Michelle Wie West (2004)
GB&I Curtis Cup Team members (5)
Georgia Hall (2014), Charley Hull (2012), Stephanie Meadow (2012, 2014), Mel Reid (2006), Jodi Ewart Shadoff (2008)
NCAA Division I individual champions (7)
Austin Ernst (2011, Louisiana State University), Rachel Heck (2021, Stanford University), Jennifer Kupcho (2018, Wake Forest University), Stacy Lewis (2007, University of Arkansas), Azahara Munoz (2008, Arizona State University), Emma Talley (2014, University of Alabama), Monica Vaughn (2013, University of Oregon)
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 (2021 included)
Cristie Kerr (26), Angela Stanford (22), Paula Creamer (18), Christina Kim (17), Brittany Lang (17), Michelle Wie West (16), Stacy Lewis (15), Inbee Park (15), Lexi Thompson (15), Amy Yang (15), Shanshan Feng (14), Eun-Hee Ji (14), In-Kyung Kim (14), Jessica Korda (14), Jennifer Song (14)
Active Consecutive U.S. Women’s Open Appearances (2021 included)
Cristie Kerr (24, 1998-2021), Angela Stanford (22, 2000-21), Brittany Lang (17, 2005-21), Stacy Lewis (15, 2007-21), Lexi Thompson (15, 2007-21), Amy Yang (15, 2007-21), Eun Hee Ji (14, 2008-21), Jessica Korda (14, 2008-21), Inbee Park (14, 2008-21)
U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN DEBUT – 40 players in the 2021 championship field are playing in their first U.S. Women’s Open. Only five players have won the U.S. Women’s Open in their first start: A Lim Kim (2020), In Gee Chun (2015), Birdie Kim (2005), Kathy Cornelius (1956), Patty Berg (1946).
First-Time U.S. Women’s Open Competitors (40)
Amari Avery, Addie Baggarly, Jensen Castle, Matilda Castren, Claire Choi, Abbey Daniel, Leigha Devine, Nicole Garcia, Ingrid Gutierrez, Haylee Hartford, Jo Hua Hung, Tsubasa Kajitani, Gurleen Kaur, Hikari Kawamitsu, Chihiro Kogure, Chloe Kovelesky, Aline Krauter, Jaclyn LaHa, Alyssa Lamoureux, Karolin Lampert, Da Yeon Lee, Amanda Linnér, Emily Mahar, Isabella McCauley, Kim Metraux, Momoka Miyake, Haley Moore, Minori Nagano, Natsumi Nakanishi, Noemie Pare, Bohyun Park, Maria Parra, Ana Pelaez Trivino, Aneka Seumanutafa, Alexandra Swayne, Elizabeth Szokol, Tsai-Ching Tseng, Karoline Tuttle, Monica Vaughn, Ruoning Yin
Countries Represented (27)
There are 27 countries represented in the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open. The United States has 61 players in the field, while Republic of Korea has 19 and Japan has 10.
Countries with players in the field – United States (61), Republic of Korea (19), Japan (10), Sweden (7), Thailand (7), Australia (5), Germany (5), Spain (5), England (4), People’s Republic of China (4), Canada (4), Chinese Taipei (4), South Africa (3), France (2), Mexico (2), New Zealand (2), Denmark (1), Italy (1), Philippines (1), Malaysia (1), Netherlands (1), Northern Ireland (1), Norway (1), Ecuador (1), Finland (1), Hong Kong (1), Switzerland (1)
States Represented (21)
California (13), Texas (8), Florida (7), South Carolina (5), Arizona (3), Hawaii (3), Colorado (2), Massachusetts (2), Minnesota (2), New Jersey (2), Nevada (2), Ohio (2), Tennessee (2), Illinois (1), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (1), Maryland (1), Mississippi (1), North Carolina (1), North Dakota (1), Oregon (1)
Californians in the Field (14)
Amari Avery (Riverside), Jenny Coleman (Rolling Hills), Paula Creamer (Pleasanton), Mina Harigae (Monterey), Christina Kim (San Jose), Jaclyn LaHa (Pleasanton), Alison Lee (Los Angeles), Lucy Li (Redwood Shores), Haley Moore (Escondido), Yealimi Noh (Concord), Lizette Salas (Azusa), Kathleen Scavo (Benicia), Angel Yin (Arcadia), Rose Zhang (Irvine)
Amateur Players in the Field (30)
Amari Avery, Addie Baggarly, Jensen Castle, Claire Choi, Abbey Daniel, Leigha Devine, Megha Ganne, Rachel Heck, Jo Hua Hung, Tsubasa Kajitani, Gurleen Kaur, Gina Kim, Chihiro Kogure, Chloe Kovelesky, Aline Krauter, Jaclyn LaHa, Alyssa Lamoureux, Amanda Linner, Emily Mahar, Isabella McCauley, Minori Nagano, Noemie Pare, Bohyun Park, Ana Palaez Trivino, Aneka Seumanutafa, Alexandra Swayne, Tsai-Ching Tseng, Karoline Tuttle, Monica Vaughn, Rose Zhang
Top-Ranked Amateur Players in the Field
