| U.S. Women's Open | |
| Location: | Lancaster, Pennsylvania (in 2024) |
| Establishment: | 1946, |
| Org: | USGA (since 1953) |
| Course: | Lancaster Country Club Meadowcreek/Dogwood Course (in 2024) |
| Par: | 70 (in 2024) |
| Yardage: | 6546yd (in 2024) |
| Tour: | LPGA Tour |
| Format: | Stroke play |
| Purse: | $12 million (in 2024) |
| Month Played: | May/June |
| Aggregate: | 271 Minjee Lee (2022) |
| To-Par: | –16 Juli Inkster (1999) |
| Current Champion: |  Yuka Saso |
| Current: | 2024 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 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.[1] 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)[2] 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.[3]
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.[4]
In 2007, international players outnumbered Americans for the first time.[5] 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.[6]
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."[7]
The playoff format was modified in 2018, reduced from three to two aggregate holes, followed by sudden death.[8] 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.[9] The boost in prize money also came with a change in presenting sponsor, with Ally Financial taking over as headline partner.
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,[10] lowered in 2014 from 4.4 in 2013.[11] 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.[12]
There is no upper or lower age limit. The youngest-ever qualifiers were 11-year-old Lucy Li in 2014,[13] and 12-year-old Lexi Thompson in 2007.[14]
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.[15]
See also: List of U.S. Women's Open champions. 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 ($)[16] | Winner's share ($) | Venue | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuka Saso (2) | 276 | −4 | 3 strokes | 12,000,000 | 2,400,000 | Lancaster Country Club, Meadowcreek/Dogwood Course | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | |||
| 279 | −9 | 3 strokes | 11,000,000 | 2,000,000 | Pebble Beach, California | |||||
| 271 | −13 | 4 strokes | 10,000,000 | 1,800,000 | Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club | Southern Pines, NC | ||||
| 280 | −4 | Playoff | 5,500,000 | 1,000,000 | Olympic Club, Lake Course | |||||
| 281 | −3 | 1 stroke | 5,500,000 | 1,000,000 | ||||||
| 278 | −6 | 2 strokes | 5,500,000 | 1,000,000 | ||||||
| 277 | −11 | Playoff | 5,000,000 | 900,000 | ||||||
| 277 | −11 | 2 strokes | 5,000,000 | 900,000 | Bedminster, NJ | |||||
| 282 | −6 | Playoff | 4,500,000 | 810,000 | San Martin, CA | |||||
| 272 | −8 | 1 stroke | 4,500,000 | 810,000 | Lancaster, PA | |||||
| 278 | −2 | 2 strokes | 4,000,000 | 720,000 | Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 2 | |||||
 Inbee Park (2) | 280 | −8 | 4 strokes | 3,250,000 | 585,000 | |||||
| 281 | −7 | 4 strokes | 3,250,000 | 585,000 | Blackwolf Run, composite course | Kohler, WI | ||||
| 281 | −3 | Playoff | 3,250,000 | 585,000 | Broadmoor Golf Club, East Course | |||||
| align=center | 281 | −3 | 4 strokes | 3,250,000 | 585,000 | Plum, PA | ||||
| 284 | E | 1 stroke | 3,250,000 | 585,000 | Upper Saucon Township, PA | |||||
| 283 | −9 | 4 strokes | 3,250,000 | 585,000 | ||||||
| 279 | −5 | 2 strokes | 3,100,000 | 560,000 | Southern Pines, NC | |||||
 Annika Sörenstam (3) | 284 | E | Playoff | 3,100,000 | 560,000 | Newport Country Club | Newport, RI | |||
| 287 | +3 | 2 strokes | 3,100,000 | 560,000 | Cherry Hills Village, CO | |||||
 Meg Mallon (2) | 274 | −10 | 2 strokes | 3,100,000 | 560,000 | South Hadley, MA | ||||
| 283 | −1 | Playoff | 3,100,000 | 560,000 | Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Witch Hollow Course | North Plains, OR | ||||
| Juli Inkster (2) | 276 | −4 | 2 strokes | 3,000,000 | 535,000 | Hutchinson, KS | ||||
 Karrie Webb (2) | 273 | −7 | 8 strokes | 2,900,000 | 520,000 | |||||
| 282 | −6 | 5 strokes | 2,750,000 | 500,000 | Libertyville, IL | |||||
| 272 | −16 | 5 strokes | 1,750,000 | 315,000 | West Point, MS | |||||
| 290 | +6 | Playoff | 1,500,000 | 267,500 | Blackwolf Run, composite course | Kohler, WI | ||||
| 274 | −10 | 1 stroke | 1,300,000 | 232,500 | Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Witch Hollow Course | North Plains, OR | ||||
| Annika Sörenstam (2) | 272 | −8 | 6 strokes | 1,200,000 | 212,500 | Southern Pines, NC | ||||
| 278 | −2 | 1 stroke | 1,000,000 | 175,000 | Broadmoor Golf Club, East Course | Colorado Springs, CO | ||||
| Patty Sheehan (2) | 277 | −7 | 1 stroke | 850,000 | 155,000 | Indianwood Golf and Country Club, Old Course | Lake Orion, MI | |||
| 280 | −8 | 1 stroke | 800,000 | 144,000 | ||||||
| 280 | −4 | Playoff | 700,000 | 130,000 | Plum, PA | |||||
| 283 | −1 | 2 strokes | 600,000 | 110,000 | Fort Worth, TX | |||||
| Betsy King (2) | 284 | −4 | 1 stroke | 500,000 | 85,000 | Atlanta Athletic Club, Riverside Course | Duluth, GA | |||
| 278 | −2 | 4 strokes | 450,000 | 80,000 | Indianwood Golf and Country Club, Old Course | Lake Orion, MI | ||||
| 277 | −7 | 3 strokes | 400,000 | 70,000 | Baltimore Country Club, Five Farms, East Course | Baltimore, MD | ||||
| 285 | −3 | Playoff | 325,000 | 55,000 | Edison, NJ | |||||
| 287 | −1 | Playoff | 300,000 | 50,000 | Kettering, OH | |||||
| 280 | −8 | 3 strokes | 250,000 | 41,975 | Baltusrol Golf Club, Upper Course | Springfield, NJ | ||||
| Hollis Stacy (3) | 290 | +2 | 1 stroke | 225,000 | 36,000 | Peabody, MA | ||||
| 290 | +6 | 1 stroke | 200,000 | 32,780 | Broken Arrow, OK | |||||
| 283 | −5 | 6 strokes | 175,000 | 27,315 | Sacramento, CA | |||||
| 279 | −9 | 1 stroke | 150,000 | 22,000 | La Grange, IL | |||||
| 280 | −4 | 9 strokes | 140,000 | 20,047 | ||||||
| 284 | E | 2 strokes | 125,000 | 19,000 | Fairfield, CT | |||||
| Hollis Stacy (2) | 289 | +5 | 1 stroke | 100,000 | 15,000 | Indianapolis, IN | ||||
| 292 | +4 | 2 strokes | 75,000 | 11,040 | Chaska, MN | |||||
| JoAnne Carner (2) | 292 | +8 | Playoff | 60,000 | 9,054 | Springfield, PA | ||||
| 295 | +7 | 4 strokes | 55,000 | 8,044 | Northfield, NJ | |||||
| 295 | +7 | 1 stroke | 40,000 | 6,073 | La Grange, IL | |||||
| Susie Berning (3) | 290 | +2 | 5 strokes | 40,000 | 6,000 | Rochester, NY | ||||
| Susie Berning (2) | 299 | +11 | 1 stroke | 40,000 | 6,000 | Winged Foot Golf Club, East Course | Mamaroneck, NY | |||
