75th U.S. Women’s Open – All The Facts & Figures

 

75th U.S. Women’s Open Championship – Fact Sheet

Dec. 10-13, 2020, Champions Golf Club (Cypress Creek & Jackrabbit Courses), Houston, Texas
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COURSE SETUP

For the first time in U.S. Women’s Open history, the championship will be played on two courses. To account for reduced daylight given the move to December, the Jackrabbit Course at Champions Golf Club will be used in conjunction with the Cypress Creek Course, which was originally slated to host all four rounds of championship play. The Jackrabbit will co-host Rounds 1 and 2.

The Cypress Creek Course will be set up at 6,731 yards and will play to a par of 36-35–71. The Jackrabbit Course will be set up at 6,558 yards and will play to a par of 36-35—71.

CYPRESS CREEK COURSE HOLE BY HOLE

Hole     1          2          3          4          5          6          7          8          9          Total

Par       4          4          4          3          5          4          4          3          5          36

Yards   419      404      387      177      485      406      411      158      505      3352

 

Hole     10        11        12        13        14        15        16        17        18        Total

Par       4          4          3          5          4          4          3          4          4          35

Yards   405      423      208      516      415      407      168      399      438      3379

JACKRABBIT COURSE HOLE BY HOLE

Hole     1          2          3          4          5          6          7          8          9          Total

Par       5          4          4          3          4          4          3          4          5          36

Yards   502      349      408      171      394      410      153      425      524      3336

Hole     10        11        12        13        14        15        16        17        18        Total

Par       5          3          4          4          4          4          3          4          4          35

Yards   539      196      328      367      405      420      145      398      424      3222

Note: Yardages subject to change.

ABOUT CHAMPIONS GOLF CLUB

Champions Golf Club was founded in 1957 by multiple major champions Jackie Burke Jr. and Jimmy Demaret in their hometown of Houston, Texas. They enlisted fellow Houstonian Ralph Plummer to be the architect of the esteemed Cypress Creek Course, which opened in 1959. Cypress Creek was carved into a beautiful forest , with wide fairways and enormous greens. The Jackrabbit Course, designed by George Fazio, opened for play in 1964.

The first high-profile event the club hosted was the 1967 Ryder Cup, when Ben Hogan captained the United States team to a 15-point victory. It has since held the 1969 U.S. Open, 1993 U.S. Amateur, two U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur championships and five PGA Tour Championships. It also hosted a PGA Tour event (the Houston/Champions Invitational) five times between 1966 and 1971.

ENTRIES
The championship is open to any female professional, and any female amateur golfer with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 2.4. The 2015 championship at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club holds the entry record with 1,873. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open will feature a fully exempt field.

QUALIFYING
For the first time in 45 years, the U.S. Women’s Open will be contested without pre-championship qualifying. Due to health and safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the championship field will be composed entirely of exempt players.

CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD

A starting field of 156 golfers will be cut after 36 holes to the low 60 scorers and ties.

Click here to see a list of the current field.

EXEMPTIONS

The following is a list of those exemption categories as established by the USGA for the 75th U.S. Women’s Open:

1.     Winners of the U.S. Women’s Open Championship for the last 10 years (2010-2019)
2.     From the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, the 10 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 10th place
3.     Winner of the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship
4.     Winners of the 2019 U.S. Girls’ Junior and U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships, and the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur runner-up (must be an amateur)
5.     Winners of the ANA Inspiration Championship the last five years (2016-2020)
6.     Winners of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (2016-2019)
7.     Winners of the Evian Championship the last five years (2015-2019)
8.     Winners of the AIG Women’s British Open Championship the last five years (2015-2019)
9.     The top 30 points leaders from the 2019 LPGA Race to the CME Globe
10.  Winners of LPGA Tour co-sponsored events, whose victories are considered official, from the conclusion of the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open Championship to the originally scheduled 2020 U.S. Women’s Open Championship (June 1-7)
11.  Winner of the 2019 Women’s Amateur Championship conducted by The R&A (must be an amateur)
12.  Winner of the 2019 Mark H. McCormack Medal (Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking®; must be an amateur)
13.  From the 2020 official LPGA Tour money list, the top 10 money leaders, not otherwise exempt, through the close of entries (Nov. 11, 2020)
14.  From the 2020 official Symetra Tour money list, the top five money leaders, not otherwise exempt, through the close of entries (Nov. 11, 2020)
15.  From Week 11 (March 16, 2020) of the Rolex Rankings, the top 75 points leaders and ties
16.  Top five Ladies European Tour (LET) members from the final 2019 LET Order of Merit and the top five money leaders from the final 2019 Japan LPGA and Korea LPGA Tours
17.  Top three money leaders from the 2019 China LPGA Tour
18.  The top two players, not otherwise exempt, in the top 10 and ties of the 2020 NW Arkansas Championship, Cambria Portland Classic, ShopRite LPGA Classic, and the top three players, not otherwise exempt, in the top 10 and ties of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
19.  From the Nov. 4 Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking®/WAGR®, the top 20 point leaders within the top 100 in the ranking who apply to play and are not otherwise exempt as of Nov. 4. (Must have filed an entry by Nov. 11 and still be an amateur)
20.  Remaining spots in the championship field filled in order using the Rolex Rankings as of Nov. 9
21.  Special exemptions as selected by the USGA

SCHEDULE OF PLAY
Practice rounds will be played Monday, Dec. 7 through Wednesday, Dec. 9. Eighteen holes of stroke play are scheduled each day from Thursday, Dec. 10, through Sunday, Dec. 13. If the championship is tied after four rounds, a two-hole aggregate playoff will take place immediately following the conclusion of the fourth round. If the playoff results in a tie, play will immediately continue hole by hole until a champion is determined.

