Seven Australasians play historic US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach
The famed and much photographed 7th hole at Pebble Beach Links – photo USGA
The US Women’s Open is played for the first time at one of American golf’s iconic venues this week when Pebble Beach Golf Links hosts the third major of the year for the women’s game.
Six times a venue for the US Open and once for the USPGA Championship along with other male events such as the US Amateur Championship, the stunning oceanside layout along the cliffs above Monterey Peninsula will witness the female game’s leading players vying for a first prize of US$2 million from a total purse of over US$10 million, the final figure announced on Wednesday.
Amongst the field will be five Australians and two New Zealanders with one, Minjee Lee, defending the title she won so brilliantly twelve months ago at Pine Needles.
Joining Lee will be New Zealander Lydia Ko, Lee’s fellow Australians Hannah Green and Grace Kim and three who survived Final Qualifying, New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey and Australians Gabi Ruffels Ruffels and Madison Hinson Tolchard, the latter of whom is currently attending Oklahoma State college in the US.
Perth’s Lee is perhaps not playing at quite the same level now that she was ahead of her win last year but she is not far from it and her game, built around demanding golf courses, should suit Pebble Beach. She has recorded top 20 finishes in her last three starts and just prior was runner-up at the Cognizant Cup, an event she won last year two starts ahead of her historic win.
Prior to her great win last year, however, in eight previous starts in the event, Lee had not recorded a top ten.
By her standards, Ko has struggled for much of the year following her win in Saudi Arabia earlier. This will be Ko’s 12th US Women’s Open appearance, but she has only two top tens to her name in that time and a best of 3rd at Cordevalle in 2016.
This will be the West Australian Green’s 5th US Women’s Open but with a best of 48th in her previous four and a roller coaster of form to date this year her chances of contending would appear slim. At her best she is capable of doing so but she has struggled since her win in Los Angeles four starts ago.
Sydney’s Grace Kim has taken to the LPGA Tour like a duck to water in 2023 and with a win in Hawaii already in her rookie LPGA Tour season, and one or two other strong finishes including an impressive 14th place finish at the KPMG, then she stands a chance of another good week.
Kim made the cut although finished well back on debut in this event last year.
Gabi Ruffels, has taken the secondary Epson Tour by storm this year and has already secured her place on the LPGA Tour for 2024.
The Victorian has shown a capacity to handle the big occasions with three top twenties in major championships including when 13th in this event in 2020.
Perth’s Madison Hinson Tolchard is studying at Oklahoma State and will play her first US Women’s Open after topping the qualifiers at her venue in Final Qualifying. The 21 year old has excelled in her golfing career at Oklahoma State and while the former Australian Junior Champion will be better for the experience this week she has done well just to make the field.
New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey will play her third US Women’s Open, missing the cut at her first two. A former University of Southern California golfing team member is now a Epson Tour player and gains a start this week courtesy of a gutsy playoff during Final Qualifying.
NSW’s Sarah Kemp is an alternate but it appears she will just miss out on a start.