Four amateurs are in the top 20 of the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking™ as of May 26:
No. 1 – Rose Zhang
No. 6 – Rachel Heck
No. 15 – Ana Palaez Trivino
No. 16 – Tsubasa Kajitani
Notable Amateur Storylines
Amari Avery, 17, of Riverside, Calif., will compete in her first U.S. Women’s Open. She was featured in the 2013 Netflix documentary, “The Short Game,” which followed several juniors at the U.S. Kids Championship in Pinehurst, N.C. In 2019, she advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball with partner Alexa Pano, who was also featured in “The Short Game.” Avery advanced to the Round of 32 in last summer’s U.S. Women’s Amateur and reached the Round of 16 in the 2018 U.S. Girls’ Junior. Avery, who captured the 2019 California Women’s Amateur Championship, has committed to attend the University of Southern California in 2022.
Megha Ganne, 17, of Holmdel, N.J., is a four-time Drive, Chip and Putt National Finalist finishing as high as second in 2019 and competed in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur this April. Ganne played in the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open in Charleston, S.C., as a 15-year-old and later that summer reached the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly. In 2020, after advancing to match play in the U.S. Women’s Amateur, she finished the year with top-five finishes at the AJGA Girls’ Championship, the Rolex Tournament of Champions and the Dixie Amateur. This will be her eighth USGA championship and second U.S. Women’s Open.
Rachel Heck, 19, of Memphis, Tenn., capped off a remarkable freshman season with the Stanford Cardinal on May 24 by winning the individual title in the NCAA Division I Women’s Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club. It was Heck’s fifth consecutive individual victory this season, and sixth total, including wins at the NCAA Stanford Regional, the Pac-12 Championships and the U.S. Open Collegiate Invitational, which was held at The Olympic Club. She is making her second U.S. Women’s Open start after tying for 33rd in 2017. Last August, Heck was the stroke-play medalist in the U.S. Women’s Amateur before losing in the Round of 16. Along with current fellow Stanford freshman Sadie Englemann, she advanced to the semifinals of the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball.
Tsubasa Kajitani, 17, of Japan, will make her first U.S. Women’s Open start after edging Wake Forest All-American Emilia Migliaccio in a sudden-death playoff to claim the 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur in early April. Kajitani carded an even-par 72 to pass 54-hole leader and world No. 1 Rose Zhang in the final round, then parred the 18th hole at Augusta National to win the playoff. In 2019, Kajitani won the Japan Junior and finished second in the Australian Women’s Amateur.
Gina Kim, 21, of Durham, N.C., is a junior at Duke University making her third U.S. Women’s Open start. She was the low amateur in 2019 at the Country Club of Charleston (S.C.), tying for 12th at 1-under 283 after she opened with a 66 to match the lowest score by an amateur in U.S. Women’s Open history. Kim was one of 12 players invited to an informal practice session for this summer’s Curtis Cup Match in Wales. She is a two-time semifinalist in USGA events: the 2018 U.S. Girls’ Junior at Poppy Hills and the 2017 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball with Jennifer Chang. This past January, she won the Harder Hall Invitational in Sebring, Fla.
Rose Zhang, 17, of Irvine, Calif., defeated defending champion Gabriela Ruffels to win the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur last August, which earned her a spot into the championship. She is currently No. 1 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking. 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 last year for being the leading female in the WAGR. She is the reigning AJGA Rolex Player of the Year for a second consecutive year. She finished T3 in the 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Zhang is making her third U.S. Women’s Open start.