U.S. Women's Open facts for kids
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lancaster, Pennsylvania (in 2024) |
| Established | 1946, 79 years ago |
| Course(s) | Lancaster Country Club Meadowcreek/Dogwood Course (in 2024) |
| Par | 70 (in 2024) |
| Length | 6,546 yd (5,986 m) (in 2024) |
| Organized by | USGA (since 1953) |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | $12 million (in 2024) |
| Month played | May/June |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 271 Minjee Lee (2022) |
| To par | –16 Juli Inkster (1999) |
| Current champion | |
 Yuka Saso |
|
| 2024 U.S. Women's Open | |
The U.S. Women's Open is a very important golf tournament for women. It's one of the biggest championships in golf, organized by the United States Golf Association (USGA). It's also the oldest of the five major tournaments on the LPGA Tour, which is where professional women golfers play. Other major championships include the Chevron Championship, Women's PGA Championship, Women's Open Championship, and The Evian Championship.
This tournament started in 1946. It's the only golf event that the LPGA has always called a "major" since the LPGA began in 1950. At first, a group called the Women's Professional Golfers Association (WPGA) ran it. Then the LPGA took over for a few years. Finally, in 1953, the USGA started organizing it.
Since 2018, the U.S. Women's Open usually happens the week after Memorial Day. It's the second major tournament of the LPGA season. It also has the biggest prize money in women's golf. In 2022, the prize money almost doubled from $5.5 million to $10 million! This happened because a health care company called ProMedica became a main sponsor.
In 2007, more international players than American players took part for the first time. The 2008 tournament was won by South Korean golfer Inbee Park. She was the youngest winner ever at 19 years old. In 2021, Yuka Saso also won at a very young age, matching Park's record.
The way playoffs work changed in 2018. Instead of three holes, they now play two holes. If there's still a tie, they play sudden death until someone wins. The USGA announced that the winner of the U.S. Women's Open now gets 20% of the total prize money. For 2024, that's $2.4 million!
Contents
How Players Qualify
The U.S. Women's Open is open to any female golfer, whether they are professional or amateur. Amateur players need to have a good USGA Handicap Index, which means their golf skills are at a certain level. This index must be 2.4 or lower.
Players can get into the tournament in two ways:
- They can be "exempt," meaning they don't have to qualify because they've won other big tournaments.
- They can play in special qualifying rounds and win a spot.
In 2010, the qualifying process became a single stage. Players play 36 holes in one day to try and earn a spot. The rules for being exempt have changed over the years. For example, winners of the U.S. Women's Open from the last ten years are usually exempt. Also, top players from other major tours around the world can qualify.
There is no age limit for players. The youngest golfers to ever qualify were Lucy Li in 2014 and Lexi Thompson in 2007. Both were only 11 and 12 years old!
Winners of major amateur tournaments can also get a spot. For example, the winners of the U.S. Girls' Junior and U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur championships can play. The runner-up (second place) in the U.S. Women's Amateur also qualifies. Winners of the Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship also get to play.
Past Champions
This table shows the winners of the U.S. Women's Open over the years. The number in parentheses after some names shows how many times that player has won the tournament.
