U.S. Women’s Open: 10 champions from The Babe to Karrie Webb

Fay Crocker, 1955

Fay Crocker was a native of Montevideo, Uruguay. She was the first women from outside the United States to hoist the Harton S. Semple trophy, and she did so at the 10th U.S. Women’s Open. Crocker’s victory marks the leading edge of globalization that has become a hallmark of the modern women’s game.

Like the children of many avid and enthusiastic recreational golfers, Fay Crocker picked up her first golf club early – at about the age of six – and established herself as the dominant amateur of her generation in South American venues. She turned pro in 1954, at the age of 40, and competed professionally for seven years.

Crocker’s first professional win came on her 19th start, at the 1955 Serbin Open and later that year she hoisted the U.S. Women’s Open trophy. It was quite a dramatic win in a tournament held at the Wichita, KS Country Club – players were buffeted by 45-mile-per-hour wind gusts. It was Kansas in the summer, after all! Crocker was the only player in the field who finished in under 300 strokes and while she, like Zaharias the year before, took the championship in a wire-to-wire victory, her final score was 11-over par. She carded a 299, four shots ahead of Louise Suggs and Mary Lena Faulk.

Fay Crocker’s final pro win came at the 1960 Titleholders Championship. She was 45 years old. All told, Crocker earned 11 LPGA victories and over the course of her pro career she earned slightly more than $73K.

Next: Inbee Park, 2008