TELEVISION COVERAGE

In June 2020, the United States media rights for USGA championships transferred from Fox Sports to NBCUniversal effective through 2026. NBCUniversal will broadcast all four USGA championships in 2020. The 75th U.S. Women’s Open will receive more than 25 hours of live coverage across NBC, Golf Channel and Peacock, with more than 50 hours of U.S. Women’s Open-related programming airing across NBCUniversal during the course of the week.

Led by 29-time Emmy Award-winning producer Tommy Roy, the network’s coverage of the U.S. Women’s Open will be anchored by Dan Hicks and Grant Boone (play by play), along with Paige Mackenzie and Judy Rankin (lead analyst), as well as Tom Abbott (holes). Kay Cockerill, Jim “Bones” Mackay, Karen Stupples and Billy Ray Brown will serve as on-course reporters, while Cara Banks will conduct interviews with those in the field.

Tuesday and Wednesday (Dec. 8-9), Golf Channel will commemorate some of the most memorable editions of the U.S. Women’s Open with special episodes of Golf’s Greatest Rounds. The series will celebrate the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET), recounting Michelle Wie’s victory at Pinehurst (N.C.). Alison Nicholas’ 1997 victory at Pumpkin Ridge (Ore.) will be revisited on Wednesday (11 a.m. ET), along with Cristie Kerr’s 2007 triumph (9 p.m. ET) at Pine Needles (N.C.).

In addition to Golf’s Greatest Rounds episodes, Golf Films also will air a one-hour special, Greatest Moments of the U.S. Women’s Open, which will air on NBC immediately following the conclusion of final-round coverage on Sunday, Dec. 13.

A full programming schedule can be found here.

Date/Day                    Time (Local/CST)        Channel                      Coverage

Dec. 9/Wednesday     1-2:30 p.m.                  Golf Channel                Practice Round Show

Dec. 10/Thursday       9:30-11:30 a.m.           Peacock                       First Round

11:30-5 p.m.               Golf Channel                First Round

Dec. 11/Friday             12-2 p.m.                    Peacock                       Second Round

2-5 p.m                       Golf Channel                Second Round

Dec. 12/Saturday        10 a.m-12 p.m.           Golf Channel                Third Round

12-1:30 p.m.               Peacock                       Third Round

1:30-5 p.m.                 NBC                             Third Round

Dec. 13/Sunday          10 a.m-1 p.m.             Golf Channel                Fourth Round

1 p.m.-4 p.m.              NBC                             Fourth Round

 

*All Times CST

WHAT THE WINNER RECEIVES

The champion will receive the Mickey Wright Medal, custody of the Harton S. Semple Trophy for the ensuing year and an exemption from qualifying for the next 10 U.S. Women’s Open Championships.

In 2019, the purse for the U.S. Women’s Open increased to $5.5 million, the largest in women’s golf, with the champion receiving $1 million, provided she is a professional.

2019 CHAMPION

Jeongeun Lee6 of the Republic of Korea broke out of a crowded leader board with three back-nine birdies and withstood some late struggles to shoot 1-under-par 70 and win the 74th U.S. Women’s Open Championship by two strokes over a trio of players at the Country Club of Charleston. Lee6 earned $1 million in notching her first victory in the United States. The six-time winner in three seasons on the Korea LPGA Tour shot 70-69-69-70 for a 6-under-par total of 278.

In the early going of the final round, seven players held a share of the lead, and there were at least five players tightly bunched as Lee6 made the turn in even-par 36, playing in the third-to-last group with Mamiko Higa of Japan. Most of the leaders struggled out of the gate, and as the final group of former Duke University teammates Celine Boutier and Yu Liu played the par-5 fifth hole, the last nine pairings stood a combined 23 over par for the day.

Lee6 assumed control with an impressive up-and-down on No. 10, hitting the flagstick for a tap-in par from 70 feet, then birdieing the difficult par-3 11th (8 feet) and the par-4 12th (5 feet). After solid two-putt pars from about 18 feet on Nos. 13 and 14, Lee6 knocked a 50-yard wedge approach to 4 feet and made birdie on the par-5 15th for a three-stroke lead. That is when she grasped the task ahead of her on the difficult closing holes.

Boutier had the best opportunity to catch Lee6, who slipped to 6 under after missing the green on both Nos. 16 and 18. Boutier stuffed her approach on No. 16 to 3½ feet, but lipped out the birdie putt that would have brought her to 6 under. Boutier came to No. 18 still needing a birdie to tie, but she bunkered her approach, took two shots to reach the green and then lipped out her putt, making a double bogey that dropped her into a tie for fifth.