| Year | Champion | Score | To Par | Margin of Victory |
Runner(s)-up | Purse ($) |
Winner's share ($) |
Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Yuka Saso (2) |
276 | −4 | 3 strokes | Hinako Shibuno |
12,000,000 | 2,400,000 | Lancaster Country Club , Meadowcreek/Dogwood Course | Lancaster, Pennsylvania |
| 2023 |  Allisen Corpuz |
279 | −9 | 3 strokes |  Charley Hull Jiyai Shin |
11,000,000 | 2,000,000 | Pebble Beach Golf Links | Pebble Beach, California |
| 2022 |  Minjee Lee |
271 | −13 | 4 strokes | Mina Harigae |
10,000,000 | 1,800,000 | Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club | Southern Pines, NC |
| 2021 |  Yuka Saso |
280 | −4 | Playoff | Nasa Hataoka |
5,500,000 | 1,000,000 | Olympic Club, Lake Course | San Francisco, CA |
| 2020 | Kim A-lim |
281 | −3 | 1 stroke | Ko Jin-young Amy Olson |
5,500,000 | 1,000,000 | Champions Golf Club | Houston, TX |
| 2019 | Lee Jeong-eun |
278 | −6 | 2 strokes | Ryu So-yeon Lexi Thompson Angel Yin |
5,500,000 | 1,000,000 | Country Club of Charleston | Charleston, SC |
| 2018 |  Ariya Jutanugarn |
277 | −11 | Playoff | Kim Hyo-joo |
5,000,000 | 900,000 | Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club | Shoal Creek, AL |
| 2017 | Park Sung-hyun |
277 | −11 | 2 strokes | Choi Hye-jin (a) |
5,000,000 | 900,000 | Trump National Golf Club | Bedminster, NJ |
| 2016 | Brittany Lang |
282 | −6 | Playoff |  Anna Nordqvist |
4,500,000 | 810,000 | CordeValle Golf Club | San Martin, CA |
| 2015 | Chun In-gee |
272 | −8 | 1 stroke | Amy Yang |
4,500,000 | 810,000 | Lancaster Country Club | Lancaster, PA |
| 2014 | Michelle Wie |
278 | −2 | 2 strokes | Stacy Lewis |
4,000,000 | 720,000 | Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 2 | Pinehurst, NC |
| 2013 | Inbee Park (2) |
280 | −8 | 4 strokes | I.K. Kim |
3,250,000 | 585,000 | Sebonack Golf Club | Southampton, NY |
| 2012 | Na Yeon Choi |
281 | −7 | 4 strokes | Amy Yang |
3,250,000 | 585,000 | Blackwolf Run, composite course | Kohler, WI |
| 2011 | Ryu So-yeon |
281 | −3 | Playoff | Hee Kyung Seo |
3,250,000 | 585,000 | Broadmoor Golf Club, East Course | Colorado Springs, CO |
| 2010 | Paula Creamer |
281 | −3 | 4 strokes | Na Yeon Choi Suzann Pettersen |
3,250,000 | 585,000 | Oakmont Country Club | Plum, PA |
| 2009 | Ji Eun-hee |
284 | E | 1 stroke | Candie Kung |
3,250,000 | 585,000 | Saucon Valley Country Club | Upper Saucon Township, PA |
| 2008 | Inbee Park |
283 | −9 | 4 strokes | Helen Alfredsson |
3,250,000 | 585,000 | Interlachen Country Club | Edina, MN |
| 2007 | Cristie Kerr |
279 | −5 | 2 strokes |  Angela Park Lorena Ochoa |
3,100,000 | 560,000 | Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club | Southern Pines, NC |
| 2006 | Annika Sörenstam (3) |
284 | E | Playoff | Pat Hurst |
3,100,000 | 560,000 | Newport Country Club | Newport, RI |
| 2005 | Birdie Kim |
287 | +3 | 2 strokes | Brittany Lang (a) Morgan Pressel (a) |
3,100,000 | 560,000 | Cherry Hills Country Club | Cherry Hills Village, CO |
| 2004 | Meg Mallon (2) |
274 | −10 | 2 strokes | Annika Sörenstam |
3,100,000 | 560,000 | The Orchards Golf Club | South Hadley, MA |
| 2003 | Hilary Lunke |
283 | −1 | Playoff | Angela Stanford Kelly Robbins |
3,100,000 | 560,000 | Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Witch Hollow Course | North Plains, OR |
| 2002 | Juli Inkster (2) |
276 | −4 | 2 strokes | Annika Sörenstam |
3,000,000 | 535,000 | Prairie Dunes Golf Club | Hutchinson, KS |
| 2001 | Karrie Webb (2) |
273 | −7 | 8 strokes | Pak Se-ri |
2,900,000 | 520,000 | Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club | Southern Pines, NC |
| 2000 | Karrie Webb |
282 | −6 | 5 strokes | Cristie Kerr Meg Mallon |
2,750,000 | 500,000 | Merit Club | Libertyville, IL |
