# U.S. Women's Open

The U.S. Women's Open, one of 15 national golf championships conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA), is the oldest of the LPGA Tour's five major championships, which includes the Chevron Championship, Women's PGA Championship, Women's Open Championship, and The Evian Championship.
Established 79 years ago in 1946, the U.S. Women's Open is the only event to have been recognized as a major by the LPGA since the group's founding in 1950. Originally operated by the Women's Professional Golfers Association (WPGA) for its first three years and the LPGA for the next four, it became a USGA event in 1953. Since 2018, the tournament has normally been held the week after Memorial Day. The U.S. Women's Open is the second major of the LPGA season and has the highest purse in women's golf. The most recent increase, announced in January 2022, saw the purse nearly double from its previous $5.5 million (2019–2021) to $10 million starting in 2022. The 2022 purse increase came about when the nonprofit health care company ProMedica was announced as the tournament's presenting sponsor.
For 2020, it was the final major of the year and be held for the first time over two courses, as it was postponed to December, due to the COVID-19 pandemic that postponed golf tournaments from March through June.
In 2007, international players outnumbered Americans for the first time. The 2008 tournament was won South Korean Inbee Park, who became the event's youngest winner ever at age 19 years, 11 months, 17 days. In 2021, Yuka Saso matched Park as the youngest winner ever.
Since 2018, the U.S. Women's Open has normally been held prior to its men's counterpart rather than following it and the U.S. Senior Open. In announcing this schedule change, the USGA stated that it would "provide optimum playing conditions for the world's best players across a broader variety of the country's finest golf courses."
The playoff format was modified in 2018, reduced from three to two aggregate holes, followed by sudden death. The last 18-hole playoff was in 2006; the three-hole playoff was introduced the following year and used in 2011 and 2016.
The USGA announced on May 29, the men's and women's open winner for 2024 now earns 20% of the total purse; $2.4 million for this year's Women's Open winner. The boost in prize money also came with a change in presenting sponsor, with Ally Financial taking over as headline partner.

## Qualification

The U.S. Women's Open is open to any professional or amateur female golfer. Amateurs must have an up-to-date USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4, lowered in 2014 from 4.4 in 2013. Players may obtain a place by being exempt or by competing successfully in qualifying.
In 2002, a two-stage method of qualification was introduced: 18 holes for local qualifying and 36 holes for sectional qualifying. In 2010, the qualification process reverted to a single sectional stage of 36 holes played on a single day.
The criteria for exemption from qualifying has changed through the years. In 2010, there were eleven exemption categories, including winners of the U.S. Women's Open for the last ten years, winners of the other three majors for the last five years, the top 50 from the previous year's LPGA Tour money list, the top five from the previous year's Japan LPGA Tour, Korea LPGA Tour, and Ladies European Tour money lists, and official winners of LPGA co-sponsored events for the 52-week period prior to the U.S. Women's Open.
There is no upper or lower age limit. The youngest-ever qualifiers were 11-year-old Lucy Li in 2014, and 12-year-old Lexi Thompson in 2007.
Winners of major amateur tournaments are also exempt. Currently, winners of the U.S. Girls' Junior, and U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur and the finalist of the U.S. Women's Amateur (all USGA events) are exempt provided they did not turn professional beforehand. Winners of the Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship will qualify effective with the inaugural tournament in 2019. The U.S. Women's Amateur champion is exempt, regardless of turning professional between the Women's Amateur and the U.S. Women's Open as a result of an August 2019 rule change by the USGA.

## Winners

The number following some winners' names indicates the cumulative number of U.S. Women's Open wins for that player.
| 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, PA |
| 2023 | Allisen Corpuz | 279 | −9 | 3 strokes | Charley Hull Jiyai Shin | 11,000,000 | 2,000,000 | Pebble Beach Golf Links | Pebble Beach, CA |
| 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, Cypress Creek and Jackrabbit Courses | 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 | 5 & 4 | 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
* ↑ The club is located in a portion of the Duluth postal area that became part of the newly incorporated city of Johns Creek in 2006. Although the club is still served by the Duluth post office, it now lists its mailing address as Johns Creek.

## Multiple champions

This table lists the golfers who have won more than one U.S. Women's Open.
* 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 retained the title on seven occasions, most recently in 2001:
   * 2001 - Karrie Webb
   * 1996 - Annika Sörenstam
   * 1990 - Betsy King
   * 1978 - Hollis Stacy
   * 1973 - Susie Berning
   * 1970 - Donna Caponi
   * 1959 - Mickey Wright

## Future sites

| 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 | June 4–7 | |
| 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 is also slated to host in 2038.
* Pebble Beach Golf Links is also slated to host in 2040 and 2048.
* Oakland Hills Country Club is also slated to host in 2042.
* The Country Club (Brookline) is slated to host in 2045.
* Merion Country Club is also slated to host in 2046.
Source: