WOMEN'S WESTERN OPEN
Launched in 1930, the Women’s Western Open had the distinction of being women golf’s first eer Major. Although the Majors were not inaugurated until 1950, all Western Opon wieners prior to that date were retrospectively classed as Major winners. From its beginning in 1930 up to 1954, the tournament was a match-play event before changing to stroke play.
| Wins |
Golfer |
Years |
| 7 |
Patty Berg |
1941, 1943, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1957-58 |
| 4 |
Babe Zaharias |
1940, 1944-45, 1950 |
| 4 |
Louise Suggs |
1946-47, 1949, 1953 |
| 3 |
Mickey Wright |
1962-63, 1966 |
| 2 |
June Beebe (a) |
1931, 1933 |
| 2 |
Opal Hill |
1935-36 |
| 2 |
Betty Jameson |
1942, 1954 |
| 2 |
Betsy Rawls |
1952, 1959 |
(a) Amateur
All 38 winners of the Western Open were from the USA. The nearest a non-American cane to winning was in 1966 when Australia’s Margie Masters finished joint second, just one point behind winner Mickey Wright. Uruguay’s Fay Crocker also finished joint second in 1955, but two shots behind the winner Patty Berg.
The first seven winners were all amateurs with Lucia Mida in 1930 being the first winner.
Patty Berg is the only woman to win the event under both match-play and stroke play conditions.
The Lowest 4-Round Total was in the very last Western Open in 1967 when Kathy Whitworth won by three strokes from Sandra Haynie with an 11-under par 289.
The Biggest Winning Margin in the Final between 1930-54 when it was a match-play event was 9 & 7, achieved three times.
1934 Marian McDougall (a) beat Mrs Guy Riegel (a)
1935 Opal Hill (a) beat Mrs. S. L. Reinhart (a)
1942 Betty Jameson (a) beat Phyllis Otto |
TITLEHOLDERS CHAMPIONSHIP
There were only 28 playings of the Titleholders Championship, but all 28 were granted Major status. First held in 1937, winners between then and 1950 were retrospective Major winners. The Championship discontinued in 1966 but was revived for one year in 1972 and played in North Carolina. All Championships except 1972 were played at the Augusta Country Club, Georgia. There was no tournament between 1943-45 due to World War II.
The first winner in 1937 was the then amateur 19-year-old Patty Berg. All tournaments were 72-hole stroke play, and all winners and runners-up were from the USA with the exception of 1960 when Uruguay’s Fay Crocker won the title.
| Wins |
Golfer |
Years |
| 7 |
Patty Berg |
1937-39, 1948, 1953, 1955, 1957 |
| 4 |
Louise Suggs |
1946, 1954, 1956, 1959 |
| 3 |
Babe Zaharias |
1947, 1950, 1952 |
| 2 |
Dorothy Kirby |
1941-42 |
| 2 |
Mickey Wright |
1961-62 |
| 2 |
Marilynn Smith |
1963-64 |
| 2 |
Kathy Whtworth |
1965-66 |
The lowest 72-hole total was 283 by Sandra Palmer in the very last Titleholders in 1972.
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DU MAURIER CLASSIC
Played in Canada, the du Maurier Classic was inaugurated as the 54-hole La Canadienne in 1973 before becoming the Peter Jackson Classic the following year. It became a Major in 1979 but winners between 1973-78 were not credited with a Major win.
The event was known as the du Maurier Classic during its time as a Major between 1979-2000. It was replaced as a Major by the Women’s British Open in 2001. Despite losing its Major status the du Maurier continued as a regular LPGA Tour event under the style of the Canadian Women’s Open.
NOTE: The records are for the period 1979-2000 when it was a Major. All golfers mentioned were from the USA. |