| 1999 | Juli Inkster |
272 | −16 | 5 strokes | Sherri Turner |
1,750,000 | 315,000 | Old Waverly Golf Club | West Point, MS |
| 1998 | Pak Se-ri |
290 | +6 | Playoff | Jenny Chuasiriporn (a) |
1,500,000 | 267,500 | Blackwolf Run, composite course | Kohler, WI |
| 1997 | Alison Nicholas |
274 | −10 | 1 stroke | Nancy Lopez |
1,300,000 | 232,500 | Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Witch Hollow Course | North Plains, OR |
| 1996 | Annika Sörenstam (2) |
272 | −8 | 6 strokes | Kris Tschetter |
1,200,000 | 212,500 | Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club | Southern Pines, NC |
| 1995 | Annika Sörenstam |
278 | −2 | 1 stroke | Meg Mallon |
1,000,000 | 175,000 | Broadmoor Golf Club, East Course | Colorado Springs, CO |
| 1994 | Patty Sheehan (2) |
277 | −7 | 1 stroke | Tammie Green |
850,000 | 155,000 | Indianwood Golf and Country Club, Old Course | Lake Orion, MI |
| 1993 | Lauri Merten |
280 | −8 | 1 stroke | Helen Alfredsson Donna Andrews |
800,000 | 144,000 | Crooked Stick Golf Club | Carmel, IN |
| 1992 | Patty Sheehan |
280 | −4 | Playoff | Juli Inkster |
700,000 | 130,000 | Oakmont Country Club | Plum, PA |
| 1991 | Meg Mallon |
283 | −1 | 2 strokes | Pat Bradley |
600,000 | 110,000 | Colonial Country Club | Fort Worth, TX |
| 1990 | Betsy King (2) |
284 | −4 | 1 stroke | Patty Sheehan |
500,000 | 85,000 | Atlanta Athletic Club, Riverside Course | Duluth, GA |
| 1989 | Betsy King |
278 | −2 | 4 strokes | Nancy Lopez |
450,000 | 80,000 | Indianwood Golf and Country Club, Old Course | Lake Orion, MI |
| 1988 | Liselotte Neumann |
277 | −7 | 3 strokes | Patty Sheehan |
400,000 | 70,000 | Baltimore Country Club, Five Farms, East Course | Baltimore, MD |
| 1987 | Laura Davies |
285 | −3 | Playoff | Ayako Okamoto JoAnne Carner |
325,000 | 55,000 | Plainfield Country Club | Edison, NJ |
| 1986 | Jane Geddes |
287 | −1 | Playoff |  Sally Little |
300,000 | 50,000 | NCR Country Club | Kettering, OH |
| 1985 | Kathy Baker |
280 | −8 | 3 strokes | Judy Clark |
250,000 | 41,975 | Baltusrol Golf Club, Upper Course | Springfield, NJ |
| 1984 | Hollis Stacy (3) |
290 | +2 | 1 stroke | Rosie Jones |
225,000 | 36,000 | Salem Country Club | Peabody, MA |
| 1983 | Jan Stephenson |
290 | +6 | 1 stroke | JoAnne Carner Patty Sheehan |
200,000 | 32,780 | Cedar Ridge Country Club | Broken Arrow, OK |
| 1982 | Janet Alex |
283 | −5 | 6 strokes | Beth Daniel Donna White JoAnne Carner Sandra Haynie |
175,000 | 27,315 | Del Paso Country Club | Sacramento, CA |
| 1981 | Pat Bradley |
279 | −9 | 1 stroke | Beth Daniel |
150,000 | 22,000 | La Grange Country Club | La Grange, IL |
| 1980 | Amy Alcott |
280 | −4 | 9 strokes | Hollis Stacy |
140,000 | 20,047 | Richland Country Club | Nashville, TN |
| 1979 | Jerilyn Britz |
284 | E | 2 strokes | Debbie Massey Sandra Palmer |
125,000 | 19,000 | Brooklawn Country Club | Fairfield, CT |
| 1978 | Hollis Stacy (2) |
289 | +5 | 1 stroke | JoAnne Carner Sally Little |
100,000 | 15,000 | Country Club of Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN |
| 1977 | Hollis Stacy |
292 | +4 | 2 strokes | Nancy Lopez |
75,000 | 11,040 | Hazeltine National Golf Club | Chaska, MN |
| 1976 | JoAnne Carner (2) |
292 | +8 | Playoff | Sandra Palmer |
60,000 | 9,054 | Rolling Green Golf Club | Springfield, PA |
| 1975 | Sandra Palmer |
295 | +7 | 4 strokes | JoAnne Carner Sandra Post Nancy Lopez (a) |
55,000 | 8,044 | Atlantic City Country Club | Northfield, NJ |
| 1974 | Sandra Haynie |
295 | +7 | 1 stroke | Beth Stone Carol Mann |
40,000 | 6,073 | La Grange Country Club | La Grange, IL |
| 1973 | Susie Berning (3) |
290 | +2 | 5 strokes | Gloria Ehret Shelley Hamlin |
40,000 | 6,000 | Country Club of Rochester | Rochester, NY |
