The Olympic Club in San Francisco has hosted the U.S. Open five times for the men, with the most recent being 2012, but the iconic course has never hosted the Women’s Open.
That all ends this week as the women come to town for U.S. Women’s Open. The tournament – the fifth Women’s Open taking place in California – kicks off Thursday.
It is the second time in a five-year span the U.S. Women’s Open will be played in Northern California. Brittany Lang captured her first major championship victory at the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, defeating Anna Nordqvist in a three-hole aggregate playoff.
The U.S. Women’s Open will return to the Golden State in 2023 at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
The Olympic Club’s Lake Course will be set up at 6,457 yards and will play to a par of 35-36–71. The Lake Course will be the 12th course to host both the men’s and women’s U.S. Open.
Among the 156 players are a pair from Pleasanton. Paula Creamer, the 12 time LPGA Tour winner and the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open champions, and Jaclyn LaHa – an amateur from Amador Valley High School – who made it into the tournament through qualifying events.
The defending champion is A Lim Kim, of the Republic of Korea. Kim birdied the final three holes to edge Amy Olson and world No. 1 Jin Young Ko by one stroke at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas.
Since 1991, two players have successfully defended their championship (Annika Sorenstam, 1995 and 1996; Karrie Webb, 2000 and 2001), and only four other players have finished in the top 10 in the championship following their victory (2019 winner Jeongeun Lee, sixth in 2020; 2002 winner Juli Inkster, eighth in 2003; 1992 winner Patty Sheehan, sixth in 1993; 1991 winner Meg Mallon, fourth in 1992).
The Open will receive nearly 25 hours of live coverage across NBC, Golf Channel and Peacock from Thursday, June 3 through Sunday, June 6.
Other upcoming USGA championships in California include the 2023 U.S. Open at The Los Angeles Country Club, the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur at Martis Camp Club, the 2025 U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club, the 2025 Walker Cup at Cypress Point Club, and the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
By Dennis Miller