Lexi Thompson, Angel Yin and 2011 U.S. Women’s Open champion So Yeon Ryu finished tied for second place, two strokes back at 4-under 280, while Boutier was in a group of five players at 3-under 281.

Lee6’s final round of 70 was her eighth under-par effort in 12 career U.S. Women’s Open rounds. Lee6 finished fifth in her championship debut in 2017 at Trump Bedminster and tied for 17th in 2018 at Shoal Creek. Her victory marked the 18th victory in the last 36 major championships for players from the Republic of Korea, and she is also the 11th different player in 11 years to win the U.S. Women’s Open and the ninth different player to win a major in the past nine.

TITLE DEFENCE

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).

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

This is the 75th 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.

THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED

Last international winner: Jeongeun Lee6 (2019)

Last to defend title: Karrie Webb (2001)

Last champion to win Women’s Open on first attempt: In Gee Chun (2015)

Last winner to win Women’s Open on second attempt: Sung Hyun Park (2017)

Last amateur to win Women’s Open: Catherine Lacoste (1967)

Last start-to-finish winner: Annika Sorenstam (2006)

Last winner to win money title in same year: Inbee Park (2013)

Last winner to birdie the 72nd hole: So Yeon Ryu (2011)

Last winner to birdie the 72nd hole to force playoff: So Yeon Ryu (2011)

Last winner to birdie the 72nd hole to win by one stroke: Eun-Hee Ji (2009)

Last to win with four sub-par rounds: Jeongeun Lee6 (2019)

Last to win without a round in the 60s: Eun-Hee Ji (2009)

Last player to win after being in local qualifying: Hilary Lunke (2003)

Last player to win after being in final qualifying: Birdie Kim (2005)

Last winner younger than 20: Inbee Park, 19 (2008)

Last winner between ages 20-29: Jeonguen Lee6, 23 (2019)

Last winner between ages 30-39: Brittany Lang, 30 (2016)

Last winner over age 40: Meg Mallon, 41 (2004)

Last defending champion to miss the cut: Sung Hyun Park (2018)

A DECEMBER OPEN

In April 2020, the 75th U.S. Women’s Open Championship, originally scheduled for June 4-7, 2020, was postponed to Dec. 10-13 due to evolving dynamics of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

This marks the first time that the U.S. Women’s Open will be played in December. Babe Didrikson Zaharias was crowned the 1950 champion on Sept. 30. Since the USGA has conducted the U.S. Women’s Open, starting in 1953, the championship has only been played in May, June and July.

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT CHAMPIONS GOLF CLUB
1969 U.S. Open (Orville Moody)

1993 U.S. Amateur (John Harris)

1998 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur (Virginia Derby Grimes)

2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur (Kelsey Chugg)

2020 U.S. Women’s Open

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN TEXAS

The 2020 U.S. Women’s Open will be the 31st USGA championship conducted in the state of Texas. Most recently, Champions Golf Club hosted the 2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship won by Kelsey Chugg. The only other U.S. Women’s Open held in Texas was in 1991 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, when Meg Mallon defeated Pat Bradley by two strokes to win her first of two U.S. Women’s Open titles.

MOST USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS HOSTED BY VENUES IN TEXAS

5 – Champions Golf Club, Houston

3 – Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands

2 – Brookhaven Country Club, Dallas

2 – Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth

2 – Shadow Hawk Golf Club, Richmond

OTHER NOTABLE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT CHAMPIONS GOLF CLUB

1966 Houston Champions International (Arnold Palmer)
1967 Ryder Cup (United States)
1967 Houston Champions International (Frank Beard)
1968 Houston Champions International (Roberto De Vicenzo)
1970 Houston Champions International (Gibby Gilbert)
1971 Houston Champions International (Hubert Green)
1973 Southern Amateur (Ben Crenshaw)
1980 Southern Amateur (Bob Tway)
1990 Nabisco Championship (Jodie Mudd)
1997 Tour Championship (David Duval)
1999 Tour Championship (Tiger Woods)
2001 Tour Championship (Mike Weir)
2003 Tour Championship (Chad Campbell)

FUTURE U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN SITES

June 3-6, 2021: The Olympic Club, San Francisco, Calif.

June 2-5, 2022: Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Southern Pines, S.C.

June 1-4, 2023, Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links

May 30-June 2, 2024: Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club

May 29-June 1, 2025: Erin Hills, Erin, Wis.

MEDIA OPERATIONS 
Please contact Julia Pine for more information regarding U.S. Women’s Open coverage at jpine@usga.org or (510) 701-1491.

All information regarding the U.S. Open will be available at uswomensopen.com and mediacenter.usga.org. For more information about the USGA, visit usga.org. USGA communications will also share information through a Twitter handle @USGA_PR to deliver news related to the championship.

Additionally, media operations at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open will be predominantly remote. To replicate the typical on-site media experience at the U.S. Women’s Open, the USGA will feature the U.S. Women’s Open Virtual Media Hub. Media outlets can apply for remote access to the Virtual Media Hub at this link. Please limit to one application per outlet.

 



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