| Samsung World Championship | |
| Location: | La Jolla, California |
| Establishment: | 1980 |
| Course: | Torrey Pines, South Course |
| Tour: | LPGA Tour |
| Format: | Stroke play |
| Purse: | US $1,000,000 (in 2009) |
| Month Played: | September |
| Current Champion: | Na Yeon Choi |
The Samsung World Championship was an annual golf tournament played between 1980 and 2009, for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour. It was a limited field event, open by invitation only.
The tournament was founded in 1980 by Mark McCormack, founder of the sports management firm IMG, originally with the world's top-12 LPGA players. The field was increased to 16 players in 1996 and to 20 in 1999. Electronics manufacturer Samsung became the title sponsor in 1995.
Tournament names through the years:
The 2009 championship included 20 players: the previous year's defending champion; the 2008 Vare Trophy winner; the 2008 LPGA Money Winner; the winners of the four 2009 women's major golf championships: the Kraft Nabisco Championship, McDonald's LPGA Championship, U.S. Women's Open, and Women's British Open; the leading player from the Ladies European Tour in 2009; one sponsor's exemption selected by the championship selection committee; the leading "active" LPGA Hall of Fame member on the LPGA Official Money List in 2009; and the top money winners on the LPGA Tour from the 2009 season.
The 2009 participants listed in order of qualification or invitation:[1]
| Year | Champion | Country | Score | Tournament Location | Purse | Winner's Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 272 (-16) | Torrey Pines Golf Course, South Course | $1,000,000 | $250,000 | |||
| 2008 | 279 | Half Moon Bay Golf Links, Ocean Course | $1,000,000 | $250,000 | |||
| 2007 | 270 | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $1,000,000 | $250,000 | |||
| 2006 | Lorena Ochoa | 272 | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $875,000 | $218,750 | ||
| 2005 | 270 | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $850,000 | $212,500 | |||
| 2004 | 270 | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $825,000 | $206,250 | |||
| 2003 | 274 | The Players Club at the Woodlands | $800,000 | $200,000 | |||
| 2002 | 266 | Hiddenbrooke Golf Club | $775,000 | $162,000 | |||
| 2001 | 277 | Hiddenbrooke Golf Club | $750,000 | $157,000 | |||
| 2000 | 274 | Hiddenbrooke Golf Club | $725,000 | $152,000 | |||
| 1999 | 280 | Rush Creek Golf Club | $700,000 | $150,000 | |||
| 1998 | 275 | Villages in Lady Lake | $550,000 | $137,000 | |||
| 1997 | 280 | Lakeside Country Club | $525,000 | $131,000 | |||
| 1996 | 274 | Ildong Lakes Golf Club | $500,000 | $125,000 | |||
| 1995 | 282 | Paradise Golf Club | $475,000 | $117,500 | |||
| 1994 | 274 | Naples National Golf Club | $425,000 | $105,000 | |||
| 1993 | 283 | Naples National Golf Club | $400,000 | $102,500 | |||
| No tournament | |||||||
| 1991 | 216 | Paradise Palms Golf Club | $325,000 | $100,000 | |||
| 1990 | 278 | Cely Golf Club | $325,000 | $100,000 | |||
| 1989 | 275 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $265,000 | $83,500 | |||
| 1988 | 270 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $265,000 | $81,500 | |||
| 1987 | 282 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $250,000 | $81,500 | |||
| 1986 | 279 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $240,000 | $78,000 | |||
| 1985 | 274 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $200,000 | $65,000 | |||
| 1984 | 281 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $200,000 | $65,000 | |||
| 1983 | 282 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $200,000 | $65,000 | |||
| 1982 | 284 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $150,000 | $50,000 | |||
| 1981 | 284 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $150,000 | $50,000 | |||
| 1980 | 280 | The Country Club | $150,000 | $46,500 | |||
| Year | Player | Score | Round | Course | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 62 (-10) | 1st round | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | ||
| 2009 | 63 (-9) | 3rd round | Torrey Pines Golf Course |