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This week, the biggest names in women’s golf will battle it out at the Country Club of Charleston in the 74th U.S. Women’s Open; the second Major of 2019.
The trophy is etched with star names, and we can expect to see another one this year. Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn claimed the title last year, following in the prestigious footsteps of Annika Sorenstam, Inbee Park and many more. However, this year sees one very significant difference from the champions of any previous women’s Major: A million-dollar winning prize.
The USGA announced a rise of $500,000 for both the men’s and women’s tournament purses, taking them to $12.5 million and £5.5 million respectively (the highest purses in both games’ majors). This serves as a huge boost not only for the event but also for the women’s game as a whole. However, it hasn’t come out of the blue. Ultimately, nobody is going to be dishing out more than $5 million without good reason. Purses for golf tournaments are, to a greater or lesser extent, investments in the tournament, players and sport. As the standard of the women’s game continues to rise, the viewing figures and prize money will follow suit.
Last year
I mentioned Ariya Jutanugarn’s win last year, but that doesn’t tell half the story. Jutanugarn held a seven-stroke lead on -15 at the tenth tee on Sunday, but a final-hole bogey appeared to seal one of the largest collapses in tournament history as a triple-bogey on the tenth and three more bogeys to just the lone birdie saw her drop five shots. Pair that with a 2-under back-nine from Hyo-Joo Kim, and suddenly we’re heading to a playoff. But, somehow, Jutanugarn rallied to win the playoff and pip Kim to the title for her second Major; the first since the 2016 British Open.
This Year
The bad news for Jutanugarn is that nobody has successfully defended this title since Karrie Webb in 2000-2001. But that’s not so bad for the fans, with Major successes being shared out more than ever since Inbee Park’s six titles in 3 years (2013-2015). The reigning Champ is considered well down the pecking order, with South Korea’s Ko Jin-Young the favourite after her ANA Inspiration victory put her top of the Rolex Annika Major Award rankings. Other favourites include the aforementioned Inbee Park, despite the absence of a Major in nearly four years, and Australia’s Minjee Park looking to end a 13-year drought for her homeland since Karrie Webb’s seventh and final Major victory at what is now known as the ANA Inspiration in 2006.
21-year-old Brooke Henderson has emerged as a prime candidate due to a good record at this tournament (T10 in 2014, T5 in 2015 & T13 in 2017) and outstanding form this year (six Top-10 finishes, including a win and a T2 last week, in ten starts). A victory here would give her the most Majors (2) and most Tour wins (9) of any Canadian golfer in history. Meanwhile, the most-favoured Englishwomen are Bronte Law, after her first professional win at last week’s Pure Silk Championship, and Charley Hull. They both enter the tournament as outsiders, but Georgia Hall’s heroics at the British Open last year have sparked fresh hope for English golf.
Regardless of the name on that historic cheque come Sunday, there is plenty of buzz around this golf tournament and I have no doubt the players will rise to the occasion. Expect history.
Written by Joe Carabini