| 288 | E | 7 strokes | 31,000 | 5,000 | Erie, PA | |||||
| Donna Caponi (2) | 287 | +3 | 1 stroke | 20,000 | 4,000 | Muskogee, OK | ||||
| 294 | +2 | 1 stroke | 31,040 | 5,000 | Pensacola, FL | |||||
| 289 | +5 | 3 strokes | 25,000 | 5,000 | Fleetwood, PA | |||||
| 294 | +6 | 2 strokes | 25,000 | 0 | Hot Springs, VA | |||||
| 297 | +9 | 1 stroke | 20,000 | 4,000 | Chaska, MN | |||||
| 290 | +2 | 2 strokes | 17,780 | 3,800 | Northfield, NJ | |||||
| Mickey Wright (4) | 290 | −2 | Playoff | 9,900 | 2,090 | Chula Vista, CA | ||||
| 289 | −3 | 3 strokes | 9,000 | 1,900 | Cincinnati, OH | |||||
| 301 | +13 | 2 strokes | 8,000 | 1,800 | Myrtle Beach, SC | |||||
| Mickey Wright (3) | 293 | +5 | 6 strokes | 8,000 | 1,800 | Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course | Springfield, NJ | |||
| Betsy Rawls (4) | 292 | +4 | 1 stroke | 7,200 | 1,710 | Worcester, MA | ||||
| Mickey Wright (2) | 287 | +7 | 2 strokes | 7,200 | 1,800 | Pittsburgh, PA | ||||
| 290 | −2 | 5 strokes | 7,200 | 1,800 | Bloomfield Hills, MI | |||||
| Betsy Rawls (3) | 299 | +7 | 6 strokes | 7,200 | 1,800 | Winged Foot Golf Club, East Course | Mamaroneck, NY | |||
| 302 | +7 | Playoff | 6,000 | 1,500 | Duluth, MN | |||||
| 299 | +11 | 4 strokes | 7,500 | 2,000 | Wichita, KS | |||||
| Babe Zaharias (3) | 291 | +3 | 12 strokes | 7,500 | 2,000 | Peabody, MA | ||||
| Betsy Rawls (2) | 302 | +6 | Playoff | 7,500 | 2,000 | |||||
| Louise Suggs (2) | 284 | +8 | 7 strokes | 7,500 | 1,750 | Bala Golf Club | Philadelphia, PA | |||
| 293 | +5 | 5 strokes | 7,500 | 1,500 | Atlanta, GA | |||||
| Babe Zaharias (2) | 291 | −9 | 9 strokes | 5,000 | 1,250 | Wichita, KS | ||||
| 291 | −9 | 14 strokes | 7,500 | 1,500 | Landover, MD | |||||
| 300 | E | 8 strokes | 7,500 | 1,200 | Northfield, NJ | |||||
| 295 | −9 | 6 strokes | 7,500 | 1,200 | Greensboro, NC | |||||
| Patty Berg † | 5 & 4 | 19,700 | 5,600 | Spokane, WA | ||||||
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 | 4 | 1951, 1953, 1957, 1960 | ||
| Mickey Wright ‡ | 4 | 1958, 1959, 1961, 1964 | ||
| Babe Zaharias | 3 | 1948, 1950, 1954 | ||
| Susie Berning | 3 | 1968, 1972, 1973 | ||
| Hollis Stacy | 3 | 1977, 1978, 1984 | ||
| Annika Sörenstam ‡ | 3 | 1995, 1996, 2006 | ||
| Louise Suggs ‡ | 2 | 1949, 1952 | ||
| Donna Caponi | 2 | 1969, 1970 | ||
| JoAnne Carner | 2 | 1971, 1976 | ||
| Betsy King | 2 | 1989, 1990 | ||
| Patty Sheehan | 2 | 1992, 1994 | ||
| Karrie Webb ‡ | 2 | 2000, 2001 | ||
| Juli Inkster ‡ | 2 | 1999, 2002 | ||
| Meg Mallon | 2 | 1991, 2004 | ||
| 2 | 2008, 2013 | |||
| Yuka Saso | 2 | 2021, 2024 |
The defending champion has retained the title on seven occasions, most recently in 2001:
| Year | Edition | Course | Location | Dates | Previous championships hosted | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 80th | May 29 – June 1 | ||||
| 2026 | 81st | TBD | ||||
| 2027 | 82nd | TBD | ||||
| 2028 | 83rd | TBD | 1992, 2010 | |||
| 2029 | 84th | TBD | 2014 | |||
| 2030 | 85th | TBD | 2008 | |||
| 2031 | 86th | TBD | ||||
| 2032 | 87th | TBD | ||||
| 2033 | 88th | TBD | ||||
| 2034 | 89th | TBD | ||||
| 2035 | 90th | TBD | 2023 | |||
| 2036 | 91th | TBD |