| 1972 | Susie Berning (2) |
299 | +11 | 1 stroke | Kathy Ahern Pam Barnett Judy Rankin |
40,000 | 6,000 | Winged Foot Golf Club, East Course | Mamaroneck, NY |
| 1971 | JoAnne Carner |
288 | E | 7 strokes | Kathy Whitworth |
31,000 | 5,000 | Kahkwa Club | Erie, PA |
| 1970 | Donna Caponi (2) |
287 | +3 | 1 stroke | Sandra Haynie Sandra Spuzich |
20,000 | 4,000 | Muskogee Golf Club | Muskogee, OK |
| 1969 | Donna Caponi |
294 | +2 | 1 stroke | Peggy Wilson |
31,040 | 5,000 | Scenic Hills Country Club | Pensacola, FL |
| 1968 | Susie Berning |
289 | +5 | 3 strokes | Mickey Wright |
25,000 | 5,000 | Moselem Springs Golf Club | Fleetwood, PA |
| 1967 |  Catherine Lacoste (a) |
294 | +6 | 2 strokes | Susie Maxwell Beth Stone |
25,000 | 0 | The Homestead | Hot Springs, VA |
| 1966 | Sandra Spuzich |
297 | +9 | 1 stroke | Carol Mann |
20,000 | 4,000 | Hazeltine National Golf Club | Chaska, MN |
| 1965 | Carol Mann |
290 | +2 | 2 strokes | Kathy Cornelius |
17,780 | 3,800 | Atlantic City Country Club | Northfield, NJ |
| 1964 | Mickey Wright (4) |
290 | −2 | Playoff | Ruth Jessen |
9,900 | 2,090 | San Diego Country Club | Chula Vista, CA |
| 1963 | Mary Mills |
289 | −3 | 3 strokes | Louise Suggs Sandra Haynie |
9,000 | 1,900 | Kenwood Country Club | Cincinnati, OH |
| 1962 | Murle Lindstrom |
301 | +13 | 2 strokes | Ruth Jessen Jo Ann Prentice |
8,000 | 1,800 | Dunes Golf and Beach Club | Myrtle Beach, SC |
| 1961 | Mickey Wright (3) |
293 | +5 | 6 strokes | Betsy Rawls |
8,000 | 1,800 | Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course | Springfield, NJ |
| 1960 | Betsy Rawls (4) |
292 | +4 | 1 stroke | Joyce Ziske |
7,200 | 1,710 | Worcester Country Club | Worcester, MA |
| 1959 |  Mickey Wright (2) |
287 | +7 | 2 strokes | Louise Suggs |
7,200 | 1,800 | Churchill Valley Country Club | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 1958 |  Mickey Wright |
290 | −2 | 5 strokes | Louise Suggs |
7,200 | 1,800 | Forest Lake Country Club | Bloomfield Hills, MI |
| 1957 | Betsy Rawls (3) |
299 | +7 | 6 strokes | Patty Berg |
7,200 | 1,800 | Winged Foot Golf Club, East Course | Mamaroneck, NY |
| 1956 | Kathy Cornelius |
302 | +7 | Playoff | Barbara McIntire (a) |
6,000 | 1,500 | Northland Country Club | Duluth, MN |
| 1955 |  Fay Crocker |
299 | +11 | 4 strokes | Mary Lena Faulk Louise Suggs |
7,500 | 2,000 | Wichita Country Club | Wichita, KS |
| 1954 | Babe Zaharias (3) |
291 | +3 | 12 strokes | Betty Hicks |
7,500 | 2,000 | Salem Country Club | Peabody, MA |
| 1953 | Betsy Rawls (2) |
302 | +6 | Playoff | Jackie Pung |
7,500 | 2,000 | Country Club of Rochester | Rochester, NY |
| 1952 | Louise Suggs (2) |
284 | +8 | 7 strokes | Marlene Bauer Betty Jameson |
7,500 | 1,750 | Bala Golf Club | Philadelphia, PA |
| 1951 | Betsy Rawls |
293 | +5 | 5 strokes | Louise Suggs |
7,500 | 1,500 | Druid Hills Golf Club | Atlanta, GA |
| 1950 | Babe Zaharias (2) |
291 | −9 | 9 strokes | Betsy Rawls (a) |
5,000 | 1,250 | Rolling Hills Country Club | Wichita, KS |
| 1949 | Louise Suggs |
291 | −9 | 14 strokes | Babe Zaharias |
7,500 | 1,500 | Prince George's Golf and Country Club | Landover, MD |
| 1948 | Babe Zaharias |
300 | E | 8 strokes | Betty Hicks |
7,500 | 1,200 | Atlantic City Country Club | Northfield, NJ |
| 1947 | Betty Jameson |
295 | −9 | 6 strokes | Polly Riley (a) Sally Sessions (a) |
7,500 | 1,200 | Starmount Forest Country Club | Greensboro, NC |
| 1946 | Patty Berg † |
5 & 4 | Betty Jameson |
19,700 | 5,600 | Spokane Country Club | Spokane, WA | ||
(a) = Amateur
† = Won 5 and 4 over Betty Jameson in 36-hole match play final
Golfers with Multiple Wins
This table lists the golfers who have won the U.S. Women's Open more than once.
