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

By Elizabeth Bethel

OAKMONT, PA - JULY 11: Paula Creamer kisses the trophy after her four-stroke victory at the 2010 U.S. Women's Open at Oakmont Country Club on July 11, 2010 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
OAKMONT, PA - JULY 11: Paula Creamer kisses the trophy after her four-stroke victory at the 2010 U.S. Women's Open at Oakmont Country Club on July 11, 2010 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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US Women's Open
EDINA, MN – JUNE 29: Inbee Park of South Korea the youngest winner in history with her caddie (left) Brad Beecher, and her manager with the trophy after the final round of the 2008 US Womens Open Championship held at The Interlachen Country Club, on June 29, 2008 in Edina, Minnesota. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) /

Inbee Park, 2008, 2013

Inbee Park wanted some golf glory for herself after she watched Se Ri Pak win the U.S. Women’s Open in 1998.  She was 10-years old and she was hooked on the game by the public adoration Korean fans poured out to celebrate Pak’s victory.

Between Fay Crocker’s U.S. Women’s Open victory and Se Ri Pak’s, the professional game continued to internationalize. Players from France, England, Australia, and Sweden had hoisted the Harton S. Semple trophy. In 1998 Pak became the first Asian player to claim the victory and she opened the pro golf stage door to a wave of Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Thai golfers. Inbee Park was among the first to follow Pak to the LPGA Tour.

Inbee Park wanted to play pro golf and nothing else would do. As a 17-year old she unsuccessfully petitioned the LPGA for permission to attempt to qualify for full status. She enrolled in college, then dropped out and turned pro, playing on the LPGA’s developmental Duramand Futures Tour, recorded 11 top-10 finishes, and was granted full playing status on the LPGA. The handwriting was on the wall.

In her rookie year, 2007, Park finished the U.S. Women’s Open in a tie for 4th place. Cristie Kerr won the Open that year, defeating Lorena Ochoa. The rookie was competing in a high-intensity environment. She came back the following year and defeated the indomitable Helen Alfredsson by 4 shots at Interlachen Country Club. In 2009 Inbee Park was 19 and became the youngest winner of a major pro golf event.

We all know Inbee Park’s story doesn’t end with that win. She’s still writing it. Still in her twenties, Inbee Park has met all the criteria for membership in the World Golf Hall of Fame except one. She’s not old enough!

As a footnote, since Si Re Pak’s U.S. Women’s Open win in 1998 the Open trophy has been hoisted by six Korean golfers. In addition to Inbee Park (2008, 2014), Birdie Kim (2005), Eun-Hee Ji (2009), So Yeon Ryu (2011), Na Yeon Choi (2012) and In Gee Chun (2014) have all captured the Championship.

Next: Catherine Lacoste, 1967

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