Samsung World Championship

The Samsung World Championship was an annual golf tournament played between 1980 and 2009, for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour. It was a limited field event, open by invitation only.

Samsung World Championship
Tournament information
LocationLa Jolla, California
Established1980
Course(s)Torrey Pines, South Course
Tour(s)LPGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS $1,000,000 (in 2009)
Month playedSeptember
Current champion
Na Yeon Choi

The tournament was founded in 1980 by Mark McCormack, founder of the sports management firm IMG, originally with the world's top-12 LPGA players. The field was increased to 16 players in 1996 and to 20 in 1999. Electronics manufacturer Samsung became the title sponsor in 1995.

Tournament names through the years:

  • 1980: World Series of Women's Golf
  • 1981: World Championship of Women's Golf
  • 1982-1984: Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf
  • 1985: Nestle World Championship of Women's Golf
  • 1986-1989: Nestle World Championship
  • 1990: Trophee Urban-World Championship
  • 1991: Daikyo World Championship
  • 1992: no tournament
  • 1993-1994: World Championship of Women's Golf
  • 1995-1999: Samsung World Championship of Women's Golf
  • 2000-2009: Samsung World Championship

2009 participants

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The 2009 championship included 20 players: the previous year's defending champion; the 2008 Vare Trophy winner; the 2008 LPGA Money Winner; the winners of the four 2009 women's major golf championships: the Kraft Nabisco Championship, McDonald's LPGA Championship, U.S. Women's Open, and Women's British Open; the leading player from the Ladies European Tour in 2009; one sponsor's exemption selected by the championship selection committee; the leading "active" LPGA Hall of Fame member on the LPGA Official Money List in 2009; and the top money winners on the LPGA Tour from the 2009 season.

The 2009 participants listed in order of qualification or invitation:[1]

  1. Paula Creamer - Defending Champion
  2. Lorena Ochoa - 2008 Vare Trophy Winner, 2008 LPGA Money Leader
  3. Brittany Lincicome - Winner of 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship
  4. Anna Nordqvist - Winner of 2009 LPGA Championship
  5. Eun-Hee Ji - Winner of 2009 U.S. Women's Open
  6. Catriona Matthew - Winner of 2009 Ricoh Women's British Open
  7. Juli Inkster - Sponsor's Exemption
  8. Cristie Kerr - LPGA Money Leader
  9. Sophie Gustafson - LET Order of Merit Leader
  10. Karrie Webb - Leading Active LPGA Hall of Fame Member
  11. Jiyai Shin - Qualified from LPGA Money List
  12. Ai Miyazato - Qualified from LPGA Money List
  13. In-Kyung Kim - Qualified from LPGA Money List
  14. Yani Tseng - Qualified from LPGA Money List
  15. Suzann Pettersen - Qualified from LPGA Money List
  16. Angela Stanford - Qualified from LPGA Money List
  17. Kristy McPherson - Qualified from LPGA Money List
  18. Na Yeon Choi - Qualified from LPGA Money List
  19. Lindsey Wright - Qualified from LPGA Money List
  20. Song-Hee Kim - Qualified from LPGA Money List

Winners

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Year Champion Country Score Tournament
Location
Purse Winner's
Share
2009 Na Yeon Choi   South Korea 272 (-16) Torrey Pines Golf Course, South Course $1,000,000 $250,000
2008 Paula Creamer   United States 279 Half Moon Bay Golf Links, Ocean Course $1,000,000 $250,000
2007 Lorena Ochoa   Mexico 270 Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course $1,000,000 $250,000
2006 Lorena Ochoa   Mexico 272 Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course $875,000 $218,750
2005 Annika Sörenstam   Sweden 270 Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course $850,000 $212,500
2004 Annika Sörenstam   Sweden 270 Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course $825,000 $206,250
2003 Sophie Gustafson   Sweden 274 The Players Club at the Woodlands $800,000 $200,000
2002 Annika Sörenstam   Sweden 266 Hiddenbrooke Golf Club $775,000 $162,000
2001 Dorothy Delasin   Philippines 277 Hiddenbrooke Golf Club $750,000 $157,000
2000 Juli Inkster   United States 274 Hiddenbrooke Golf Club $725,000 $152,000
1999 Se Ri Pak   South Korea 280 Rush Creek Golf Club $700,000 $150,000
1998 Juli Inkster   United States 275 Villages in Lady Lake $550,000 $137,000
1997 Juli Inkster   United States 280 Lakeside Country Club $525,000 $131,000
1996 Annika Sörenstam   Sweden 274 Ildong Lakes Golf Club $500,000 $125,000
1995 Annika Sörenstam   Sweden 282 Paradise Golf Club $475,000 $117,500
1994 Beth Daniel   United States 274 Naples National Golf Club $425,000 $105,000
1993 Dottie Mochrie   United States 283 Naples National Golf Club $400,000 $102,500
1992 No tournament
1991 Meg Mallon   United States 216 Paradise Palms Golf Club $325,000 $100,000
1990 Cathy Gerring   United States 278 Cely Golf Club $325,000 $100,000
1989 Betsy King   United States 275 Stouffer Pineisle Resort $265,000 $83,500
1988 Rosie Jones   United States 270 Stouffer Pineisle Resort $265,000 $81,500
1987 Ayako Okamoto   Japan 282 Stouffer Pineisle Resort $250,000 $81,500
1986 Pat Bradley   United States 279 Stouffer Pineisle Resort $240,000 $78,000
1985 Amy Alcott   United States 274 Stouffer Pineisle Resort $200,000 $65,000
1984 Nancy Lopez   United States 281 Shaker Heights Country Club $200,000 $65,000
1983 JoAnne Carner   United States 282 Shaker Heights Country Club $200,000 $65,000
1982 JoAnne Carner   United States 284 Shaker Heights Country Club $150,000 $50,000
1981 Beth Daniel   United States 284 Shaker Heights Country Club $150,000 $50,000
1980 Beth Daniel   United States 280 The Country Club $150,000 $46,500

Tournament records

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Year Player Score Round Course
2004 Grace Park 62 (-10) 1st round Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course
2009 Na Yeon Choi 63 (-9) 3rd round Torrey Pines Golf Course

References

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  1. ^ "The Field For The Samsung World Championship Has Been Finalized; Includes Top LPGA Stars Kerr, Ochoa And Creamer". Samsung World Championship. September 1, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
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