| Career Grand Slam winners ‡ |
| Golfer | Country | Total | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betsy Rawls |  United States |
4 | 1951, 1953, 1957, 1960 |
| Mickey Wright ‡ | United States |
4 | 1958, 1959, 1961, 1964 |
| Babe Zaharias | United States |
3 | 1948, 1950, 1954 |
| Susie Berning | United States |
3 | 1968, 1972, 1973 |
| Hollis Stacy | United States |
3 | 1977, 1978, 1984 |
| Annika Sörenstam ‡ |  Sweden |
3 | 1995, 1996, 2006 |
| Louise Suggs ‡ | United States |
2 | 1949, 1952 |
| Donna Caponi | United States |
2 | 1969, 1970 |
| JoAnne Carner | United States |
2 | 1971, 1976 |
| Betsy King | United States |
2 | 1989, 1990 |
| Patty Sheehan | United States |
2 | 1992, 1994 |
| Karrie Webb ‡ |  Australia |
2 | 2000, 2001 |
| Juli Inkster ‡ | United States |
2 | 1999, 2002 |
| Meg Mallon | United States |
2 | 1991, 2004 |
| Inbee Park |  South Korea |
2 | 2008, 2013 |
| Yuka Saso |  Japan |
2 | 2021, 2024 |
The defending champion has won the title again seven times. The most recent was Karrie Webb in 2001.
Upcoming Tournament Locations
Here are the places where the U.S. Women's Open will be held in the future:
| Year | Edition | Course | Location | Dates | Previous championships hosted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 80th | Erin Hills | Erin, Wisconsin | May 29 – June 1 | |
| 2026 | 81st | Riviera Country Club | Pacific Palisades, California | TBD | |
| 2027 | 82nd | Inverness Club | Toledo, Ohio | TBD | |
| 2028 | 83rd | Oakmont Country Club | Plum, Pennsylvania | TBD | 1992, 2010 |
| 2029 | 84th | Pinehurst No. 2 | Pinehurst, North Carolina | TBD | 2014 |
| 2030 | 85th | Interlachen Country Club | Edina, Minnesota | TBD | 2008 |
| 2031 | 86th | Oakland Hills Country Club | Bloomfield Township, Michigan | TBD | |
| 2032 | 87th | Los Angeles Country Club | Los Angeles, California | TBD | |
| 2033 | 88th | Chicago Golf Club | Wheaton, Illinois | TBD | |
| 2034 | 89th | Merion Golf Club | Haverford, Pennsylvania | TBD | |
| 2035 | 90th | Pebble Beach Golf Links | Pebble Beach, California | TBD | 2023 |
| 2036 | 91th | Shinnecock Hills Golf Club | Shinnecock Hills, New York | TBD |
- Oakmont Country Club will also host in 2038.
- Pebble Beach Golf Links will also host in 2040 and 2048.
- Oakland Hills Country Club will also host in 2042.
- The Country Club (Brookline) will also host in 2045.
- Merion Country Club will also host in 2046.
See also
In Spanish: Abierto de los Estados Unidos Femenino (golf) para niños
- Golf in the United States
