Five Australians will be out to make it a happy 21st anniversary of Karrie Webb’s 2001 triumph when they tee it up at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in North Carolina for the 2022 US Women’s Open.
Starting on Thursday night, AEST, world No.4 Minjee Lee headlines an Australian contingent with four wins between them already this year.
Hannah Green won the Vic Open and TPS Murray River in consecutive weeks prior to the start of the LPGA Tour season, Grace Kim earned her breakthrough victory as a professional at the Epson Tour’s IOA Golf Classic while Lee was victorious at the Cognizant Founders Cup.
Lee has been drawn to play with 2021 US Women’s Open runner-up Nasa Hataoka and Canada’s Brooke Henderson for the opening two rounds while Green is in a star-studded grouping alongside Jessica Korda and Kiwi Lydia Ko.
Webb became just the seventh player in history to successfully defend the US Women’s Open crown in 2001 and she did so in commanding fashion.
In what would be the third of four Major championship victories in the space of just 15 months, Webb was the only player to complete 72 holes at Pine Needles under par, finishing eight strokes clear of Se Ri Pak with a total of seven-under.
Australia’s greatest Major champion made her US Women’s Open debut at Pine Needles in 1996 where she said it was love at first sight.
“I fell in love with Pine Needles so I was looking forward to going back there,” Webb told the USGA of her 2001 victory.
“When the gun went off on Thursday morning, I managed to find the best of myself and that’s what happened that week.
“There are not many times when you feel ready to play well in a Major and then go on and win.
“That’s probably the only time in my career that I knew I was going to play well that week.
“To win by eight shots in such a convincing manner on such a great golf course is still one the favourites that I’ve ever played.
“It’s very special to have your name on a trophy like that.”
Round one tee-times (AEST)
9:22pm* Sarah Kemp, Emma McMyler (a), Dottie Ardina
9:37pm Grace Kim, Minsol Kim (a), Catherine Park (a)
10:28pm* Minjee Lee, Nasa Hataoka, Brooke Henderson
11:05pm Hannah Green, Jessica Korda, Lydia Ko
2:56am Gabriela Ruffels, Laney Frye (a), Cheyenne Knight
TV coverage
Friday
4am-10am – Live round 1 coverage on Fox Sports 505
Saturday
4am-10am – Live round 2 coverage on Fox Sports 505
Sunday
2am-8am – Live round 3 coverage on Fox Sports 505
Monday
2.30am-9am – Live round 4 coverage on Fox Sports 505
Australian player profiles
Minjee Lee
World ranking: 4
Age: 26
Major wins: 1 (2021 Amundi Evian Championship)
LPGA Tour wins: 7
Best finish at US Women’s Open: T-11 in 20175
Best finish in 2022: Won Cognizant Founders Cup
Key stat: 3.460 Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green (1st)
How she qualified: 2021 winner of Amundi Evian Championship; Top 30 points leader on LPGA Tour’s 2021 Race to the CME Globe; Winner of LPGA Tour-sanctioned event from 2021 US Women’s Open to start of the 2022 championship; Top 75 in Rolex Rankings as of April 6
Hannah Green
World ranking: 19
Age: 25
Major wins: 1 (2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship)
LPGA Tour wins: 2
Best finish at US Women’s Open: T-34 in 2019
Best finish in 2022: Won Vic Open and TPS Murray River
Key stat: 74.80 per cent Greens in Regulation (7th)
How she qualified: 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship winner; Top 30 points leader in LPGA Tour’s 2021 Race to the CME Globe; Top 75 in Rolex Rankings as of April 6
Gabriela Ruffels
World ranking: 162
Age: 22
Major wins: 0
LPGA Tour wins: 0
Best finish at US Women’s Open: T-13 in 2020
Best finish in 2022: T-12 Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic (Epson Tour)
Key stat: 78.57 per cent Sand Saves (7th on Epson Tour)
How she qualified: Qualified at Madera, California, site on May 10
Sarah Kemp
World ranking: 179
Age: 36
Major wins: 0
LPGA Tour wins: 0
Best finish at US Women’s Open: 67th in 2010
Best finish in 2022: T-8 Australian Women’s Classic – Bonville
Key stat: Two Eagles (32nd)
How she qualified: Qualified at Alexandria, Virginia, site on May 11
Grace Kim
World ranking: 247
Age: 21
Major wins: 0
LPGA Tour wins: 0
Best finish at US Women’s Open: First appearance
Best finish in 2022: Won IOA Golf Classic (Epson Tour)
Key stat: 1.71 Putts Per Green in Regulation (2nd on Epson Tour)
How she qualified: Qualified at Morristown, New Jersey, site on May 10
